|
|
Kenya: Community Poor Yet Blessed With a Variety of Minerals
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
The East African Standard (Nairobi)
8 May 2008
Posted to the web 7 May 2008
Isaiah Lucheli
Nairobi
For years, pastoralists have grazed animals in the vast, hilly and dry land of Pokot, Turkana and Marakwet districts, oblivious of what lies beneath the soil.
The harsh climate has hampered agricultural activities, but the districts are endowed with minerals that could improve locals' lives.
Most locals are poor, livestock being their only source of livelihood.
Mrs Kitien Madareng crushes stones near river Kainuk.
And now, they are waking up to the reality that their lives can be better if they make use of the minerals.
"We have formed groups that mine gold in Tapoyo, Wakor, Kapchepochot, Segem, Chekauru and Sostin," says Mr Nguriareng Mukitome, 63.
Mukitome says poverty has driven locals to start mining gold and fluorspar.
But lack of equipment and market for the minerals has affected their efforts.
"For the years I have mined, I have hit small portions of gold. But soon things will change for the better," says Mukitome.
The villagers risk while mining as most work without protective clothes.
Some of the mines in Wakor are more than 60 feet deep, with tunnels that pose a risk to the prospectors.
At least three miners in Wakor area have died as a result.
But this has not stopped many from working further. They are out to make money and the risk does not appear to occupy their minds.
Miners also have to contend with boulders.
The situation has been worsened by poor infrastructure, leading to rampant cattle rustling and proliferation of arms.
A variety of mineral deposits have been confirmed through series of reconnaissance geological surveys and investigations by various organisations.
Despite having minerals such as limestone, Talc, gypsum, chrome ore, fluorspar, marble, diatomite, kaolin, graphite, asbestos, kyanite and sillimante at their disposal, locals still languish in poverty.
Geologists at the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) have undertaken studies geared towards development of viable mineral resource deposits.
"The objective of the study is to facilitate promotion of rural industrialisation, development of mining skills and creation of employment," says KVDA geologist, Mr Wilson Kipkuto.
Kipkuto says the metamorphic rocks are associated with industrial minerals and base metals.
Among the minerals identified in viable quantities are marble (limestone) for cement in Ortum-Sebit area of West Pokot, marble for decoration in Koitilial area, Marakwet, talc for paper and paints, found in Soka, West Pokot, kaolin, used as a cement additive and for ceramics, in Kamatira, West Pokot and gypsum, also a cement additive found in Loperot, Turkana.
There is also chrome ore, used in factories. It is largely found in Telot, West Pokot.
Kipkuton explains that the marble deposit in Marakwet is of pink variety and is suitable for ornamental stone and decorative facing of buildings.
"The marble occurs in a variety of colours, ranging from pure white to a very intense pink to pink-red, with a wide range of intermediate shades, all of which have an attractive appearance on polishing," he says.
He explains that the other type of marble is found in Ortum and Sebit in West Pokot and is suitable for the manufacture of cement.
|
"The marble deposit is of white variety suitable for ornamental stone and cement manufacture. Chemical testing indicates moderate magnesia (2-3%MgO) suitable for cement manufacture," says Kipkuton.
He says the five main deposits for the limestone are at Chepchoi, Sebit, Ortum, Morun and Tang River in West Pokot District.
"Physical testing indicates a hard, strong and even-grained granular texture. The areas have massive deposits, some as deep as 100m," he explains.
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Make allAfrica.com your home page | RSS Feed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top | Site Guide | Who We Are | Advertising | Search | Subscribe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Questions or Comments? Contact us. Read our Privacy Statement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
