Structural Characterization of High Resolution Aeromagnetic Data for Potentially Mineralized Zones Identification Within the North-Central Basement Complex of Nigeria

The aim of this study is to identify mineralization zones within the North-Central Basement Complex of Nigeria. The goal was to locate important geological formations and assess the region's suitability for mining exploitation. Several filters were used to enhance the short wavelength anomalies which could give preliminary information about the magnetic minerals present in the study area which spans latitudes 8°00'N to 9°30'N and longitudes 6°30'E to 7°30'E. The total magnetic intensity map revealed overall field strengths ranging from -99.63 nT to 109.33 nT. The filters used are fisrt horizontal and vertical derivatives, analytic signal and 3-D Euler Deconvolution. The first horizontal and first vertical derivatives show structures like lineament that could host to minerals present in the study. The Analytic Signal processing highlighted three distinct magnetic anomaly zones: a low zone (0.004 nT/m to 0.013 nT/m), an intermediate zone (0.016 nT/m to 0.048 nT/m), and a high zone (0.057 nT/m to 0.282 nT/m). The horizontal derivative map displayed both positive and negative anomalies, with values ranging from -0.061 to 0.061 nT/m. The Euler depth analysis suggested the magnetic sources are located at depths greater than 2000 m, between 1000-2000 m, 500-1000 m, and less than 500 m. The lineament map revealed a dominant NE-SW trend, with a less dominant E-W and NW-SE trend within the study area. The high lineament density areas of Kwali, Gwagwalada, Shanzhi, Dadabiri, Checheyi, Pangu, and Suleja correspond to the various mineralization zones identified in the region.