Abstract:
This research work presents the economic assessment of mining techniques practiced on veins 1 and 17 of Azara barytes deposits in Nasarawa State. The mechanized, semi mechanized and artisanal mining techniques were appraised based on certain economic indices such as productivity, extraction cost, selling price, importation trend and net profit. Global Positioning System (GPS) was used to take readings of veins 1 and 17 and determine their coordinates which were then transferred to the topographical map. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for the statistical analysis of the data collected' for economic indices such as daily, monthly and annual productions and cost of production used for assessing the three mining techniques. The data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), while Duncan's Multiple Range Test was used to verify significant differences among the treatment means at the 5% probability level. 'Polynomial regression curves between productivity (y) and extraction cost (x) for the different mining techniques were determined using Microsoft Excel (R). Results of the study showed that semi-mechanized method satisfied all the set economic indices more than other methods, thereby emerging as the most suitable mining technique used in the area. Semi-mechanized method recorded the highest productivity of about 33,500 tonnes per annum, while mechanized and artisanal productions were only limited to about 23,908 and 18,050 tonnes per annum respectively, due to technical and financial problems. Results also indicated that lower extraction cost and higher net profit for semi mechanization gave it an edge over other methods, despite its lower selling price and ever-increasing importation level. It was however, observed that lack of funding, poor management, incessant flooding and inadequate working equipment were the greatest obstacles facing sustainable barytes production. Therefore, adequate funding and technical supports have been indicated as a recipe for the re-organization and integration of the present artisanal mining in the area into formal mining sector.
