Solid Minerals are strategic to any nation’s economy, being the most utilized raw material in the world today. These minerals find application in a wide range of industry, spanning across all spheres of human endeavour. Industrial mineral form the foundation of any country’s economy.
Akwa Ibom State is blessed with abundant natural resources. From the vast rain forest at the tip of Ini, to the coastal front-line of Ibeno Local Government Area, the State is rich in natural resources capable of value addition and life enhancement. Industrial minerals will continue to provide humanity with the needed products and services to transform the economy and to better the lives of the people.
Traditionally known for oil and gas, Akwa Ibom State is now among solid mineral rich States with full mining potential and it’s attendant benefit courtesy the Geo Scientific data Investigation carried out in certain locations in the state. This has lead to the discovery of high quality solid minerals like, silica glass sand, kaolin clay, limestone, lignite, Salts and Rare Earth Metals, in commercial quantity.
Necessity is the mother of invention, and adversity breeds creativity. This is the story of Solid minerals development in Akwa Ibom State. Previously, there was no comprehensive Geo-scientific data of industrial mineral in the state. However, in 2018, Akwa Ibom State Government commissioned an extensive field geological exploration to discover and fully document the occurrence, locations, and characterization of known solid minerals in the State. The ultimate aim of this exploration studies was to provide interested investors, both within and outside Nigeria, with technical information on solid mineral locations in the state and possibly, approximate reserve estimation.
Kaolin Clay is one of the most abundant non-metallic mineral resource in Akwa Ibom State. Varieties of clay minerals occur in various locations in the State. Some of the clay deposits have been mined for over a century. There are large deposits of Ball Clay and Kaolin found in Itu, Ikot Ekpene, Etinan, Eket, Nsit Ubium and Uruan Local Government Area. Clay in Ikot Ekwerre, Ikot Ebom Itam in Itu have been used for the production of ceramics by Quality Ceramics Company. They are proven to be of the best quality and commercially abundant. Kaolin Clay has a wide range of industrial, commercial and domestic uses. Despite the use of Rubber and plastics products, Kaolin Clay still proves to be more effective and durable for many applications. From Construction to Packaging, Decorations, Aesthetics, Waste Disposal, Agriculture, Electrical Appliances, Thermal Technology, its applications are numerous.
Silica Glass Sand is another very common solid mineral found in abundance in Akwa Ibom State. It is of the purest quality (97% Silicon in some Places), and present in almost all the Local Government Area of the State. They are commonly referred to as industrial sand, and occurs extensively in beaches, coastal plains, several river beds and in some stone units within the inland Sedimentary Basins. High grade soft sand and sand stones with various industrial application are predominant in Eket, Uquo Ibeno, Mbo , Uruan, Etinan and Nsit Ubium Local Government Area and others. Their commercial and industrial value, together with reserve estimation have also been confirmed by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Solid Minerals. Silica/Glass Sand has a wide range of industrial, commercial and domestic uses. Despite the competition from the plastics industries, silica/glass products still prove to be more effective and durable for many applications, ranging from construction to packaging, decorations, aesthetics, optics, agriculture, machine tools, thermal technology and many more.
Limestone and Lignite are found in Akwa Ibom State as part of the offshoot of the Enugu/Nkalagu/obudu rock formation in Ini local government area. Limestone has a wide range of industrial, commercial and domestic uses spanning across Construction, Industries, Agriculture, Oil and Gas, sectors. Its applications are numerous. Lignite is great source of thermal energy for industrial use.
Certain Rare Earth Elements were discovered in clay deposits of Akwa Ibom State in varying concentration. Rare Earth Elements are critical industrial materials, indispensable to the development of modern technology. They find applications in electronic devices, defence systems, aerospace, green technologies, medicine and agriculture. Studies are presently ongoing to determine the quality and reserve estimate of these elements in locations like Onna, Ibiono, Ibesikpo, Ikot Abasi and Etinan Local Government Areas in the State.
Mining activities in State is very rudimentary, being conducted by the locals who do not have the know-how, advanced technology, funds or capacity to maximize the full economic potential of this Industry. Exploitation of solid minerals in the state is largely uncontrolled, with its attendant risks and dangers.
Real development, in modern times, is measured by the level of industrial output. Industrial output of a nation depends on the availability of raw materials, and ability to exploit and utilize them to produce goods and services.
There can be no meaningful wealth creation without a coordinated effort to harness the solid mineral potential of a nation. Products of mining have always provided nations with raw materials and additional revenue in Local and Foreign Currencies. A nation with solid mineral is blessed and can easily escape the effect of poverty, when the resources are properly mobilized and put to good use. This might be the story of Akwa Ibom, should this discovery be properly utilized. Solid mineral could become a top revenue earner for a State that is largely dependent on federal allocation for every item of expenditure. This is the time to do business in the mining sector of the state economy. Investing in mining will translate into a speedy economic recovery and rapid growth of the State and offer every citizen an opportunity to tap into abundant wealth in this field of human endeavor.
This is the time to consider investing in solid mineral in Akwa Ibom State
Pius Ebong is a Metallurgical Engineer and Solid Mineral Development Consultant
