Chemical and mineralogical characteristics of lateritic iron ore deposit at iyuku, etsako west local government area of Edo state, Nigeria

Abstract

The lateritic iron ore deposit at Iyuku in Etsako West Local Government Area in Edo State, Nigeria was assayed chemically and mineralogically. The results of the chemical assay obtained are Fe2O3 (48.20 – 55.63%), Al2O3 (12.50 –
18.00%), SiO2 (9.48 – 30.71%) CaO (0.36 – 0.41%), MgO (2.51 – 2.60%) moisture (1.21 – 1.77%) and L.O.I (4.08 – 8.35%). The mineralogical analysis indicates the predominant presence of goethite, haematite and halloysite, whereas, gibbsite and anatase were present as minor species.

KEY WORDS: laterites, goethite, haematite, halloysite, gibbsite and anatase.