Physicochemical Characterisation of Mineral Sands from Northwestern Nigeria for Industrial Applications

• Usman GARBA

  Author

• Abdullahi ADAMU

  Author

• Mamuda MUHAMMAD

  Author

Mineral sands contain heavy minerals, which are raw materials for the manufacturing and other valuable industries. The physicochemical characteristics of many alluvial mineral sand deposits of northwestern Nigeria are mostly undocumented, which affects the industrial development of the region. This study presents the physicochemical characteristics of four alluvial heavy-mineral sand samples from northwestern Nigeria. (KS-01 and KS-02 from Saminaka, Kaduna State; KS-03 and KS-04 from Doguwa, Kano State) collected via stratified random sampling at multiple depth horizons. Grain-size distribution, pH, electrical conductivity, loss-on-ignition, specific gravity, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric–differential scanning calorimetry (TGA–DSC), and magnetic susceptibility were determined for each sample. The sands were dark-coloured with a near-neutral to mildly alkaline mean pH of 7.53, low electrical conductivity (2.35–4.85 dS/m), and a mean specific gravity of 2.933. XRD and FTIR revealed a quartz-dominated framework with Fe–Ti oxide accessory phases. An elevated magnetic susceptibility (150×10⁻⁵ to 346×10⁻⁵) indicated appreciable ilmenite-group concentration. TGA–DSC profiles indicated high thermal stability across all samples, with negligible mass loss in KS-01 to KS-03 and a distinct 0.4–0.45% possible dehydroxylation step in KS-04. XRF results showed the deposits are dominated by Fe₂O₃ (39.74–45.06 wt.%) and TiO₂ (37.16–40.97 wt.%), together accounting for 79–86 wt.% of bulk composition. Appreciable ZrO₂ (2.93–6.74 wt.%) and trace Nb, Y, Th, and Sn were also detected. These findings establish the Kano–Kaduna alluvial sands as a high-grade Fe–Ti heavy-mineral placer with meaningful zircon enrichment. Thus, subject to appropriate beneficiation, the deposits hold strategic potential as feedstock for titanium pigment and metal production, ceramics, refractories, foundry, and glass industries. The results provide the first systematic physicochemical baseline for Northwestern Nigerian riverine mineral sands and offer an evidence base for resource valuation.

• 15_Garba et al. (2026)

Copyright (c) 2026 Usman GARBA, Abdullahi ADAMU, Mamuda MUHAMMAD (Author)

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