The mineral sector in Nigeria has failed to meet public expectation of increasing economic growth and generating employment to the teaming unemployed youth. Presently, the sector contributes less than1% to the nation’s annual GDP. Nigeria is so much endowed yet so poor. In katsina State, billions of dollars worth of mineral resources are lying fallow which could be harnessed to reduce the poverty level in the State and in Nigeria as a whole.
These mineral resources are:
1. Asbestos
Asbestos is used for thermal insulation, fire proofing, acoustic insulation, roofing, flooring and a variety of other building materials.
2. Lead
Lead can be used as a pure metal, alloyed with other metals, or as a chemical compound.
3. Kaolin
Kaolin is used internally to control diarrhea and topically as an emollient and drying agent.
4. Silica Sand
Silica has many other applications including the manufacture of chemicals and metals, fillers in numerous products, plastic, stimulating oil production.
5. Manganese
Manganese is used to produce a variety of important alloys and to deoxidize steel and desulfurize. It is also used in dry cell batteries. Manganese is used as a black-brown pigment in paint. It is an essential trace element for living creatures.
6. Fire Clay
The principal uses of fire clay are in the manufacture of firebrick and of various accessory utensils, such as crucibles, saggers, retorts, and glass pots, used in the metalworking industries.
7. Nikel
Nickel is used for alloying elements, coatings, batteries, and some other uses, such as kitchen wares, mobile phones, medical equipment, transport, buildings, power generation and jewellery. The use of nickel is dominated by the production of ferronickel for stainless steel (66%).
Content created and supplied by: Debenag (via Opera News )
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