Application of Geographic Information Systems in Mineral Resource Management in Zamfara State

The management of solid mineral resources in Zamfara State, North West Nigeria, is constrained by inadequate spatial data infrastructure, leading to overlapping licensing areas, uncoordinated artisanal activities, and regulatory enforcement challenges. This study applies geographic information systems to develop an integrated mineral resource management framework for Zamfara State, incorporating spatial data on mining licences, geological maps, environmental sensitivity zones, and community boundaries. Geodata were compiled from the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office, Geological Survey of Nigeria archives, and field-acquired GPS coordinates of active and abandoned mine sites. A multi-layer geodatabase was constructed in ArcGIS, enabling spatial querying of licence status, geological host rock, and proximity to protected areas and water bodies. Hotspot analysis was applied to identify areas of concentrated artisanal activity associated with elevated conflict risk and child labour. An environmental sensitivity overlay was developed to flag high-risk areas where future licencing should require enhanced environmental impact assessment. The resulting GIS platform was validated through consultation workshops with the Zamfara State Ministry of Solid Minerals and representatives of the Mining Artisanal Association. The study demonstrates that spatial data integration significantly improves the transparency and efficiency of licensing administration and supports evidence-based allocation of regulatory resources. Recommendations for data update cycles and stakeholder data access protocols are presented. Keywords: GIS, mineral resource management, Zamfara State, mining cadastre, artisanal mining.