GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF EBONYI STATE, SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA

Ebonyi State is underlain at depth by the Precambrian Basement Complex and by Cretaceous sedimentary units which include the Abakaliki Formation, Nkalagu Limestone, Amasiri Sandstone and Afikpo Sandstone and spans through Southern Benue Trough and Anambra Basin. Shales, sandstones, siltstones and limestones which range from shallow to deep marine depositional environments have intermediate to basic intrusive dolerites, extrusives and pyroclastics rocks emplaced in them. The sediments are dominated by physical structures such as faults, folds, fractures, joints, cross beds, mud cracks and an unconformity; chemical structures such as concretions and solution cavity; and biogenic structures such as burrows and bioturbation. The presence of benthic foraminifera such as Bolivina anambra and Haplopragmoides sp. suggest an upper bethyal deep to shallow marine environment for the sediments. Natural resources and mineral deposits such as lead, zinc, granite, limestone, dolerite, pyroclastics, salt-lake/brine, sand, laterites, clay, kaolin, iron ores, chalcopyrite, illmenite, fluorite, marble stone, quartz and copper ore which spread across the area, contribute largely to the gross domestic products of the state. Data gathered shows that 26% of the mineral deposits are partially exploited, 30 % are locally exploited, 4 % are highly exploited, while 39 % are dormant. Unfortunately, the reserve estimate of these mineral deposits are yet to be documented. Keywords: Anambra Basin, Ebonyi State, Mineral deposits, Southern Benue Trough, Structure; Uncomformity