ANALYSIS OF ACTINIDES ANDHEAVY METALS IN IRON ORE FROM ITAKPE KOGI STATE

ABSTRACT

Actinides (238U, 232Th) and toxic heavy metals Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As), Chromium(Cr) and Lead (Pb) are natural constituents of ore minerals. These radio- and chemo-toxic metals are being mobilised and dispersed into the environment through mining activities and constitute a commensurate cumulative human and environmental hazards such as cancer and respiratory diseases. The work presented in this thesis provides a study of actinides (238U, 232Th) and toxic heavy metals (Cr, As, Cd, Pb) in iron ore from Itakpe, Kogi State, from the perspective of human and environmental hazards. Iron ore samples were collected from Itakpe iron ore mining sites A, B and C using a hand auger and trowel. A total of forty five (45) samples (15 per mine) were collected at a depth of 45 cm and at interval of 3.048 m. The samples were crushed and pulverised using a crusher and grain size analysis was performed using a metallic sieve (45, 150 and 300 µm) and mechanical sieve shaker. The samples were subsequently characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyser to determine the form of occurrence, particle size, morphology, distribution and concentration of these metals and evaluate their health and environmental hazards.