Abstract
This study utilized the ability of remote sensing and aeromagnetic data of the Continental Terminal, Northwestern Nigeria, to accentuate structural and lithological geologic features as well as depth estimation and mineral potential for exploitation purposes. The analytic signal and source parameter imaging filtering techniques on the magnetic data helped to identify causative magnetic bodies and space-depth relationship, two important indices in regional and ore body modelling. Depth interpretation result ranged from 120m to 2000m in the entire regolith cover where the basement rocks are overlain by clastic materials. Areas of deeper depths coincided well with regions of higher magnetic anomalies while areas of shallow depth coincided well with regions of lower magnetic anomalies with magnetic values ranging from 33121nT to 32980nT suggestive of a likelihood of having the magnetic unit of the basement at the top of the basement surface. The study identified the structural trend from the aeromagnetic map, showing a perfect agreement with the geologic map and Landsat-8 imagery. The Landsat-8 data was used for structural and lithological mapping and in general geological interpretation. Single band combination of 764 representing Red, Green and Blue were processed from the false colour composite image and pan-sharpened using the pan chromatic band to enhance structural features on the map. The study area showed no promise of hydrocarbon accumulation from the structural interpretation for economic benefits. However, economic-grade minerals were inferred due to magnetic anomalies that suggested accumulation of magnetic materials located within the proximity of lineaments.
Highlights
The term ‘Continental Terminal’ was first proposed by Killian (1931) for Saharan continental sediments of Miocene-Paleocene age
Proper reduction and filtering techniques such as analytic signal and depth extraction filters are applied to total field magnetic (TFM) data in this study and interpreted.The depth to basement, faults in the basement surface and the relief of the basement surface have direct relevance to the depositional and structural history of an area, and can best be studied using geophysical prospecting methods which have regional-scale investigative capacity (Graham et al, 2014)
The lithological map created based on Landsat-8 imagery analysis proved to be effective in basic lithological mapping that can be useful in regional study or in investigation of an unknown area
Summary
The term ‘Continental Terminal’ was first proposed by Killian (1931) for Saharan continental sediments of Miocene-Paleocene age. Aeromagnetic investigation images the geomagnetic field variation which results from the changes in the percentage of magnetic materials in the rock. It surveys the variation in the distribution and type of magnetic minerals such as magnetite and pyrrhotite in the subsurface. Landsat data are usually processed in several ways to accentuate the geological units and structure of the area. This particular combination of remotely sensed image data sets are employed to provide a unique selection of alternative options for evaluating which spectral products best indicate the geologic structures, rock types and surface materials (El Khidir, 2006). The objectives of this study are: (i) to estimate the depth to basement of the study area using aeromagnetic data; (ii) to interpret aeromagnetic data for structural trend and orientation of the basement rocks; (iii) to evaluate Landsat-8 spectral bands for lithology mapping of the study area
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