Overview#
Ekiti is a mineral state without hydrocarbons — granite, kaolin, columbite, gemstone (aquamarine, tourmaline) and a long agricultural base in cocoa, palm and timber. The Ikogosi Warm Spring is the country's most-developed geothermal-tourism resource. Most of Ekiti's mineral exploitation is artisanal.
Geology & Deposits#
Granite & dimension stone. Continuous outcrops across the Ekiti-Kwara basement complex — Ado-Ekiti, Ikere, Ifaki. The state's largest export by tonnage. Columbite, tantalite, cassiterite. Ijero-Ekiti, Aramoko, Iyin — the southern tail of the older basement Sn-Ta-Nb province that peaks on the Jos Plateau. Kaolin. Isan-Ekiti, Ipoti. Aquamarine & tourmaline (gemstones). Ijero pegmatites — internationally traded since the 1980s. Iron-ore (titaniferous). Itakpe extensions on the Ekiti-Kogi border. Ikogosi Warm and Cold Springs. Twin springs (one warm ~37°C, one ambient) that meet at the same confluence — geothermal-tourism complex. Agricultural produce. Cocoa, kola, timber, oil-palm, yam.
Operators & Output#
- Small and medium artisanal miners — Ijero columbite and gemstone; many are unlicensed. - Multi Granite Ltd, Crushed Rock Industries — Ado-Ekiti dimension-stone and aggregate quarries. - Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort (state-owned, leased to private operators since 2014).
Host-Community & Revenue#
No derivation. Royalties from solid-mineral leases are remitted to the Federation Account. Ijero LGA in particular has hosted recurring fatal pit-collapse incidents in the gemstone diggings.
Current Status#
Producing: Ado/Ikere/Ifaki granite, Ijero gemstones, Isan kaolin. Underdeveloped: Ikogosi geothermal-tourism (multiple management changes since 2014). Dormant: any industrial-scale Sn-Ta-Nb concentrator.
References
Sources#
- Nigerian Geological Survey Agency — Ekiti basement complex sheets.
- Ekiti State Bureau of Lands & Mineral Resources.