FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

MINISTRY OF MINES AND STEEL DEVELOPMENT

OFFICE OF THE MINISTER

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TAR SANDS/BITUMEN

Tar Sands/ Bitumen is one of the seven strategic minerals 1. The existence of huge deposits of tar sands in Nigeria is composed of sand, heavy oil (bitumen), mineral-rich clay and water in varying proportions. 2. This heavy oil in tar-sand is commonly referred to as bitumen.

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3. It is a viscous and complex mixture of hydrocarbons and other heterocyclic substances. 4. Extensive seepages of bituminous sand are known to occur along an East-West belt stretching over an area of about 120 km x 6 km across Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Edo States in southwestern Nigeria). 5. Many attempts have been made, mostly by the Nigerian government, to explore the commercial viability of the resource and reported resources equivalent up to 13 billion barrels of oil. 6. 27 billion barrels in Total reserve and 1.1 billion barrels in proven reserve. 7. Bitumen is classified under Energy Minerals.

Uses of Bitumen 8. Bitumen is primarily used to pave roads. 9. Bitumen is also used for waterproofing and sealing roofs and boats and to coat buildings. 10. In technology, bitumen plates are used to muffle sounds in machines such as computers and dishwashers. 11. In early photography, bitumen was spread on pewter plates which were then exposed to light, resulting in black and white images being formed. 12. Asphalt/bitumen is used to make Japan black, a lacquer known especially for its use on iron and steel. 13. Other uses include cattle sprays, fence-post treatments, and waterproofing for fabrics.