Basement depth re-valuation of anomalous magnetic bodies in the lower and middle Benue trough using Euler deconvolution and spectral inversion techniques

Abstract

Spectral technique and Euler Deconvolution were applied to high-resolution aeromagnetic data of parts of Benue trough to estimate the depth of anomalous magnetic sources within the study area; Data enhancement techniques such as total magnetic intensity map, reduction to pole, regional-residual separation and upward continuation maps were employed to identify different magnetic anomalies, structural trends representing the tectonics of the location were observed trending NE-SW and N-S directions; The result of 3D Euler deconvolution for the structural index (SI) = 0, 1, 2, 3 gave depths to magnetic sources that range from -589;3 m to -2678;8 m, -459;0 m to -2691;9 m, -294;6 m to -2817;5 m, - 430;2 m to -2780;6 m respectively; The depth estimates from 2-D spectral revealed a two-layer model; The shallow magnetic depth ranges between 0;135 km to 0;200 km with a mean depth of 0;158 km and the depth to magnetic basement vary between 2;585 km to 4;878 km with a mean depth of 3;415 km; This result, therefore, indicates that the average basement depth of the study area obtained from the spectral analysis is 3;415km; This investigation, therefore provides appropriate sedimentary thickness for suitable hydrocarbon prospecting within the study area.