| Location | |
|---|---|
  Itakpe mine | |
| Kogi State | |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Coordinates | 7°37′07″N6°19′04″E / 7.61848°N 6.317862°E |
| Production | |
| Products | Iron ore |
| History | |
| Opened | 2012 |
The Itakpe mine is a large iron mine located in central Nigeria in the Kogi State. Itakpe represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Nigeria and in the world having estimated reserves of 3 billion tonnes of ore grading 32% iron metal. [1]
Limonite is an iron ore consisting of a mixture of hydrated iron(III) oxide-hydroxides in varying composition. The generic formula is frequently written as FeO(OH)·nH2O, although this is not entirely accurate as the ratio of oxide to hydroxide can vary quite widely. Limonite is one of the three principal iron ores, the others being hematite and magnetite, and has been mined for the production of iron since at least 400 BC.
Ajaokuta is a Local Government Area in Kogi State, Nigeria and a town within it on the left bank of the Niger River. The headquarters of the LGA are in the town of Egayin in the south of the area at 6°40′11″N8°48′19″E.
Itakpe is a town in Kogi State, Nigeria. The Itakpe Hills in and around the town of Itakpe contain very pure deposits of iron ore. The National Iron Ore Mining Company is located here. It supplies the steel works of Ajaokuta and Aladja, as well as producing ore for export.
Iron ore production in Africa is dominated by South Africa, Mauritania and Algeria. Many countries possess iron ore deposits that are as yet untapped/unmined. Countries and companies currently involved in production are listed here; measurements are in tonnes per annum(year).
Railways in Nigeria consist of a 3,505 km Cape gauge national railway network and 669 km of standard gauge. The Cape gauge network is in poor condition due to lack of maintenance. In 2019, the single operational standard gauge line from Abuja to Kaduna generated as much revenue as the entire Cape gauge railway network combined. The Nigerian government plans to extend the standard gauge to replace most of the Western Line, while the Eastern Line will be rehabilitated as a Cape gauge line. All trains in Nigeria are operated by the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
The mining of minerals in Nigeria accounts for only 0.3% of its gross domestic product, due to the influence of its vast oil resources. The domestic mining industry is underdeveloped, leading to Nigeria having to import minerals that it could produce domestically, such as salt or iron ore. The rights to ownership of mineral resources is held by the Federal Government of Nigeria, which grants titles to organizations to explore, mine, and sell mineral resources. Organized mining began in 1903, when the Mineral Survey of the Northern Protectorates was created by the British colonial government. A year later, the Mineral Survey of the Southern Protectorates was founded. By the 1940s, Nigeria was a major producer of tin, columbite, and coal. The discovery of oil in 1956 hurt the mineral extraction industries, as government and industry both began to focus on this new resource. The Nigerian Civil War in the late 1960s led many expatriate mining experts to leave the country. Mining regulation is handled by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, who are tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the management of all mineral resources in Nigeria. Mining law is codified in the Federal Minerals and Mining Act of 1999. Historically, Nigeria's mining industry was monopolized by state-owned public corporations. This led to a decline in productivity in almost all mineral industries. The Obasanjo administration began a process of selling off government-owned corporations to private investors in 1999. The Nigerian Mining Industry has picked up since the "Economic Diversification Agenda", from Oil & Gas, to Agriculture, Mining, etc., began in the country.
The second-largest mineral industry in the world is the mineral industry of Africa, which implies large quantities of resources due to Africa being the second largest continent, with 30.37 million square kilometres of land.With a population of 1.4 billion living there, mineral exploration and production constitute significant parts of their economies for many African countries and remain keys to economic growth. Africa is richly endowed with mineral reserves and ranks first in quantity of world reserves for bauxite, cobalt, industrial diamond, phosphate rock, platinum-group metals (PGM), vermiculite, and zirconium.
Railway stations in Nigeria include:
The Muncelu Mic mine was a large open pit mine in the western of Romania in Hunedoara County, 16 km southeast of Simeria and 387 km north-west of the capital, Bucharest. Muncelu Mic represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 6.5 million tonnes of ore. When it was operational it produced around 200,000 tonnes of iron ore/year. The mine also has a gold and silver reserves of around 5.4 million tonnes grading 1g/t gold and 8g/t silver resulting 173,000 oz of gold and 1.38 million oz of silver.
The Ghelari mine was a large open pit, also an underground iron ore mine in the western of Romania in Hunedoara County, 20 km south-west of Hunedoara and 411 km north-west of the capital, Bucharest. Ghelari represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 14 million tonnes of ore. The mine produced around 200,000 tonnes of iron ore/year.
The Teliuc mine is a large open pit mine in the western of Romania in Hunedoara County, 15 km west of Hunedoara and 406 km north-west of the capital, Bucharest. Teliuc represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 3 million tonnes of ore. The mine produces around 100,000 tonnes of iron ore/year.
The Ocna de Fier mine is a large open pit mine in the western of Romania in Caraș-Severin County, 25 km west of Reșița and 511 km north-west of the capital, Bucharest. Ocna de Fier represents the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 200 million tonnes of ore grading 25% iron metal. The mine produces around 10,000 tonnes of iron ore/year.
The Dognecea mine is a large open pit mine in the western of Romania in Caraș-Severin County, 23 km west of Reșița and 509 km north-west of the capital, Bucharest. Dognecea represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 9 million tonnes of ore. The mine produces around 10,000 tonnes of iron ore/year.
The Lueta mine is a large open pit mine in central Romania in Harghita County, 36 km west of Miercurea Ciuc and 299 km north of the capital, Bucharest. Lueta represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 6 million tonnes of ore. The mine produces around 10,000 tonnes of iron ore/year.
The Agbaja mine is a large iron mine located in central Nigeria in the Kogi State. Agbaja represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Nigeria and in the world having estimated reserves of 1.25 billion tonnes of ore grading 48% iron metal.
The Cacova Ierii mine is a large open pit mine in the north-western of Romania in Cluj County. Cacova Ierii represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 16.6 million tonnes of ore grading 42% iron metal. The mine has the capability to produce around 415,000 tonnes of iron ore/year.
The Rudăria-Bănia mine is a large open pit mine in the south-western Romania in Caraș-Severin County. Rudăria-Bănia represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 70 million tonnes of ore grading 45% iron metal and 20% manganese metal. The mine has the capability to produce around 500,000 tonnes of iron ore/year.
Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) popularly known as Ajaokuta Steel Mill is a steel mill in Nigeria, located in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, Nigeria. Built on a 24,000 hectares (59,000 acres) site starting in 1979, it is the largest steel mill in Nigeria, and the coke oven and by-products plant are larger than all the refineries in Nigeria combined. However, the project was mismanaged and remains incomplete 40 years later. Three-quarters of the complex have been abandoned, and only the light mills have been put into operation for small-scale fabrication and the production of iron rods.
Iron and steel industry in Nigeria developed as a public funded integral industry. Between 1979 and 1983, Nigeria government jump started iron and steel production with emphasis on the importance of iron and steel in developing and driving local production of goods. A strong iron and steel industry was also projected to reduce demand of foreign currency used towards the importation of steel products.
The Ujevwu–Itakpe Railway is a standard gauge railway in Nigeria that connects the port city of Warri to the inland town of Itakpe. Construction began in 1987 on an industrial railway to supply the Ajaokuta Steel Mill with iron ore and coal. After a protracted construction period of more than 30 years, the railway was finally inaugurated in 2020 as a mixed freight and passenger line. Construction is underway on an extension to Abuja, where it will connect to the Lagos–Kano Standard Gauge Railway.