Detection of Concealed Mineral Deposits using Magnetic Data in part of Osun State and its Environs, South-western Nigeria

Abstract

Magnetic data of part of Osun State and its Environs, Southwestern Nigeria has been studied with the aim of identifying structures concealing mineral deposits through some enhancement techniques. These techniques are Analytic signal, Euler deconvolution, Center for exploration targeting and porphyry analysis. In this work we were have applied Analytic signal to identify edges and distribution of magnetic sources that are equivalent to concealed mineral deposits, Euler deconvolution was used to identify and estimate depth to various magnetic source geometries using prescribed structural indices of 0.0, 1.0 and 2.0 respectively and lastly, the center for exploration targeting and porphyry analysis was used to obtain magnetic lineaments and porphrytic intrusives that may serve as structures concealing mineral deposits. From this study, we were able to identify several volcanic intrusions which appeared beyond surface exposure and at the same time of Cenozoic era. These intrusions resulted from the high magnetic content which serves as a contributing factor for the presence of positive magnetic anomalies in the area. In conclusion, we have been able use magnetic data of Osun State and its environs to delineate structures concealing mineral deposits.