According to British Geological Survey, the 5 most mined mineral resources in the world are:
1. Coal: 7.4 billion tonnes
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The most significant uses are in electricity generation, steel production, cement manufacturing and as a liquid fuel. Coal is found in Benue, Enugu, kogi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Plateau, Zamfara State.
2. Iron: 4.6 billion tonnes
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Iron is used to make iron. Iron is made into buildings, trains and cars. It’s transformed by melting into steel for many applications. It is found in Anambra, Benue, Edo, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Plateau State.
3. Bauxite: 289 million tonnes
Bauxite is an aluminum ore and is the main source of aluminum found in Plateau State
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4. Phosphate rock: 276 million tonnes
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Some phosphate rock is used to make calcium phosphate nutritional supplements for animals. Pure phosphorus is used to make chemicals for use in industry. The most important use of phosphate rock, is in the production of phosphate fertilizers for agriculture. Phosphate is found in Edo, Imo, Ogun, Sokoto State.
5. Gypsum: 267.1 million tonnes
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Uses of gypsum include: manufacture of wallboard, cement, plaster of Paris, soil conditioning, hardening retarder in Portland cement. Gypsum is found in Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Borno, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Kogi, Sokoto.
Nigeria is also endowed with the above mentioned mineral resources which, when appropriately exploited, would generate wealth and accelerate human development in the country.
