Assessment of gold mineralisation in Osu–Amuta–Itagunmodi areas, Southwestern Nigeria

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorJerry O. Olajide-Kayode
dc.contributor.authorShakirat O. Mustapha
dc.contributor.authorAkinade S. Olatunji
dc.contributor.authorOlugbenga A. Okunlola
dc.date.accessioned2024-12-09T11:07:30Z
dc.date.available2024-12-09T11:07:30Z
dc.date.issued2020-06-22
dc.description.abstractGold is artisanally mined from eluvial deposits within Osu–Amuta–Itagunmodi areas of Ilesa Schist Belt, southwestern Nigeria. Mine site selection and mining operations are done without any understanding of mode of occurrence, compositional characteristics and extent of gold mineralisation. The present study was aimed at determining the host lithologies, extent and associated geochemical features of the gold mineralisation. Fifty rock samples were cut into thin section for examination and analysed using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Forty-eight soil samples collected from Artisanal Gold Mine (AGM) pits to a depth of 5 m (n = 9), and along defined horizontal profile lines from the mine pits (n = 39) were analysed for elemental constituents, and mineralogical compositions in vertical profile samples using ICPMS and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques, respectively. The quartz-biotite schist, quartzite, talc-chlorite schist and amphibolite had Au concentration (ppb) that ranged from 1.3 to 14.4 (average 3.95), BDL–0.9 (average 0.63), 0.9–4.6 (average 2.18) and 0.5–2.7 (average 1.56), respectively. Vertical and lateral profile soil samples were Osu: 4.5–7.6 (average 6.17) and 0.9–78.8 (average 8.54); Amuta: 4.1–6.8 (average 5.2) and 2.8– 19.8 (average 7.40); and Itagunmodi 3.9–13.2 (average 7.43) and 0.5–14.8 (average 4.33). Evaluation of the horizontal profile soils revealed higher Au concentrations than the artisanal mine workings, indicating additional mineralisation potentials in the study area. Au concentrations were in the order of quartz-biotite schist > talc-chlorite schist > amphibolite >> quartzite, with anomalous concentrations detected in quartz-biotite and talc-chlorite schists. Elevated concentrations also occurred in residual soils overlying quartzite and amphibolite lithologies. Mineralisation is hydrothermal in nature, extends beyond current artisanal mine workings and has potential for further exploration. Keywords artisanal mining . Ilesa Schist Belt . hydrothermal alteration . gold mineralization potential
dc.description.sponsorshipThis study forms part of the first and second authors’ research at the Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute (PAULESI), University of Ibadan, sponsored by the African Union Commission.
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s12517-020-05619-w
dc.identifier.issn1866-7511
dc.identifier.issn1866-7538
dc.identifier.urihttps://kwasuspace.kwasu.edu.ng/handle/123456789/2869
dc.publisherArabian Journal of Geosciences
dc.relation.ispartofArabian Journal of Geosciences
dc.titleAssessment of gold mineralisation in Osu–Amuta–Itagunmodi areas, Southwestern Nigeria
dc.typejournal-article
oaire.citation.issue13
oaire.citation.volume13
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Assessment of Au mineralisation in Osu-Amuta-Itagunmodi areas, SW Nigeria.pdf
Size:
6.36 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed to upon submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Scholarly Publication