A number of projects (works) have been selected along the identified metallogenic belts in Nigeria for consideration for intervention under the Natural Resources Fund (LOTA1-A7) and consultants for supervision (LOTC1-C7). The project has a completion period of twelve (12) calendar months and was designed to be executed in six phases.
Background
The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development has awarded a robust mineral exploration project, tagged ‘National Integrated Mineral Exploration Project’ (NIMEP) to five competent companies and three technical consultants for the exploration of gold, PGM, nickel, chromium, cobolt, rare earth minerals, lead zinc, silver, copper, barite and iron ore resources in Nigeria.
The objectives of the projects are to generate integrated Geosciences information in Greenfield and Brownfield exploration/evaluation (remote sensing, Geological, Geochemical and Geophysical-data) setting which will spur the desired investment into the sector and generate foreign exchange, substitute for import and develop local industries, generate employment, and create wealth along the mineral value chain.
Phase 1 involves regional scale targeting, comprising site selection, evaluation of brown and green field and characterizing these targets according to their mineral prospectivity. This has since been concluded.
Phase 2 involves field mapping, soil sampling, geophysical investigation and ad hog grab sampling. A summary of the progress of phase 2 made by the exploration companies and their consultants is presented below:
AG VISION LTD Lot A1 (Gold, Pb-Cu, Au-Ag, PGM, Ni – Cr – Co)
AG Vision Ltd are the project contractors for the exploration of Au – Pb – Cu – PGM, Ni – Cr – Co within the schist belt. The company has accomplished all tasks in Phase 1 as stipulated in the ToR. The outcome of the review and interpretation of data (Airborne and remote sensing) has identified exploration targets within the schist belt within mafic and ultramafic rocks associated to late tectonic dextral shear zones. In the phase 2 stage of the exploration, AG Vision has made quite remarkably in the area of geological mapping where they completed the mapping in excess of 1000km2. The company dug and logged a total of 1,517 pits, collected ground magnetic data over 5,897 line kms and analyzed 3,592 rock and soil samples. The company is currently acquiring ground EM data in Zamfara and Birnin gwari areas. The company has acquired an extensive stream sediments samples in Ilesha area in excess of what is in the ToR to effectively define the chemistry of gold mineralization in the area, which is quite commendable.
GEO EXPLORATION/GEOWITCH LTD (Lot C1 – Au – Pb – Cu – PGM, Ni – Cr – Co)
The company supervises AG Vision Ltd for the exploration of Au – Pb – Cu, PGM, Ni – Cr – Co within the Schist belts. The company has offered all the necessary QA/QC within the ToR on Phase 1 and 2. The consultants are satisfied with the AG Vision – the executing contractor’s handling of the exploration so far. The consultants are particularly impressed by the additional data in excess of the terms of contract especially where there is an encouraging trend of mineralization.
RAPIDLINKS RESOURCE LIMITED (LOT A2: Rare metals, Sn, Ta, Nb, Li)
Rapidlink Resource is the contractor for the exploration of rare earth metals within the pegmatite belts of Nigeria. After the company concluded extensive literature review and interpretation of airborne geophysical data and satellite imageries, they selected about 15 priority targets within five (5) blocks for detail exploration. The blocks are located in lafiagi kwara state, Ijero/Aramoko in Ekiti state, Apomu in ogun state, Udegi in Nasarawa and Wamba in Plateau states. The company has carried out geological mapping, geochemical sampling where they collected 284 rock samples and 2,426 soil samples. They planned to trench 4,350m for more samples in the next phase of the exploration. The company reported evidence of lapidolite, spodumene, tantalite and gem quality tourmaline within the pegmatite bodies hosting the rare earth with good indicator minerals such as green beryl, schorl and spassartine garnet.
JUGGERNAUT INDUSTRIES LTD (LOT A3 Pb-Zn-Cu-Ag)
Juggernaut Industries have carried out an in depth mapping, soil and grab sampling across
Four (4) priority targets. Over 8,000 samples have been submitted to accredited laboratories for analysis with initial results showing high potentials in lead zinc and base metals within the sampled soils. The company has made tremendous progress in phase three (data analysis and interpretation).
GEO KOOY Environmental Services Ltd (LOT C3-Base metals, Pb Zn,
Geo Kooy Environmental Ltd supervises Juggernaut Industries Limited as well as NSRMEA on the exploration of Pb-Zn, base metal sulphides and iron ore within the Benue Trough, Sokoto Basin and Central North. The company has offered all the necessary QA/QC as outlined in the ToR. Geo Kooy has a standard design and KPI templates on the supervision of Project activities that will ensure adherence to specifications and standard as enumerated in the ToR.
DAPMAT DRILLING/ MECON ENGINEERING SERVICES LIMITED (LOT A4 – BARYTE)
DAPMAT/MECON is the contractor handling the exploration of Baryte in the Benue Trough. The company has successfully accomplished all tasks in the Phase 1, 2, and 3 as enumerated in the ToR. The executed activities involve interpretation of airborne and remotely sensed data, geological mapping, geochemical sampling, ground geophysics, pitting, trenching, laboratory analysis and modelling. Initial test results revealed positive potentials of baryte resource in the project area with concentration ranging between 60.83 and 93.52%
JUGGERNAUT INDUSTRIES LTD (LOT A3 Pb-Zn-Cu-Ag)
Juggernaut Industries have carried out an in depth mapping, soil and grab sampling across
Four (4) priority targets. Over 8,000 samples have been submitted to accredited laboratories for analysis with initial results showing high potentials in lead zinc and base metals within the sampled soils. The company has made tremendous progress in phase three (data analysis and interpretation).
GEO KOOY Environmental Services Ltd (LOT C3-Base metals, Pb Zn,
Geo Kooy Environmental Ltd supervises Juggernaut Industries Limited as well as NSRMEA on the exploration of Pb-Zn, base metal sulphides and iron ore within the Benue Trough, Sokoto Basin and Central North. The company has offered all the necessary QA/QC as outlined in the ToR. Geo Kooy has a standard design and KPI templates on the supervision of Project activities that will ensure adherence to specifications and standard as enumerated in the ToR.
NATIONAL STEEL RAW MATERIALS EXPLORATION AGENCY (NSRMEA) LOT A5, Iron ore resource
The National Steel Raw Material Exploration Agency (NSRMEA) is the contractor handling the iron ore exploration (Lot A5). The Agency has identified thirty-five (35) iron ore targets in part of the northwest, northeast and south eastern Nigeria during the phase one stage of the exploration. In the phase 2 stage of the exploration, the Agency has accomplished geological mapping, pitting, trenching, ground geophysics and soil sampling in 90% of the priority target areas with initial laboratory test results showing a positive iron ore concentration in the range between 50 and 70%. The remaining 10% of the areas left out due to insecurity situations in the areas shall be revisited when security improves. The Agency intends to start test drilling on targets as soon as laboratory analysis on all samples is completed.
RAPIDLINKS RESOURCE LIMITED (LOT A2: Rare metals, Sn, Ta, Nb, Li)
Rapidlink Resource is the contractor for the exploration of rare earth metals within the pegmatite belts of Nigeria. After the company concluded extensive literature review and interpretation of airborne geophysical data and satellite imageries, they selected about 15 priority targets within five (5) blocks for detail exploration. The blocks are located in lafiagi kwara state, Ijero/Aramoko in Ekiti state, Apomu in ogun state, Udegi in Nasarawa and Wamba in Plateau states. The company has carried out geological mapping, geochemical sampling where they collected 284 rock samples and 2,426 soil samples. They planned to trench 4,350m for more samples in the next phase of the exploration. The company reported evidence of lapidolite, spodumene, tantalite and gem quality tourmaline within the pegmatite bodies hosting the rare earth with good indicator minerals such as green beryl, schorl and spassartine garnet.
GEO EXPLORATION/GEOWITCH LTD (Lot C1 – Au – Pb – Cu – PGM, Ni – Cr – Co)
The company supervises AG Vision Ltd for the exploration of Au – Pb – Cu, PGM, Ni – Cr – Co within the Schist belts. The company has offered all the necessary QA/QC within the ToR on Phase 1 and 2. The consultants are satisfied with the AG Vision – the executing contractor’s handling of the exploration so far. The consultants are particularly impressed by the additional data in excess of the terms of contract especially where there is an encouraging trend of mineralization.
DAPMAT DRILLING/ MECON ENGINEERING SERVICES LIMITED (LOT A4 – BARYTE)
DAPMAT/MECON is the contractor handling the exploration of Baryte in the Benue Trough. The company has successfully accomplished all tasks in the Phase 1, 2, and 3 as enumerated in the ToR. The executed activities involve interpretation of airborne and remotely sensed data, geological mapping, geochemical sampling, ground geophysics, pitting, trenching, laboratory analysis and modelling. Initial test results revealed positive potentials of baryte resource in the project area with concentration ranging between 60.83 and 93.52%
PHRONESIS OIL AND GAS TEK LIMITED (LOT C4: Barytes)
The company supervises DAPMAT/MECON Industries Limited on the exploration of Baryte resources within the Benue Trough. The company has offered all the necessary QA/QC as outlined in the ToR on Phase 1 and 2. The company has shown readiness to progress into the next phase of the exploration.
AG VISION LTD Lot A1 (Gold, Pb-Cu, Au-Ag, PGM, Ni – Cr – Co)
AG Vision Ltd are the project contractors for the exploration of Au – Pb – Cu – PGM, Ni – Cr – Co within the schist belt. The company has accomplished all tasks in Phase 1 as stipulated in the ToR. The outcome of the review and interpretation of data (Airborne and remote sensing) has identified exploration targets within the schist belt within mafic and ultramafic rocks associated to late tectonic dextral shear zones. In the phase 2 stage of the exploration, AG Vision has made quite remarkably in the area of geological mapping where they completed the mapping in excess of 1000km2. The company dug and logged a total of 1,517 pits, collected ground magnetic data over 5,897 line kms and analyzed 3,592 rock and soil samples. The company is currently acquiring ground EM data in Zamfara and Birnin gwari areas. The company has acquired an extensive stream sediments samples in Ilesha area in excess of what is in the ToR to effectively define the chemistry of gold mineralization in the area, which is quite commendable.
JUGGERNAUT INDUSTRIES LTD (LOT A3 Pb-Zn-Cu-Ag)
Juggernaut Industries have carried out an in depth mapping, soil and grab sampling across
Four (4) priority targets. Over 8,000 samples have been submitted to accredited laboratories for analysis with initial results showing high potentials in lead zinc and base metals within the sampled soils. The company has made tremendous progress in phase three (data analysis and interpretation).
GEO KOOY Environmental Services Ltd (LOT C3-Base metals, Pb Zn,
Geo Kooy Environmental Ltd supervises Juggernaut Industries Limited as well as NSRMEA on the exploration of Pb-Zn, base metal sulphides and iron ore within the Benue Trough, Sokoto Basin and Central North. The company has offered all the necessary QA/QC as outlined in the ToR. Geo Kooy has a standard design and KPI templates on the supervision of Project activities that will ensure adherence to specifications and standard as enumerated in the ToR.
NATIONAL STEEL RAW MATERIALS EXPLORATION AGENCY (NSRMEA) LOT A5, Iron ore resource
The National Steel Raw Material Exploration Agency (NSRMEA) is the contractor handling the iron ore exploration (Lot A5). The Agency has identified thirty-five (35) iron ore targets in part of the northwest, northeast and south eastern Nigeria during the phase one stage of the exploration. In the phase 2 stage of the exploration, the Agency has accomplished geological mapping, pitting, trenching, ground geophysics and soil sampling in 90% of the priority target areas with initial laboratory test results showing a positive iron ore concentration in the range between 50 and 70%. The remaining 10% of the areas left out due to insecurity situations in the areas shall be revisited when security improves. The Agency intends to start test drilling on targets as soon as laboratory analysis on all samples is completed.
GEO EXPLORATION/GEOWITCH LTD (Lot C1 – Au – Pb – Cu – PGM, Ni – Cr – Co)
The company supervises AG Vision Ltd for the exploration of Au – Pb – Cu, PGM, Ni – Cr – Co within the Schist belts. The company has offered all the necessary QA/QC within the ToR on Phase 1 and 2. The consultants are satisfied with the AG Vision – the executing contractor’s handling of the exploration so far. The consultants are particularly impressed by the additional data in excess of the terms of contract especially where there is an encouraging trend of mineralization.
RAPIDLINKS RESOURCE LIMITED (LOT A2: Rare metals, Sn, Ta, Nb, Li)
Rapidlink Resource is the contractor for the exploration of rare earth metals within the pegmatite belts of Nigeria. After the company concluded extensive literature review and interpretation of airborne geophysical data and satellite imageries, they selected about 15 priority targets within five (5) blocks for detail exploration. The blocks are located in lafiagi kwara state, Ijero/Aramoko in Ekiti state, Apomu in ogun state, Udegi in Nasarawa and Wamba in Plateau states. The company has carried out geological mapping, geochemical sampling where they collected 284 rock samples and 2,426 soil samples. They planned to trench 4,350m for more samples in the next phase of the exploration. The company reported evidence of lapidolite, spodumene, tantalite and gem quality tourmaline within the pegmatite bodies hosting the rare earth with good indicator minerals such as green beryl, schorl and spassartine garnet.
DAPMAT DRILLING/ MECON ENGINEERING SERVICES LIMITED (LOT A4 – BARYTE)
DAPMAT/MECON is the contractor handling the exploration of Baryte in the Benue Trough. The company has successfully accomplished all tasks in the Phase 1, 2, and 3 as enumerated in the ToR. The executed activities involve interpretation of airborne and remotely sensed data, geological mapping, geochemical sampling, ground geophysics, pitting, trenching, laboratory analysis and modelling. Initial test results revealed positive potentials of baryte resource in the project area with concentration ranging between 60.83 and 93.52%
PHRONESIS OIL AND GAS TEK LIMITED (LOT C4: Barytes)
The company supervises DAPMAT/MECON Industries Limited on the exploration of Baryte resources within the Benue Trough. The company has offered all the necessary QA/QC as outlined in the ToR on Phase 1 and 2. The company has shown readiness to progress into the next phase of the exploration.