Nigeria is blessed with abundant mineral resources and most of these remain untapped. The country is so blessed with solid minerals and in large quantities too. Due to presence of oil in the country as well the government has not devoted enough time to the solid mineral sector although it has started by declaring its intention to support investors in this sector. This it has done by streamlining the process of acquisition of mining title and setting aside solid mineral support fund for investors in the sector. One of such mineral that Nigeria has in abundance is Bismuth
Chromium is a chemical element with symbol Cr and atomic number 24. It is the first element in group 6. It is a steely-grey, lustrous, hard and brittle metal which takes a high polish, resists tarnishing, and has a high melting point. Ferrochromium alloy is commercially produced from chromite by silicothermic or aluminothermic reactions and chromium metal by roasting and leaching processes followed by reduction with carbon and then aluminum. Chromium metal is of high value for its high corrosion resistance and hardness. A major development in steel production was the discovery that steel could be made highly resistant to corrosion and discoloration by adding metallic chromium to form stainless steel. Stainless steel and chrome plating (electroplating with chromium) together comprise 85% of the commercial use.
Trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) ion was considered an essential nutrient in trace amounts in humans for insulin, sugar and lipid metabolism. While chromium metal and Cr(III) ions are not considered toxic, hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is toxic and carcinogenic. Abandoned chromium production sites often require environmental cleanup.
PRODUCTION
Approximately 28.8 million metric tons (Mt) of marketable chromite ore was produced in 2013, and converted into 7.5 Mt of ferrochromium. According to John F. Papp, writing for the USGS, “Ferrochromium is the leading end use of chromite ore, [and] stainless steel is the leading end use of ferrochromium.
The largest producers of chromium ore in 2013 have been South Africa (48%), Kazakhstan (13%), Turkey (11%), and India (10%) with several other countries producing the rest of about 18% of the world production.
Production
Industrial chromium products include chromium metal, ferrochrome, chromium chemicals and foundry sands. In recent years, there has been a trend toward greater vertical integration in the production of chromium materials. That is, more companies are involved in the mining of chromite ore are also processing it into chromium metal, ferrochrome and, ultimately, stainless steel. In 2010 global production of chromite ore (FeCr2O4), the primary mineral extracted for chromium production was 25 million tons.
Ferrochrome production was around 7 million tons, while chromium metal production was approximately 40,000 tons. Ferrochromium is produced solely using electric arc furnaces, whereas chromium metal can be produced via electrolytic, silico-thermic and aluminothermic methods.
During the production of ferrochrome, the heat created by electric arc furnaces, which reaches 5070°F (2800°C), causes coal and coke to reduce chromium ore through a carbothermic reaction. Once sufficient material has been smelted in the furnace hearth, the molten metal is drained out and solidified in large castings before being crushed.
Alumino-thermic production of high purity chromium metal accounts for over 95% of chromium metal produced today. The first step in this process requires that the chromite ore is roasted with soda and lime in the air at 2000°F (1000°C), which creates a sodium chromate containing calcine.
It can be leached away from the waste material and then reduced and precipitated as chromic oxide (Cr2O3).
The chromic oxide is then mixed with powdered aluminum and put into a large clay crucible. Barium peroxide and magnesium powder are then spread onto the mixture, and the crucible is surrounded by sand (which acts as insulation). The mixture is ignited, resulting in the oxygen from the chromic oxide reacting with the aluminum to produce aluminum oxide and, thereby, liberating molten chromium metal that is 97-99% pure.
Applications
According to the International Development Association for Chromium, of the total chromite ore extracted in 2009, 95.2% was consumed by the metallurgical industry, 3.2% by the refractory and foundry industry, and 1.6% by chemical producers. The major uses for chromium are in stainless steels, alloyed steels, and nonferrous alloys.
Stainless steels refer to a range of steels that contain between 10% to 30% chromium (by weight) and that do not corrode or rust as easily as regular steels. Between 150 and 200 different stainless steel compositions exist, although only about 10% of these are in regular use.
Metallurgy
The strengthening effect of forming stable metal carbides at the grain boundaries and the strong increase in corrosion resistance made chromium an important alloying material for steel. The high-speed tool steels contain between 3 and 5% chromium. Stainless steel, the main corrosion-resistant metal alloy, is formed when chromium is added to iron in sufficient concentrations, usually above 11%. For its formation, ferrochromium is added to the molten iron. Also nickel-based alloys increase in strength due to the formation of discrete, stable metal carbide particles at the grain boundaries. For example, Inconel 718 contains 18.6% chromium. Because of the excellent high-temperature properties of these nickel superalloys, they are used in jet engines and gas turbines in lieu of common structural materials
Dye and pigment
The mineral crocoite (lead chromate PbCrO4) was used as a yellow pigment shortly after its discovery. After a synthesis method became available starting from the more abundant chromite, chrome yellow was, together with cadmium yellow, one of the most used yellow pigments. The pigment does not photodegrade, but it tends to darken due to the formation of chromium(III) oxide.
Synthetic ruby and the first laser
Natural rubies are corundum (aluminum oxide) crystals that are colored red (the rarest type) due to chromium (III) ions (other colors of corundum gems are termed sapphires). A red-colored artificial ruby may also be achieved by doping chromium(III) into artificial corundum crystals, thus making chromium a requirement for making synthetic rubies. Such a synthetic ruby crystal was the basis for the first laser, produced in 1960, which relied on stimulated emission of light from the chromium atoms in such a crystal.
Wood preservative
Because of their toxicity, chromium(VI) salts are used for the preservation of wood. For example, chromated copper arsenate (CCA) is used in timber treatment to protect wood from decay fungi, wood-attacking insects, including termites, and marine borers. The formulations contain chromium based on the oxide CrO3 between 35.3% and 65.5%. In the United States, 65,300 metric tons of CCA solution was used in 1996.
Tanning
Chromium (III) salts, especially chrome alum and chromium (III) sulfate, are used in the tanning of leather. The chromium (III) stabilizes the leather by cross linking the collagen fibers. Chromium tanned leather can contain between 4 and 5% of chromium, which is tightly bound to the proteins. Although the form of chromium used for tanning is not the toxic hexavalent variety, there remains interest in management of chromium in the tanning industry such as recovery and reuse, direct/indirect recycling, use of less chromium or “chrome-less” tanning are practiced to better manage chromium in tanning.
Refractory material
The high heat resistivity and high melting point makes chromite and chromium(III) oxide a material for high temperature refractory applications, like blast furnaces, cement kilns, molds for the firing of bricks and as foundry sands for the casting of metals. In these applications, the refractory materials are made from mixtures of chromite and magnesite. The use is declining because of the environmental regulations due to the possibility of the formation of chromium (VI).
Catalysts
Several chromium compounds are used as catalysts for processing hydrocarbons. For example, the Phillips catalyst, prepared from chromium oxides, is used for the production of about half the world’s polyethylene. Fe-Cr mixed oxides are employed as high-temperature catalysts for the water gas shift reaction. Copper chromite is a useful hydrogenation catalyst.
EXPORT OF COPPER
Chromium ore can be exported after sorting into size and packaging. Packaging is usually in 50 Kg since the price is quoted in Metric tons. 1000/KG makes 1 ton and this helps in easy containerization of the goods since most shipping company prefer to carry 20 tons in 20 feet container. In shipping mineral ores, 20 feet container is usually preferred because of the weight of the ores.
The sorting of the ore simply refers to the breaking down of the ore into the desired sizes as agreed with the buyer. Sizes usually range from 0-50-100 mm and care must be taken while this is being done because if the product is not broken to the desired size, it might lead to a reduction in price or rejection of goods.
In the export of the copper ore, some of the cost to consider includes cost of the ore at the site, cost of transportation to site of crushing/loading {in case the mining site is not accessible to trucks}, cost of crushing, cost of packaging, cost of loading it to the truck, cost of transportation to Warehouse/port, cost of analysis, cost of freight, agent fee, and miscellaneous. All these cost will be worked out for any potential investor so that you can have a better view of the return on investment.
REFINING
This facility do not exist in the Nigeria presently thus it presents a fantastic investment opportunity for a savvy investor to take advantage of, such investor will refine the chromium ore and then sell chromium concentrate to local and international buyers. This fetches more return on investment even though the investment is huge
MARKET
Export of crude Chromium ore is good business but refining to obtain pure Chromium ready to be used is better although it requires enormous investment so also is the return on investment. Global chromium consumption is steadily increasing, and currently stands at some 29 million metric tons 2017 report. Forecasts for global chromium demand show the same trend. The leading refined Chromium consuming countries are United States, China, Japan and Germany. Demand for Chromium worldwide is expected to grow largely because of increased consumption in China, which is being driven by growth in automotive, aerospace, defense, marine and other related businesses
REQUIREMENT AND CONDITIONS FOR MINING IN NIGERIA
There are two options available to a company or an individual to enter into the mining industry in Nigeria.
- Through the acquisition of an existing mining Lease from the original owner. Approval must be obtained from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development for such a purchase.
- Fresh mining lease
Procedure for Mineral Title Licences/Leases and Permits:
Duly completed application form
Coordinates of the area of application
Certificate of incorporation
Attestation
Letter of consent from landowner(s)/occupier(s)
Types of minerals
Work programme/pre-feasibility report
Evidence of payment
Technical capability
Financial capability
In order to encourage investment in the solid minerals industry in Nigeria, Government is offering the following incentives
- 3-5 years Tax Holiday
- Deferred royalty payments
- Possible capitalization of expenditure on exploration and surveys
- Extension of infrastructure such as roads and electricity to mining sites, and provision of 100% foreign ownership of mining concerns.
The mining industry in Nigeria is regulated by the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007, National Minerals and Metals Policy 2008 and Nigerian Minerals and Mining Regulations 2011.
CONCLUSION
Business Advisory Network ‘BAN’ will work with you and assist you to process mining lease from the federal government. We will help you source for a site with rich mineral content. Mining is a technical field although the financial reward is enormous; therefore to succeed you need experts to guide you to avoid fatal mistakes that will erode your capital.
Other things BAN can do for you include but are not limited to helping you to determine the grade of Chromium ore at the site, source market for your mined minerals, both locally and internationally. BAN will also help you arrange security at your mining sites. It will interest you to know that export of refined pure Chromium is where you will make a kill. BAN will help you to set up a refinery for Chromium ore in Nigeria. The capital outlay for this is huge but even so much more is the return on investment. If we have Chromium concentrate in Nigeria it will be easy for a company in Nigeria to go into stainless steel production which will give the nation a quantum leap in its automobile sector.