Empirical Relation Between Magnetic and Radiometric Survey in Bitumen Area, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

One of the vital roles played by both magnetic and radiometric surveys is identification and delineation of mineral deposits. The study area, Imeri, which lies between latitude 6 °45′N to 6 °48′N and longitude 3 °58′E to 3 °59′E, has been established for bitumen deposition. The responses of mineral deposition to different geophysical methods differ from place to place due to variation in climate and bedrock composition. In this study, two geophysical techniques—magnetic and radiometric methods—were adopted to investigate the magnetic anomalous and radiometric flux responses around the bitumen deposit area. The study also intends to establish a model-like relation between the radiometric parameters and the magnetic anomaly observed. Statistical inferences for the established relations were deduced using the t-test at 0.05 significance levels. The result obtained showed that uranium and thorium concentration responses along the two traverses were in good agreement with that of magnetic intensity. The claim was accounted for based on the correlation result, which ranged between 74%–79% and 84%–89% for uranium and thorium, respectively, with magnetic intensity along the two traverses. In order to validate the claim, the t-test was used. The result obtained showed that there exists no significant difference between the two geophysical methods; the result for the t-test has critical value > calculated value (p-values > 0.05). Based on this, the empirical relations were deduced for magnetic anomalous response and radiometric parameters. This work has therefore proven the two techniques to be versatile for bitumen prospecting in the study area.