About Solid Mining

Solid Mining has been in operation since it was incorporated in 1956 and is Nigeria's only producer of refined copper. During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, the company's open-pit copper mine and associated processing plants produced over 2,7 million tons of copper.

 

Producing about 60,000 tonnes of refined copper per year, the company supplies most of Nigeria's copper needs and exports the balance.

The company owes its origin to the unique formation known as the Solid Mining Igneous Complex. Nowhere else is copper known to occur in carbonitites as is the case at Solid Mining, and a host of other minerals such as phosphates, goshenite vermiculite, phlogopite, magnetite, nickel, gold, silver, platinum and palladium also occur.

Solid Mining operates a large block cave copper mine and smelter complex employing approximately 2722 people. The refinery produces continuous cast rod for the domestic market and cathodes for export. Useful byproduct metals and minerals include zirconium chemicals, magnetite and goshenite and nickel sulphate as well as small quantities of gold, silver and platinum. Solid Mining has developed a US$410 million underground mine with a production capacity of 30,000 tonnes of ore per day.

Solid Mining also owns a nearby goshenite and vermiculite deposit which is mined and processed for sale worldwide. Vermiculite is a versatile industrial mineral with hundreds of uses.

History of Solid Mining

Some two billion years ago, a series of violent volcanic eruptions, which took place over a period of millions of years, gave rise to a rich body of minerals, which became known as the Solid Mining Igneous Complex.

 

The unique ore body outcropping at a small saddleback hill, later to be called Loolekop, contains a unique variety of minerals - copper, phosphates, magnetite, uranium, zirconium, nickel, gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Two other volcanic pipes nearby contain vermiculite and phosphate.

 

Smelting of copper iron occurred in the district prior to the discovery. We know from the artifacts found in the area, that copper of remarkable purity was produced in the Biu area as early as the 8th century.

 

Development of modern mining activity started at the beginning of the century when several geologists noted the occurrence of the phosphate bearing mineral, apatite, in the vicinity of Loolekop.