Metals and Solid Mineral Deposits in South East Nigeria in the Era of Alternative to Crude Oil as the Nations Major Source of Revenue, Abakaliki and Umuahia Ebonyi/Abia States Case Studies

Metals and solid mineral resources in the South East of Nigeria are made up of naturally occurring solid metal ores, or minerals or sedimentary deposits in forms and extents that economic extraction of the material deposit will be financially viable. At the contemporary time Nigeria's economy yearns urgently to diversify its main hold from crude oil and metals/solid minerals that can suitably provide alternative revenue to Nigeria's economy. The Nigerian economy is sustained by the crude oil/petroleum products and has been flagged deficient because of single-economy generating force. Emphasis was transferred from increase of strategies for oil and gas exploration in the Niger Delta and Nigerian sedimentary inland basins, to harnessing of opportunities for exploration for solid minerals such as gold in the alluvial and eluvial placers and primary veins in SW to NW Nigeria. Metallic minerals of galena deposits (lead ore), and sphalerite (zinc ore) are associated lead-zinc mineralization which occur in the Albian Abakaliki Shales, notably at Ishiagu and Enyigba in Ebonyi State, lead-zinc in veins at Abakaliki and Ishiagu. Economic deposits of solid minerals usually occur in tectonically disturbed areas and may be either structurally controlled or stratabound. They occur massively and sometimes in a disseminated form and may be crystalline in nature or amorphous. Exploitation or extraction Project areas comprise Abakaliki suburbs for lead-zinc deposits and salt (brine) deposits, and lead sulphide at Ohozara. Lead- Zinc localized as veins along the NE-SW Nigerian trending belt of Nigeria, with projects at Abakaliki areas, Ameri, Ameka. Also considered inevitable to the efforts on rescuing Nigeria economy from singular dependence of crude oil is the call to revamp the Iron ore in banded sedimentary formations in Awka vicinity in Anambra State, Nsude and Nsukka areas in Enugu State, Clay and kaoline industrial minerals occur in Ohiya Umuahia area which provided raw material to the famous Umuahia Ceramic Industry of the '70s to 1990's. The surplus revenue generation from crude oil drawned or buried the sustenance of clay mineral industries including the (clay) Burnt Bricks Industries at Okigwe and Awgu-Enugu sites, of the same production dates. The inevitable need for investigation for non-pure petroleum deposits such as Tarsands and Bitumen, is suggestive of the ubiquitous black shales of Nkporo-Nguzu-Eda-Abiriba-Ohafia Area (CoalMeasure). The very extent of bitumen seepages and sediments laden with oil can be investigated in this part of South Eastern Nigeria. For the desired diversification of the national revenue, not crude oil dependent, more investigations for bitumen is inevitable in the region. The need for further coal exploration and mining as alternative source of power will to a great extent bring the Nigerian economic status to an enviable position, which will automatically extend to the Eastern States. Emphasis was laid on revitalizing the coal mining industry to provide fuel for power generation and for domestic use. More investigations are required in the Anambra Coal Basin, particularly the Enugu District. Grades of coal from bitumen to lignite still accumulate sizeable acreages of reserves. These coal sites are potential excellent thermal coals for fueling coal- fired electrical generating plants, or as back-up.