Geophysical prospecting for iron ore deposit around Tajimi village, Lokoja, North–Central Nigeria

Abstract

Ground magnetic and electrical resistivity survey were undertaken to investigate the occurrence and geometry of iron ore deposit around Tajimi village, Lokoja, North-Central Nigeria. The generated residual map of the ground-magnetic data acquired at 250 stations along 15 traverses revealed numerous prominent anomalies, mostly trending in the N-S direction. The radial power spectrum revealed the depth to magnetic sources between 6 m to 20 m. The interpreted VES data characterized the area into three subsurface layers: top soil, presumably iron ore layer and weathered/fresh basement. The result of vertical electrical sounding curves showed a sudden drop in resistivity (42-241 Ωm) over high magnetic response. The geo-electric section revealed that the study area is generally characterized with thin overburden (0.5-1.7 m) and the thickness of the second layer (presumed to be the iron ore layer) ranged between 6.2-25.1 m. The study concluded that areas of high magnetic intensity showed a sudden drop in resistivity value for the VES points, which give an indication of the presence of an electrically conductive structure presumed to be iron ore deposits.

Remote Sensing and Aeromagnetic Mapping for Iron Ore Mineralization in Parts of Kakanda and Its Environs, Northcentral Nigeria

“…The study area and its environs are known for its vast iron ore mineralization potential. It is within the basement complex made up essentially of Migmatite Gneiss complexes and the Granite suites, including quartz intrusion in some parts of the study area (Obaje, 2009;Bayowa et al, 2016). The basement rocks are considered to be the products of four chief deformation cycles and metamorphism relating to the Liberian (2,700 Ma), the Eburnean (2,000 Ma), the Kibaran (1,100 Ma) and the Pan-African (600 Ma) orogeny cycles.…”

“…These orogeny cycles contributed to the intense tectonism, uplift and remobilization of mineral deposits in the study area (Akanbi and Fakoya, 2015;Awoyemi et al, 2017;Akinlalu et al, 2018). Different iron ore types found in the study area are the Ferruginous quartzite-Itakpe type (Haematite-Magnetite quartzite) and the Ferruginous Schists-Maru type (banded Haematite and Quartz-Haematite Schists) (Amigun, 2015;Bayowa et al, 2016;Olade, 2019). However, these iron ore deposits have not been critically explored such that a reliable iron ore prospectivity map of the study area does not exist.…”