Nasir Maiauduga, PhD

 N. Maiauduga¹, R. Smith^1
1Harquail School of Earth Science, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

This research employs integrating geophysics and geology to identify structural features that can be potential zones for new deposits of solid minerals, including critical metals mineralization in the southwest of Bauchi State, Northeastern Nigeria. A review of the existing literature showed there was alteration associated with mineralization in northern Nigeria. Our study area was map sheet 148. The preliminary exploration workflow involves Airborne geophysics data, which include aeromagnetic and gamma-ray spectrometry (GRS) that have been obtained and processed from the Nigerian Government and interpreted as part of this project. The geophysical data were enhanced using the tilt angle, the analytic-signal amplitudes, the horizontal gradients, and ternary image of the gamma-ray spectrometry data. These were examined to look for faults, lineaments and characteristics fabrics and zones in the aeromagnetic and radiometric data. When comparing out geophysics with geological information, we feel the geophysical data can identify different petrological units within the Basement Complex, such as the Migmatite Gneiss, and Older Granites, and potentially other unreported petrological units. The GRS data is used to further subdivide the near-surface material and possibly alteration associated with mineralizing fluids that are part of the mineral system. The findings show most of the geophysical lineaments are trending in north-east to south-west direction which is aligned with the surface structural features observed in the study area. Folds are identified, both at regional and localized levels which are trending north-west to south-east. Major Potassium highs are evident, while areas of potassium lows are relatively few. The faults which are evident in most locations trend in the north-west to south-east direction. Granitoid intrusions are interpreted at the lower central part of the area and the upper right side of the area. The coexistence of fault, fold and potassium high alteration, where both fault and fold are discordant with the lineaments and situated close to granitoid intrusion makes these features potential mineral bearing structures. Such coexistence has been identified in other few areas in the location.