Portable Technology: NGSA Trains Staff to Strengthen Mineral Exploration

The Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) has partnered with SciAps and Titan Minerals to strengthen mineral identification and analysis in Nigeria through the deployment of portable analytical technologies and specialised staff training.

The Director-General of NGSA, Professor Olusegun Ige, disclosed this in Abuja during a one-day training programme organised by the agency in collaboration with the two companies.

Professor Ige said the initiative followed discussions with SciAps representatives during the 2026 Nigeria Mining Week, adding that the collaboration was arranged within 48 hours to provide NGSA personnel with practical knowledge of the technology.

He explained that portable analytical equipment would enable geologists to identify minerals and obtain relevant field data more quickly, reducing delays associated with transporting samples to laboratories before making decisions.

The NGSA Director-General urged participants to take the training seriously, stressing that knowledge of analytical equipment was essential not only for laboratory personnel but also for geologists, geophysicists, metallurgists and other earth science professionals.

He said a better understanding of analytical procedures would improve the quality of geological investigations, strengthen professional competence and enable staff to explain and defend their findings during technical assessments.

Professor Ige identified limited domestic capacity and concerns about the reliability of local analytical processes as some of the challenges facing Nigeria’s mineral exploration sector. He expressed optimism that the partnership would help strengthen the country’s capacity to conduct mineral analysis locally.

He also solicited equipment to support the agency’s analytical work and the wider mining industry.

Speaking at the event, Titan Minerals Director, Fadi Abou Ghazale, said the company was committed to introducing innovative analytical technologies to Nigeria’s mining sector, adding that the NGSA could play an important role in promoting their application.

He noted that advances in analytical equipment had created new opportunities for mineral exploration and resource development, expressing confidence that the collaboration would support the growing demand for reliable mineral identification in Nigeria.

Also speaking, SciAps Director of Scientific Applications, Pieter du Preez, said the company had spent about 15 years developing portable analytical equipment designed to address practical challenges in mining and geological exploration.

Du Preez explained that the company’s technologies included X-ray fluorescence (XRF), laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, each designed for different analytical purposes.

He said XRF was used for elemental analysis in applications involving gold, copper, zinc and other metals, while LIBS complemented the technology by analysing lighter elements, including lithium. NIR, he explained, was used to determine mineralogical characteristics rather than elemental composition.

Du Preez added that the technologies could support mineral exploration, drill-core analysis, grade control, critical mineral identification, environmental assessment, precious-metal testing and industrial quality control. He also highlighted the company’s cloud-based software, which enables users to access measurement data and generate reports remotely.

He said the partnership with Titan Minerals would combine SciAps’ technology and global expertise with Titan’s local knowledge, geological and exploration experience, technical support and established operational relationships.

Du Preez expressed optimism that the collaboration would improve access to analytical services, strengthen after-sales support and help Nigeria and other West African countries develop their mineral resources more efficiently.
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