FOREWORD

Nigeria as a country has diversed geological terrains associated with highly varied assemblages of mineral occurrences and deposits. The schist belts are well known for their gold deposits which in North Central Nigeria are represented by the Zungeru, Kushaka, Kusheriki Schist Belts in Niger State and the Muro Hills in Nasarawa State. The migmatite-gneisses and Older Granites contain large deposits of feldspars and micas in and around Suleija (Niger State), Lokoja (Kogi State) and Egbe-Omuaron areas in Kwara State. Younger Granites with their well-documented tin and columbite mineralization dominate the geological terrains of Plateau State and some parts of Nasarawa State. Sedimentary rocks in North Central Nigeria contain varied mineral deposits of barite, lead, zinc in the Adudu and Azara areas of Nasarawa State, large deposits of limestones at Yandev (Benue State) and at Awe (Nasarawa State) and economic deposits of clay at Gada-Biyu (FCT), Kutigi (Niger State), Ahoko and Ojodu (Kogi State).

Professor Cornelius Kogbe published the book on the Geology of Nigeria in 1979 as a collection of many contributors and the book was very elucidating (Rockview). Professor Nuhu Obaje also published the book on the Geology and Mineral Resources of Nigeria (Springer) in 2009 and that contributed immensely to knowledge on Nigeria's regional geology. This book by Dr Sunday Idakwo and others is a more focused and more detailed concentration on North Central Nigeria, comprising Nigeria's geopolitical States of Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It is very useful for teaching of regional geology in tertiary institutions at home and abroad, research on mineral locations in Central Nigeria, policy makers and investors. It is a very good compilation and recommended for inclusion in our personal and institutional libraries.

 

Prof Nuhu George Obaje

NNPC Chair Professor in Basinal Studies and Coordinating
Director of Research & Development Directorate,

Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University,

Lapai.

January 2023