Evaluation of thermomagnetic properties and geothermal energy potential in parts of Bida Basin, Nigeria, using spectral analysis

Abstract

Thermomagnetic properties and geothermal energy potential in parts of Bida Basin, Nigeria have been evaluated using spectral analysis of integrated nine aeromagnetic data. The study area covering 27,225km 2 of aeromagnetic data was examined and construed in order to delineate the thermal properties of the country rock in the area. The result of the visual inception of residual map reveals that the area comprises an extremely irregular pattern of magnetic intensities that range from 220 to 240nT. Two structural features of folding evidence were also delineated in the area namely; uplift and depression. The result of the lineament structures from the shaded relief map and Rose diagram depicts NE-SW as the major trend with the minor trend in NW-SE. Two depths to magnetic sources were distinguished in the area: the shallower bodies which vary from 1.27 to 1.96km and the deeper bodies that vary from 2.01 to 4.27km. The result also shows an average depth to the centroid as 12.97km in the area. The thermomagnetic properties analysis show average values of 23.12km Curie isotherm, 25.27 o C/km geothermal gradients and 63.17mWm 2 heat flows in the area. The study concludes that the study area possess good potential quality for geothermal energy generation and exploration.

Mapping of geological structures controlling mineralization in parts of the Lower Benue Trough, Nigeria, using high resolution aeromagnetic data

“…The areas with high analytical signal amplitude from the map with a value of about 0.010 to 0.047 nT/m are related to ophiolotic serpentine, ophioliticmeta gabbro and gabbro rocks as these rocks contain ferromagnesian in large quantities and equally has large amount of felsic minerals. While the areas with low analytical signal amplitude with value range of about 0.001 to 0.006 amplitude (nT/m) are associated with granite, metasediments and clastic sediments as these rocks has quartz that is greater than 60% (Okonkwo et al, 2021;Telford et al, 1990).…”