Heavy metal composition of some solid minerals in nigeria: Any health implication to inhabitants around the mining sites

In order to assess the potential toxicological and radiological health hazard posed to the environment due to mining activities, solid mineral ores (iron, tin and tantalite) from south-western and north-central (Kogi and Ekiti States) part of Nigeria were analysed for their trace-metal contents using Energy Dispersed X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF). The samples were found to contain some major, minor and trace elements of varying concentrations. No toxic heavy metals of serious environmental and public concern except Cadmium were detected. Cadmium was detected as one of the major element (6.14 ± 1.05%) in iron ore from Ipoti and in high concentration (5170 ± 126 mg kg⁻¹) in tantalite ore from Kabba. The toxicological risks in respect of the metabolic roles of some of the metals with high concentrations were discussed. Thorium and uranium were present in major quantity (between 4.25% and 15.50%) in tin. High concentration (4900 mg kg⁻¹ at Ipoti) of their daughter product Bi was also found in iron ore and Ra in major quantity (1.96%) in Tantalite ore. Possible pathway into the food chain as a result of mining activity has also been presented.