Integrated geophysical characterization of Owu Gold mineralization part of Kushaka- Kusheriki Schist Belt, Northcentral Nigeria
Main Article Content
Abstract
Integrated geophysical and geological surveys were used to characterize the gold mineralization at Owu, partof the Kushaka-Kusheriki schist belt in North Central Nigeria. Previous studies concentrated on geology and geochemical studies with no emphasis on the use of integrated studies and state-of-the-art tools aimed at characterizing gold mineralization. Detailed geological mapping was carried out to determine the various rock types and their structural framework. The geophysical surveys were carried out using the Proton Precession magnetometer and GDD 500 Time Domain Electromagnetic (TDEM) equipment to delineate their degree of magnetic susceptibility and induced polarization and dataset was enhanced using Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT).The geological survey showed the different rock types within the area and the geophysical survey produced the image of the subsurface and near surface structures. The datasets were subjected to different forms of filtering using Oasis Montaj software, thereby delineating the trend and target areas of proved gold mineralization. Geologically, the study area consists of phyllite, mica schist, amphibole schist, phyllitic schist, biotite schist exposed in a schist shear zone. Regional NE-SW foliated and folded axes of quartz veins intruded the gold mineralized bodies. Structurally, granitic intrusions are observed in the NE-SW direction, parallel to the regional foliation of the rocks. The total magnetic intensity, the vertical derivatives, horizontal gradient and analytical signal images revealed the high and low magnetic areas, and indicated the structures and lineaments to be trending in the NE–SW direction. Time domain Induced Polarization delineated the east-west direction major fault zones. The chargeability areas are due to high conductivity which trends, in the NE–SW direction suggesting the presence of gold and other heavy metals. The area of low chargeability is resistive and could represent the quartz veins in the area.
Publication Facts
Reviewer profiles N/A
Author statements
- Editor & editorial board
- profiles
- Academic society
- Geofísica Internacional
To learn about these publication facts, click 
PF is maintained by the Public Knowledge Project
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
Ademila, O., Okpoli, C.C. & Ehinmitan, D. (2019). Geological and Lithological Mapping of Part of Igarra Schist Belt Using Integrated Geophysical Method. Earth Sciences Pakistan, 3(1):1-9.
Ajibade, A. C. (1988). Structural and tectonic evolution of the Nigeri- an basement with special reference to NW Nigeria. In International Conference on Proterozoic Geology Tectonics High-Grade Terrains (Ife, Nigeria).
Ekwueme, B.N.& Matheis, G. (1995). Geochemistry and economic value of pegmatitesin the Precambrian basement of southeastern Nigeria (Oxford & IBH Publishing Company, New Delhi).
Elueze, A.A. (1981). Geochemistry and petrotectonic setting of metasedi- mentary rocks of the schist belt of Ilesha area, Southwestern Nigeria. J. Min. GEOL. 19(1): 194-197.
Fitches, W.R., Ajibade, A.C., Egbuniwe, I.G., Holt, R.W. & Wright, J.B. (1985). Late Proterozoic Schist belts and Plutonism in NW Nigeria. Jour. Of Geol. Soc. London, 142, pp. 319-337.
Gunn, P., Maidment, D., & Milligan, P. (1997). Interpreting aeromagnetic data in areas of limited outcrop. AGSO Journal of Australian Geology & Geophysics, 17(2): 175-185.
Haruna, I.V. (2017). Review of the Basement Geology and Mineral Belts of Nigeria. IOSR Journal of Applied Geology and Geophysics (IOSR-JAGG), Volume 5(1)P 37-45.
Hilson, G. (2006). The socio-economic impacts of artisanal and small- scale mining in developing countries. Taylor & Francis.
Ho, S.E. & Groves, D.I. (1987). Recent advances in understanding Pre- cambrian gold deposits. Geology Department and University Extension, University of Western Australia Publication.
Kerrich, R. & Wyman, D. (1990). Geodynamic setting of mesothermal gold deposits: an association with accretionary tectonic regimes. Ge- ology, 18: 882-885.
Kuster, D. (1990). Rare-metal pegmatites of Wamba, Central Nigeria- their formation inrelation to late, Pan-African granites. Mineralum Deposita 25: 25-33.
Maurin, J.C. & Lancelot, J.R. (1990). Structural setting and U-Pb dat- ing of Uranium Mineralization from the Northeastern part of Nigeria (Upper Benue Region). Journal of African Earth Sciences, 10:421-433.
McCurry, P. & Wright, J.B. (1977). Geochemistry of calc-alkaline volca- nics in northwestern Nigeria, and a possible Pan-African suture zone. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 37:90-96.
McDonald, A.I. (1986). An international symposium on the geology of gold. Proceedings of gold ’86. Toronto, pp. 517.
Milligan, P. & Gunn, P. (1997). Enhancement and presentation of airborne geophysical data. AGSO Journal of Australian Geology & Geophysics, 17(2):63-75.
Nabighian, M.N. (1972). The analytical signal of two-dimensional mag netic bodies with polygonal cross-section: Its properties and use for automated anomaly interpretation. Geophysics, 37:501-517.
Okpoli, C.C. (2013). “Sensitivity and Resolution Capacity of Electrode Configurations”. International Journal of Geophysics, vol.2013, Ar- ticle ID 608037, 12 pages, doi: https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/608037
Okpoli, C.C., Ogbole J.O., Oyeshomo, A. V. & Okanlawon, G.O (2022). Mineral exploration of Iwo-Apomu southwestern Nigeria using aero- magnetic and remote sensing. Egyprian Journal of remote sensing and Space sciences, 25: 371-385.
Okpoli, C.C. & Akinbulejo B. (2021). Aeromagnetic and electrical resistivity mapping for groundwater development around Ilesha Schist Belt, osuthwestern Nigeria. Journal of Petroleum exploration and production technology. doi: https://doi.org/10/1007/s13202-021-01307-x
Reeves, C.V., Macnab, R. & Maschenkov (1998). Compiling all the world’s magnetic anomalies, EOS American Geophysical Union, July 14, Pp. 338.
Silva, A., Pires, A., McCafferty, A., De Morales, R. & Xia, H. (2003). Application of Airborne Geophysical Data to Mineral Exploration in the Uneven exposed Terrains of the Rio Das Velhas Greenstone Belt. Revista Brasileira de Geociencias, 33: 17-28.
Thompson, D.T. (1982). “EULDPH-A new technique for making computer assisted depth estimates from magnetic data”, Geophysics, 47: 31-37.
Truswell, J.F. & Cope, R.N. (1963). The geology of parts of Niger and Zaria provinces, Northern Nigeria. Bulletin No. 29. Published by Geological Survey of Nigeria. pp.17-22.