Nigeria Resources – SS1 Geography Lesson Note (Second Term)

Nigeria’s mineral resources include petroleum, coal, iron ore, tin, columbite and limestone, each found in particular states and mined by a specific method. Its power resources are water, coal, petroleum and natural gas, which produce hydro-electric and thermal power. This note covers where each is found, how it is mined, its importance, and the problems of mining.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• name the major mineral resources of Nigeria and the places where they are found;
• describe how petroleum, coal, iron ore, tin, columbite and limestone are mined;
• state the importance of minerals and the problems facing mining in Nigeria;
• name the sources of power in Nigeria and explain hydro-electric and thermal power;
• state the effects of climate on dams.

What are the mineral resources in Nigeria?

Petroleum or crude oil

Petroleum is a sedimentary rock mineral found in Port Harcourt (Rivers State), Warri and Ughelli (both in Delta State), Akwa Ibom and Imo State. The first oil well in Nigeria was sunk in Oloibiri near Port Harcourt. Other oil wells are found in Afam, Ughelli, Warri, Egbema, etc. Petroleum is refined by a method called fractional distillation in refineries located in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna.

Method of mining petroleum

Petroleum is mined by the drilling method. The rocks are sampled and tested for traces of oil. When any trace is found, a well is sunk to reach it with the aid of a drilling rig. The oil is then pumped out mechanically, or it flows out naturally if the pressure within the oil zone in the soil is high.

Coal

Coal is also a sedimentary rock mineral found in Enugu and Okaba (Kogi State). The type of coal found in Nigeria is the sub-bituminous grade. In the past, coal was mainly used as fuel in homes and in railway locomotives.

Method of mining coal

Coal is mined by underground mining, also called the adit method. A tunnel or adit is cut into the coal seam. Explosives are then used to shatter the coal. A light rail car is then used to haul the coal from the tunnel to the surface or into waiting lorries.

Iron ore

Iron ore is a basement complex rock mineral found in Itakpe (Kogi State) and Aladja (Delta State). It is the major raw material used in iron and steel complexes. Iron and steel complexes are found in Ajaokuta (Kogi State) and Aladja (Delta State). Iron and steel rolling mills are located in Osogbo (Osun State), Jos (Plateau State) and Katsina (Katsina State).

Method of mining iron ore

Iron ore is mined by a method called the open cast method. The steps are:

1. Explosives are used to blast and remove overburden rocks.
2. A powerful machine called a dragline is then used to pile the ore into a heap.
3. A monitor is then used to direct a powerful jet of water towards the heap.
4. The water washes the soil out through a series of sluice boxes.
5. The iron sinks to the bottom of the sluice boxes while the water carries the dirt away.
6. The iron concentrate now formed is later sent to the factory for smelting.

Tin and columbite

Tin and columbite are basement complex rock minerals found near Jos (Plateau State). Tin is used for coating containers in the canning industry. Columbite is used in the manufacture of heat-resistant steel for jet engines. Tin and columbite occur together naturally, just like petroleum and natural gas.

Method of mining tin and columbite

Tin and columbite are mined by the open cast method, which is also used for mining iron ore. The steps are:

1. Explosives are used to remove the overburden rocks.
2. A powerful machine called a dragline is then used to pile the tin into a heap.
3. A monitor is then used to direct a strong jet of water towards the heap.
4. The water washes the soil out through a series of sluice boxes.
5. The tin ore sinks to the bottom of the sluice box while the water carries the dirt away.
6. The tin concentrate now formed is later sent to the factory for smelting.

Limestone

Limestone is a sedimentary rock mineral found in Ewekoro and Sagamu (Ogun State), Ukpilla (Edo State), Calabar (Cross River), Nkalagu (Ebonyi State), Benue and Sokoto State. It is an essential raw material for the manufacture of cement. Cement factories are located in the areas where limestone is found.

Method of mining limestone

Limestone is mined by a method called quarrying. The overburden rocks are scraped off with mechanical excavators to reach the limestone. The limestone is then shattered with explosives and scooped out by the excavator into trucks waiting to carry it to the factory.

Why are minerals important to Nigeria?

1. Provision of employment.
2. Revenue generation.
3. Foreign exchange earnings.
4. Provision of raw materials for industries.
5. Provision of essential goods like kerosene, petrol, grease, engine oil, etc.
6. Improved standard of living.
7. Growth of towns.
8. Acquisition of skills.
9. Production of geological maps.

What problems face mining in Nigeria?

1. Poor management.
2. Environmental pollution, e.g. oil spillage.
3. Poor transport network.
4. Inadequate capital for exploitation.
5. Outdated topographic maps.
6. Difficult terrains.
7. High rate of sabotage by unpatriotic people.
8. Fluctuation in world prices of minerals.
9. Constant conflicts between the local people and the prospecting companies.

What are the power resources in Nigeria?

There are four major sources of power in Nigeria:

1. Water
2. Coal
3. Petroleum
4. Natural gas

Hydro-electric power (H.E.P.)

This is the power generated by water. Examples of H.E.P. projects in Nigeria are Kainji Dam on River Niger and Shiroro Dam on River Kaduna.

Thermal power

This is the power generated through the use of coal, natural gas and petroleum. These minerals are used to power turbines or giant generators to generate electricity.

The following are places where thermal plants are found in Nigeria:

How does climate affect dams?

1. Inadequate rainfall reduces the volume of water in the rivers or dams.
2. Excessive rainfall leads to overflow of water from the dams.
3. High intensity of rainfall leads to sedimentation of silt in dams.
4. Intense heat leads to high evaporation of water from dams.

Evaluation

1. Name three places where petroleum is found and state how it is mined.
2. State one use each of tin and columbite.
3. Which mineral is the raw material for cement, and where is it found?
4. Explain the difference between hydro-electric power and thermal power.
5. Name the fuel used at the Oji thermal plant.

Assignment

1. Describe the open cast method of mining tin.
2. List five problems facing mining in Nigeria.
3. State the four effects of climate on dams.