Ferberite-bearing Quartzite in Zumba area, Northcentral Nigeria

Tungsten minerals are ferberite, hubnerite and wolframite which belongs to the wolframite group. The aim of this research was to evaluate the potential of the rocks to host Tungsten. These minerals have found use in the industries for the production of alloys & armaments, carbides, wear resistant tools, welding electrodes, jewelleries, electrical appliances and heavy metal alloys. Schist and granite with large quartzite intrusions were revealed as the main lithologies of the area from fieldwork observations. The quartzite intrusion hosts the Tungsten minerals. The XRD revealed four mineral phases; quartz, ferberite, magnetite and columbite. Petrographic studies indicate the presence of quartz within the range of 25 to 30% in schist, 65 to 70% in granite, 60 to 90% in quartzite lithologies, by visual estimation and 50 to 55% biotite in the schist. Trace elements concentration in the quartzite show W is 331371.85ppm against Cv of 1ppm thereby indicating high mineralization of Tungsten in the area. It is therefore recommended that SEM studies be included in future work to decipher the structure & mineralogy of the ore.