Abstract
This study aimed to estimate the depth of magnetic source bodies in Lafia and Akiri areas which fall within the middle Benue trough, Nigeria. Aeromagnetic data were used and spectral analysis and source parameter imaging were used for the quantitative interpretation of the data. The total magnetic intensity (TMI) contour map obtained from gridding of the data ranging from -39.5 to 100.0 nT was separated into regional and residual contour maps; it was done by polynomial fitting to produce the residual aeromagnetic intensity contour map. The residual intensity varies from -78.9 to 55.0 nT while the regional intensity varies from -39.18 to 39.84 nT. Depth results obtained from spectral analysis revealed two depth sources: the shallower magnetic source bodies and the deeper magnetic source bodies. The depth of shallower magnetic sources ranges from 0.557 to 1.261 km, with an average depth value of 0.899 km, whereas the depth of deeper magnetic sources varies from 2.419 to 5.732 km with an average depth value of 4.105 km. The SPI depth result ranges from -0.5638 km (shallow magnetic bodies) to 5.8381 km (deep lying magnetic bodies). The two methods showed depth estimation within the same range. The sedimentary thickness obtained from the different methods indicates the possibility of hydrocarbon accumulation if other conditions for hydrocarbon generation are satisfied. Key words: Magnetic source bodies, depth estimation, spectral analysis, SPI, Lafia and Akiri areas, aeromagnetic data.
Highlights
The mineral resources and hydrocarbon which man skilfully extracts from the bowels of the earth has led to industrial development of many countries in the world Nigeria inclusive
This study aimed to estimate the depth of magnetic source bodies in Lafia and Akiri areas which fall within the middle Benue trough, Nigeria
The total magnetic intensity (TMI) contour map obtained from gridding of the data ranging from -39.5 to 100.0 nT was separated into regional and residual contour maps; it was done by polynomial fitting to produce the residual aeromagnetic intensity contour map
Summary
The mineral resources and hydrocarbon (oil and gas) which man skilfully extracts from the bowels of the earth has led to industrial development of many countries in the world Nigeria inclusive. Civilization on earth would not have been meaningful without it. The search for these mineral resources and hydrocarbon (oil and gas) has been a major business challenge in Nigeria since the precolonial era and the 1960s, respectively. The bedrock of Nigeria’s economy has been the solid mineral and currently the lucrative oil sector due to its high profitability. Over 80 percent of the country’s revenue comes from export and domestic sales of the oil and gas upon which approximately over 170 million growing population depends on (Kamba and Ahmed, 2017).
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