Field Mapping and Mineralogical studies of rocks in part of Zungeru sheet 163 SE using Thin Section Petrography and X-ray Difraction Method

Abstract

Mineralogical studies of rocks were carried out in parts of Gidan Kwano with an aim of investigating the mineralogical composition of the rocks using thin section petrography and X-ray Diffraction methods. The study area lies between latitudes 9 30 10N - 9 31 50N and longitude 6 26 10E and 6 27 30E covering aerial extent of 3.24km2 . Geological mapping of the area was first carried out to revealed the rock types which was then follow by the preparation of the section of carefully selected representative of the samples of the rocks in the area. X-ray diffraction was then carried out on the same selected sample to reveal the geochemical content of the rocks. The geological mapping revealed that the area is underlain by granite of medium to coarse grain rocks, with colour varying from leaucocratic to melanocratic. The minerals that could be identified in the hand specimen are mica, quartz and feldspar. Also structure such as joints, faults, quartz veins, and pegmatite veins were observed in the hand specimen with high modal percentage of quartz and orthoclase. The result from the XRD revealed the presence of of the following minerals in varying proportions muscovite, quartz, orthoclase, plagioclase, amblygonite and albite. Amblygonite is one of the few major lithium ores and could be used in producing aluminum products, batteries, ceramics, glazes and glass. Further geological, geophysical and geochemical propection is recommended to be carried out in the study area to determine the economic prospect of this minerals