DELINEATION OF STRUCTURES FOR SOLID MINERALS WITHIN KUBIL (SHEET 128) AND WAWA (SHEET 159) NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA FROM AEROMAGNETIC DATA

Abstract

To resolve the problem of artisanal miners using trials and error method to locate solid minerals, a geophysical technique was employed to delineate structures that host mineral in the study area. The study focused on both (Qualitative and Quantitative) analyses of high resolution Aeromagnetic data to delineate the geological structures that could serve as host to mineral within Wawa (Sheet 128) and Kubil (Sheet 159) Niger State, Nigeria. The area is bounded by Latitude 4º00' and4º30E' to Longitude 9º30' and 10º30'N. The aeromagnetic data was subjected to various filtering method such as generating of Total Magnetic Intensity Map, Analytical Signal, First Vertical Derivatives and Center for Exploration Targeting (CET). The total magnetic intensity map comprises of both positive and negative anomalies with magnetic values within the study area ranges from -66.589 nT to 129.237 nT. Result of analytical signal depicts high amplitude response of magnetic anomalies ranges from 0.232 to 0.355 cycles in regions of shallow magnetic intrusive rocks and low amplitude response of magnetic anomalies ranges from 0.010 to 0.218 cycles in regions of relatively thick sedimentation. The first vertical derivative helped to place both low and high magnetic lineaments which are of interest that could serve as gold veins. These were located around latitude 9o50' to 10º10'N within Yangari, Lasun Sarabe, Wawa Malete town down to Doro across rivers Yakumosin. The major lineament are mapped as F1 to F7 on the first vertical derivatives. Similar structures were observed from the Centre for exploration targeting (CET) grid analysis only that they are more detailed. The mapped regions on the first vertical derivatives (FVD) hosting major lineaments are the potential minerised zone. Ground trothing should be conducted by relevant geological agency at zones of minerisation to confirm the mineral type and their relative abundance. Resistivity survey is recommended for the delineated regions of minerisation for a more detailed capturing of delineated structures since the current research is of a regional scale.