Application of X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy in Mineral Characterisation for the Nigerian Mining Sector

Nigeria possesses extensive solid mineral resources including iron ore, lead-zinc, barite, and tantalite that remain largely underexploited due to limited analytical infrastructure for rapid mineral characterisation. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy provides fast, non-destructive elemental analysis applicable to mineral exploration, ore grade assessment, and processing quality control. This study evaluates the application of portable and benchtop XRF instruments for major and trace element analysis of mineral ore samples from active mining operations in Ebonyi State's lead-zinc mines and Plateau State's columbite deposits. Certified reference materials from the South African Bureau of Standards are used to validate instrument performance. One hundred and twenty ore samples are analysed by both XRF and conventional wet chemistry digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for comparative validation. Results demonstrate that portable XRF achieves agreement within 5 percent of ICP-MS values for major elements including Fe, Pb, Zn, and Ba, and within 12 percent for trace elements including Nb, Ta, and U. The study provides a performance framework for deploying XRF technology in the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office's field assay programme to support the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development's solid mineral development agenda. Keywords: X-ray fluorescence, mineral analysis, Nigerian mining, portable XRF, ore characterisation