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From ancient times, man has explored geologic materials and put them to use for his well- being. Some of them had been used domestically while others have many industrial, as well as medical applications, depending on available technology.

From ancient times, man has explored geologic materials and put them to use for his well- being. Some of them had been used domestically while others have many industrial, as well as medical applications, depending on available technology.

Therapeutic application of medical geology refers to the use of geological materials in the treatment of diseases. Nigeria has a lot of potentials for the therapeutic applications of geologic materials. For instance, the country is blessed with thermal mineralized waters in various parts of the nation such as the Ikogosi Warm Spring in Ekiti State, the mineralized thermal springs at Awe in Nasarawa State and those in the onshore/offshore locations of Delta, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Edo, Bayelsa and Imo States. In addition, Nigeria is blessed with abundance of medicinal clays such as kaolin and [[bentonite]] in most states of the federation. Also, there is abundance of peat, trona and potash in some states (after Nghargbu et al, 2013<ref name=Ngha>Nghargbu, K., Ponikowska, I., Latour, T., Kurowska, E., Schoeneich, K., and Alagbe, S.A., 2013a. Balneo-therapeutic Quality of Water from Thermal Chlorosodic Springs of the Middle Benue Trough, Nigeria. Unpublished Work, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria,1-9.</ref><ref name=Nghb>Nghargbu, K., Ponikowska, I., Latour, T., Kurowska, E., Schoeneich, K., and Alagbe, S.A. 2013b. Geomedical Resources Inventory: The Nigerian Content. Unpublished Work, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria, 1-15.</ref>).

Therapeutic application of medical geology refers to the use of geological materials in the treatment of diseases. Nigeria has a lot of potentials for the therapeutic applications of geologic materials. For instance, the country is blessed with thermal mineralized waters in various parts of the nation such as the Ikogosi Warm Spring in Ekiti State, the mineralized thermal springs at Awe in Nasarawa State and those in the onshore/offshore locations of Delta, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Edo, Bayelsa and Imo States. In addition, Nigeria is blessed with abundance of medicinal clays such as kaolin and [[bentonite]] in most states of the federation. Also, there is abundance of peat, trona and potash in some states (after Nghargbu et al, 2013<ref name=Ngha>Nghargbu, K., I. Ponikowska, T. Latour, E. Kurowska, K. Schoeneich, and S. A., Alagbe, 2013a, Balneo-therapeutic quality of water from thermal chlorosodic springs of the Middle Benue Trough, Nigeria: Unpublished paper, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria, 9 p.</ref><ref name=Nghb>Nghargbu, K., I. Ponikowska, T. Latour, E. Kurowska, K. Schoeneich, and S. A. Alagbe, 2013b, Geomedical Resources Inventory: The Nigerian Content: Unpublished work, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria, 15 p.</ref>).

Sadly, lack of technological know-how and fewer number of medical geology practitioners in Nigeria have limited the extraction of these resources for medical purposes.

Sadly, lack of technological know-how and fewer number of medical geology practitioners in Nigeria have limited the extraction of these resources for medical purposes.