Subsurface Structural Pattern Distributions of the Magnetic Anomalies in Part of the Nigerian South-Western Precambrian Basement Complex for Sustainability

Abstract

A study using the subsurface structural patterns technique was carried out to locate, classify and outline the magnetic anomaly source rocks underlying the Omu-Aran Schist belt zone together with determination of the depth of these various source rocks within the study area for sustainability. The processes were carried out through a series of E-W and N-S geomagnetic cross-sections of 58.70 by 56.8 km spread across the study area in part of the Nigerian South-western Precambrian Basement Complex. The primary objective of this study was to use an uncomplicated technique to locate these magnetic anomalies and identify the mineralization potential in the area. The subsurface geological structural patterns in this area were adequately mapped using the Oasis Montaj 2014 source parameter imaging function integrated with Surfer 10 and euldph-x algorithms that automatically compute the depths of the various magnetic anomaly sources using aeromagnetic data acquired from the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency. These anomaly sources as delineated, consist of arrays of north-north-east and south-south-west influencing the underground structures that control the surface geologic characteristics which determine the mineral potential in parts of the north-east, the north-west and the south-western zones of the study area with very low and high values of total magnetic intensity. The large dome-shaped structure that overlies a buried block of inferred meta-sedimentary rocks in this area suggests that subsurface mineral distributions in this area may perhaps be influenced by its location in the highly mineralized Nigerian South-western Basement Complex together with the rich mafic and ultramafic granitic-migmatite Basement Terrain that also underlies the area.