Vote for your favorite mineral in #MinCup26! - Sphalerite vs. Anorthite
Both zinc ore Sphalerite and calcium plagioclase feldspar Anorthite have perfect cleavage that will split cleanly if you hit them with a hammer, but only one can claim a larger split of your votes!
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Ishiagu lead-zinc deposit, Nkanu East, Enugu, Nigeriai
Regional Level Types
Ishiagu lead-zinc depositDeposit
Nkanu EastLocal Government Area
EnuguState
NigeriaCountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
5° 57' 0'' North , 7° 31' 59'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
5.95000,7.53333
GRN:
N04E06
Type:
Deposit
Köppen climate type:
Am : Tropical monsoon climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Awgu23,175 (2016)15.0km
Ake-Eze6,537 (2012)16.2km
Okigwe115,499 (2016)24.3km
Mberubu8,904 (2018)27.0km
Amaigbo127,300 (2012)38.2km
Mindat Locality ID:
305471
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:305471:3
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Seven open pits up to 40m deep.
The Pb-Zn mineralized veins are hosted in shales and sandstones facies of the Asu River Group. The host rock generally strike ENE-SWS and NE-SE, steeply dipping 25°–40° NW-SE and typically forming en-echelon pattern. The mineralized veins are nearly perpendicular to the general strike of the host rock in the N-S and NW-SE direction. The peculiar feature of the Ishiagu veins is the presence of micro-diorites in form of sills and irregular bodies. These intrusions are closely associated with ore bodies where recrystallization of vein constituent is observed. The veins are lenticular usually 0.25–5 m wide and length of 20–150 m. The absence of wall rock alteration indicates a low temperature mineralizing fluids.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


11 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


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Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Anglesite
Formula: PbSO4
ⓘ Azurite
Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
ⓘ Cerussite
Formula: PbCO3
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ Galena
Formula: PbS
ⓘ 'Limonite'
ⓘ Malachite
Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Siderite
Formula: FeCO3
ⓘ Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
References:
Ezepue, M. C., Dunham, A. C. (1983) The composition of sphalerites from Ishiagu, E. Nigeria. Mineralogical Magazine, 47 (344) 408-411 doi:10.1180/minmag.1983.047.344.24
Ezepue, M. C. (1984). The geologic setting of lead-zinc deposits at Ishiagu, southeastern Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences (1983), 2(2), 97-101.
Olubambi, P. A., Ndlovu, S., Potgieter, J. H., & Borode, J. O. (2008). Mineralogical characterization of Ishiagu (Nigeria) complex sulphide ore. International Journal of Mineral Processing, 87(3-4), 83-89.
Bute, Saleh Ibrahim, Zhou, Jia-Xi, Luo, Kai, Girei, Musa Bala, Peter, Raymond Tabale (2024) Pb-Zn-Ba deposits in the Nigerian Benue Trough: A synthesis on deposits classification and genetic model. Ore Geology Reviews, 166. 105947 doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2024.105947
ⓘ Stannite
Formula: Cu2FeSnS4
ⓘ 'Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulphide)'
Formula: Cu2MnSnS4

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘSphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
ⓘ'Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulphide)'2.CB.07aCu2MnSnS4
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘStannite2.CB.15aCu2FeSnS4
ⓘGalena2.CD.10PbS
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘSiderite5.AB.05FeCO3
ⓘCerussite5.AB.15PbCO3
ⓘAzurite5.BA.05Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
ⓘMalachite5.BA.10Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘAnglesite7.AD.35PbSO4
Unclassified
ⓘ'Limonite'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Hⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
CCarbon
Cⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cⓘ CerussitePbCO3
Cⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Cⓘ SideriteFeCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ AnglesitePbSO4
Oⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Oⓘ CerussitePbCO3
Oⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ SideriteFeCO3
SiSilicon
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
SSulfur
Sⓘ AnglesitePbSO4
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ GalenaPbS
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ SphaleriteZnS
Sⓘ StanniteCu2FeSnS4
Sⓘ Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulphide)Cu2MnSnS4
MnManganese
Mnⓘ Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulphide)Cu2MnSnS4
FeIron
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
Feⓘ SideriteFeCO3
Feⓘ StanniteCu2FeSnS4
CuCopper
Cuⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Cuⓘ StanniteCu2FeSnS4
Cuⓘ Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulphide)Cu2MnSnS4
ZnZinc
Znⓘ SphaleriteZnS
SnTin
Snⓘ StanniteCu2FeSnS4
Snⓘ Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulphide)Cu2MnSnS4
PbLead
Pbⓘ AnglesitePbSO4
Pbⓘ CerussitePbCO3
Pbⓘ GalenaPbS

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent
African PlateTectonic Plate
West AfricaUN Subregion

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Olade, M. A., & Morton, R. D. (1980). Temperature of ore formation and origin of the Ishiagu lead-zinc deposit, southern Benue Trough, Nigeria. J. Min. Geol, 17, 119-127.
Ezepue, M. C., Dunham, A. C. (1983) The composition of sphalerites from Ishiagu, E. Nigeria. Mineralogical Magazine, 47 (344) 408-411 doi:10.1180/minmag.1983.047.344.24
Ezepue, M. C. (1984). The geologic setting of lead-zinc deposits at Ishiagu, southeastern Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences (1983), 2(2), 97-101.
Olade, M.A., Morton, R.D. (1985) Origin of lead-zinc mineralization in the southern Benue Trough, Nigeria - Fluid inclusion and trace element studies. Mineralium Deposita, 20 (2). 76-80 doi:10.1007/bf00204313
Akande, O., Zentelli, M., Reynolds, P. H. (1989) Fluid inclusion and stable isotope studies of Pb-Zn-fluorite-barite mineralization in the lower and middle Benue Trough, Nigeria. Mineralium Deposita, 24 (3) 183-191 doi:10.1007/bf00206441
Olubambi, P. A., Ndlovu, S., Potgieter, J. H., & Borode, J. O. (2008). Mineralogical characterization of Ishiagu (Nigeria) complex sulphide ore. International Journal of Mineral Processing, 87(3-4), 83-89.
Chukwu, E. (2011). Small scale mining and heavy metals pollution of agricultural soils: The case of Ishiagu Mining District, South Eastern Nigeria. Journal of Geology and Mining Research, 3(4), 87-104.
Okonkwo, A. C., Okeke, P. O., & Opara, A. I. (2013). Evaluation of Self-Potential Anomalies over Sulphide Ore Deposits at Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Southeastern Nigeria. Int. Res. J. Geol. Min, 4, 9-19.
P.O., Odika,; O.L., Anike,; A.G., Onwuemesi,; N.F., Odika,; R.B., Ejeckam, (2020) Assessment of Environmental Geochemistry of Lead-Zinc Mining at Ishiagu Area, Lower Benue Trough, Southeastern Nigeria. Earth Science Research, 9 (1). 31-44 doi:10.5539/esr.v9n1p31
[1]Bute, Saleh Ibrahim, Zhou, Jia-Xi, Luo, Kai, Girei, Musa Bala, Peter, Raymond Tabale (2024) Pb-Zn-Ba deposits in the Nigerian Benue Trough: A synthesis on deposits classification and genetic model. Ore Geology Reviews, 166. 105947 doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2024.105947
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