Distribution and Economic Potential of Manganese Deposits in Nigeria: A Review

The Northern basement complex of Nigeria contains a large number of manganese deposits. So far, ten deposits of manganese have been reported by previous workers. These deposits occur within Precambrian metasediments (schist belt), mafic and ultramafic rocks which are Proterozoic in age and folded into synclinorial belts within the crystalline basement complex. Considering their widespread distribution in space, time and tectonic setting, some are considered to be of ensilalic mode of evolution while others are ensimatic. However, the mineralizations are mostly of poor grade, and thus require beneficiation processing. The local steel industries within the country have continued to depend on manganese ore. No satisfactory substitute for manganese in steel production has been identified as at present. The applications of manganese deposits by geologists, chemical and environmental engineers, ceramicists, soil scientists and microbiologists shows a bright future for manganese ore in Nigeria. The ever increasing demand for steel products has continued to put pressure on Federal Government of Nigeria to complete the construction work at the nation’s steel producing plant which, will result in the need for a manganese concentrates for economic growth and development.