columbite - tantalite mining in nigeria
columbite - tantalite mining in nigeria
columbite - tantalite mining in nigeria
Tantalite is among the group of minerals used in the refractory industry, and is characterized by a high melting point and strength at high temperature. These properties make them useful as furnace construction minerals and for application in the aerospace and electronic industries. Despite its high cost, tantalite is more cost effective in many applications, as down time and maintenance costs are reduced. In addition to these valuable properties, tantalum, as a refractory metal, shows remarkable resistance in many of the most hostile chemical environments.
Columbite, also called niobite, niobite-tantalite and columbate, is a black mineral group that is an ore of niobium and tantalum. It has a submetallic luster and a high density and is a niobate of iron and manganese, containing tantalate of iron.
Columbite and tantalite are collectively known as coltan in Africa. Tantalum is a valuable rare element used in electronics manufacturing while columbite is used in forming alloys that are useful in nuclear, aerospace and gas turbine engineering.
Rare-metal pegmatites containing economic concentrations of columbite-tantalite
ore minerals (coltan) are widespread in the Pan-African (600150Ma) basement
of Nigeria. These pegmatites are also important sources of precious and semiprecious
stones (such as beryl, aquamarine, tourmalines). Until recently these
pegmatites were known mainly from a broad 400km-long NE-SW trending belt
stretching from the Wamba-Keffi- Nasarawa area (near the Jos Plateau) through
Isanlu-Egbe in central Nigeria to the Ijero-Aramoko-llesha areas of southwest
Nigeria, and a few occurrences in the Obudu and Oban massifs of southeast
Nigeria.
Large deposits of Tantalite are known to occur in Nasarawa, Osun,
Ekiti, Kwara, Cross Rivers, Gombe, Kogi States as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The. deposits are both alluvial and primary in the numerous pegmatite bodies that infest these areas. Grades of well over 50% Ta2O5 are found.
Tantalite currently commands good international demand and price.
A grant of a Mining License to a prospective company is subject to proof of economic reserve of the mineral commodity for which a concession is sought. The process involves the company first applying to the Honourable Minister for Certificate of Entry into Mining Industry. The requirements for this include submission of the company's Certificate of Registration, evidence of technical competence and of financial capability.
The next step is for the company to apply and obtain a prospecting right (PR) to enable it carry out general and scientific prospecting for the categories of minerals within the prospecting right. If properly conducted, work on this right will guide the company towards zeroing into a particular mineral within a specific land area.
The company will then put up application for an exclusive prospecting license (EPL) in the State Mines Office where the mineral is located. This is an exploration license for a particular mineral(s) over a particular land area which, by law, should not exceed 22 square kilometers. Once granted, the area is held exclusively to the company which will now confidently invest in mineral exploration work on the area without hindrance. This license is renewable every one or two years depending on the nature of the terrain.
It is only after the company has satisfied itself of the availability of the mineral in commercial quantity on the EPL that it will apply for grant of a Mining License over the whole or part of the area covered by the EPL.
In the course of all these processes, the law insists that the company employs the services of a "technically competent person" in carrying out the prospecting under the PR, the exploration within the EPL and finally the extraction of the mineral within the mining license area.
Some of the investment incentives in the solid minerals industry in Nigeria include
3-5 years Tax Holiday
Deferred royalty payments
Possible capitalization of expenditure on exploration and surveys
Extension of infrastructure such as roads and electricity to mining sites, and provision of 100% foreign ownership of mining concerns.
The services we offer include securing mining site / titles and in partnership with other professionals, conduct site survey and deposit evaluation. We also prepare feasibility study for clients interested in the trading of the commodity.
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