Geophysical Prospecting for Mineral Potential Zones in Zamfara and Environs, Northern Nigeria Basement Complex
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56919/usci.2542.014Keywords:
Magnetic field intensity, first vertical derivative and analytical signal, Source parameter imaging, Zamfara areaAbstract
Study’s Excerpt:
• Aeromagnetic survey was used to identify mineral zones in Zamfara, NW Nigeria's basement terrain.
• Total magnetic field intensity data were reduced to the equator to enhance anomaly detection.
• Residual field intensity was extracted using regional-residual separation techniques in processing.
• Enhancement tools, first vertical derivative and analytic signal, highlighted key structures.
• Anomalies suggesting mineral zones were mainly found in SE Zamfara at depths under 200 meters.
Full Abstract:
The importance of mineral exploration to Nigeria’s present economy cannot be overemphasised, especially in the northern states where crude oil explorations have not come to light. To aid in this quest, an investigation of subsurface structures was conducted in this study to identify and delineate potential mineralization zones in the Zamfara area of North-western Nigeria. To achieve this, aeromagnetic data were analysed and interpreted. The total magnetic field intensity (TMI) data were first reduced to the magnetic equator. Regional-residual separation was then carried out to obtain the residual field intensity map of the area, after which several qualitative enhancement techniques – first vertical derivative and analytical signal – were used to further analyse the data in the Oasis Montaj environment. The results revealed that the area's total magnetic field intensity falls within the range of -78 to +108 nT after a background field of 33,000 nT was removed. The regional magnetic field intensity trends in the NE-SW direction. Both the first vertical derivative and analytical signal indicated a cluster of anomalies in the south-eastern part of the study area, interpreted as faults, folds, contacts, and shear zones, which are indicative of mineralized zones. Source parameter imaging analysis of the data revealed that the anomalies of interest were primarily located at depths of less than 200 m.
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