GEOCHEMICAL AND MINERALOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF MARBLE AND ITS ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE FROM OKPOTO AND ENVIRONS SOUTHWESTERN, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Five (5) marble samples from Okpoto and Environs in southwestern Nigeria were obtained with the aim of qualifying the marble using XRF as well as XRD techniques and determining its economic importance. The major element composition of the marble deposit shows it has a mean chemical composition of CaO (87.33 wt. %), MgO (3.24 wt. %), SiO2 (2.79 wt. %), K2O (0.28 wt. %), Al2O3 (3.60 wt. %) and Fe2O3 (0.93wt. %), respectively. The modal composition of the marble is, calcite (81.06 %), quartz (8.91%), albite (17.23%) and lime (6.13%). The results of the analysis revealed that the Okpoto marble is highly calcitic in composition. Subject to beneficiation, Okpoto marble can be used for white cement production. Okpoto marble is also used for medicinal purposes and in the production of POPs because of its high lime and calcite content. It is suggested that detailed trace element analysis should be carried out on the marble.