The magnetic response of hydrothermal alteration in iron-oxide basement complex, NW Nigeria

Abstract

Aeromagnetic data was processed in order to delineate structural trends which may be indicative of potential gold mineral traps in the Watari hill gold prospect located between longitude 5°8''and 5°16'', and latitude 11°24'' and 11°30'' in Garin Hawal district, northwest Nigeria. Landsat-8 OLI data was processed to produce colour composite, band ratio and minimum noise fraction images that mapped the hydrothermal alteration zone in the study area. The multispectral images which were displayed in Red-Green-Blue colours were subsequently pan-sharpened to display a greater image resolution of the area. The application of enhancement algorithms such as an analytic signal to the aeromagnetic data over the alteration zone helped in mapping the mafic metavolcanics, felsic metasediments and intruding granitoid complexes. Further reductions using the second vertical derivative and tilt angle derivative filters aided in delineating fracture/faults and the contact zones of the formations, especially the metasediments-metavolcanic boundary that delineates the shear zone. This study showed that the low-angle geologic structure between the metasediments and metavolcanics where hydrothermal alteration is present is likely to accommodate veins of gold mineralization in the study area.

Spatial distribution of radiogenic heat in the Iullemmeden basin – Precambrian basement transition zone, NW Nigeria

“…The Precambrian basement complex, which constitutes about 65% of the study area, has been extensively discussed and classified in recent times (Garba 2003, Ramadan & Abdel Fattah 2010, Aisabokhae 2019, Aisabokhae & Oresajo 2019. The major rock units within the basement Spatial distribution of radiogenic heat in the Iullemmeden basin -Precambrian basement transition zone, NW Nigeria complex include gabbroic rocks, younger granites, older granites, felsic gneiss, migmatite and undifferentiated metavolcanics.…”

Radiation dose risk variability and its implication in industrial and mining regions, NW Nigeria

“…The study area lies between latitude 11°24' to 11°30' North and longitude 5°8' to 5°16' East as shown in Figure 1. The region is dominated by plutonic emplacements which have given leads to mineral exploration and also provided raw materials for construction and industrialization (Aisabokhae and Oresajo, 2019). The environment is continually threatened by natural and anthropogenic causes which can affect the safety of the environment for human habitation (Horasan and Arik, 2019;Ozturk and Arici, 2021).…”