Assessment of the Geochemistry and Resource Potential of Manganese Deposits in Minas of Minna Area, Niger State

Manganese is a critical industrial mineral with applications in steel production, battery technology, and chemical manufacturing. Despite Nigeria's known manganese occurrences, systematic geochemical characterisation of the Minna area deposits in Niger State, North Central Nigeria, remains absent from recent literature. This study assesses the geochemical characteristics and resource potential of manganese deposits in the Minna district using rigorous analytical and geostatistical methods. Systematic geological mapping was conducted over a 45-square-kilometre study area, and 120 rock and soil samples were collected along traverses and at grid-based sampling nodes. Samples were analysed for manganese, iron, silica, phosphorus, and pathfinder element concentrations by X-ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Variogram modelling and ordinary kriging were used to produce three-dimensional grade models. Results indicate the presence of stratiform manganese ore bodies with grades ranging from 12 to 47 percent manganese oxide, hosted within banded iron formation sequences. Total in-situ resources estimated at the 25 percent manganese oxide cut-off grade are approximately 2.3 million tonnes, qualifying as an economically interesting development target. The study identifies beneficiation requirements to achieve metallurgical-grade specifications and delineates priority drill targets for resource upgrading. This research fills a significant literature gap and provides the basis for a pre-feasibility study. Keywords: manganese, geochemistry, resource estimation, Niger State, banded iron formation.