Economic potential of Ainamoi bauxite mineral deposit, Kericho county, Kenya

Minerals, together with exploration methods that are based on prior geological knowledge and practical concepts, continue to influence infrastructure development. Field geological mapping can be followed by applying geophysical survey investigations, geochemical analytical techniques, or drilling methods to unravel the envisaged details. Indeed, mineral mapping begins with analyzing historical information, geological mapping, field observations, and collecting field samples for further investigations under laboratory conditions. Such investigations were conducted in the Ainamoi region of Kericho County, Kenya. Anomalies with substantial bauxite mineralization were discovered during the investigations, as the geochemical outcomes revealed. The study investigated the economic potential of bauxite mineral deposits (Aluminum ore) with respect to concentration per acre of land, depth/height of the resource, and percentage of the ore that is endowed in the evaluated area. The evaluation revealed that the bauxite deposit had an average thickness of 2 m per hectare of land in most localities. It was found that the evaluated area was economically viable and favorable for the exploitation of the natural resource for cement manufacturing.