EVALUATION OF BAUXITE FROM ORIN-EKITI, EKITI STATE, SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA USING CHEMICAL AND SPECTROSCOPIC METHODS OF ANALYSIS

By

Babatunde O.A And Dayo-Olabgende .O.

Presented To

Department of Chemistry

Bauxite samples were collected from Orin-Ekiti and analyzed using chemical and spectroscopic methods of analysis to substantiate its quality. The results obtained revealed that both method show close values for all parameters determined in all the samples. The silicon oxide concentration of all samples was found to have the highest value ranging between 44.22% and 56.02% while aluminum oxide concentrations in all the samples have values between 27.13% and 37.20%. The Iron concentration ranged from 0.63% to 6.01% while titanium oxide concentration was between 0.36% and 2.4% these values were all found to be within the specification range. The concentration of alkaline metal oxide and alkaline earth metal oxide determined are alkali metal and alkaline earth metals are below 1%. Results obtained have been compared with International standard for bauxite ore and it was discovered that the quality of Orin-Ekiti bauxite analyzed does not meet the specification for the production of aluminum but meet the specification as chemical bauxite for the production of Aluminium sulphate (Alum) and refractory materials.
KEYWORDS: Bauxite, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, chemical analysis, Orin-Ekiti.  

Development of man has been characterized by the quest to utilize the vast mineral resources available to him. All over the world, the solid mineral; has played vital role in the emerging civilization. Mineral resources is defined as a concentration of naturally occurring solid, liquid or gases mineral in or on the earth crust in such a form and amount that economic extraction of the commodity from the concentration is currently or potentially feasible1. To sustain the technological based society of this present age, demands for commodities obtained from these minerals are increasing and exploration for these commodities has become imperative.
Among several mineral deposits in Nigeria are bauxite deposits found in four states of the federation, and they are Plateau, Ondo, Ekiti, and Adamawa states2.
The word bauxite is used mainly for lithified and non lithified residual weathering product which is rich in alumina and low in alkali metals, alkali earth metals. It comprise mainly one or more of hydrated aluminum mineral; Gibbsite, Boehmite, and Diaspore with other impurities such as silica, iron oxides, titanium oxide and other elements in minor to trace amount3.
Bauxite has found so many uses for a long time. It has been the major source of aluminum hydroxide which itself has wide application as a major raw material in the production of aluminum sulphate (alum), as well as aluminum production by the Bayer process -