Structural Mapping Of The Idah And Angba Regions, North-Central Nigeria, Using Aeromagnetic Data Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51459/jostir.2025.1.2.022Keywords:
Aeromagnetic data, regional-residual separation, Reduction to pole, magnetic lineament structureAbstract
The structural identity of some parts of north-central Nigeria has been mapped. The total magnetic intensity map of the study area ranges from -180 nT to 220 nT, exhibiting distinct high and low magnetic signatures. The residual magnetic data were contoured into a 2D map, revealing two prominent magnetic anomaly intensities. Higher residual intensity values, ranged from 20 nT to 180 nT as observed in the north-central and eastern regions, suggest the presence of near-surface bodies in areas with shallower sediments. Conversely, lower residual intensities values, at -220 nT to -20 nT in the southern region indicate deeper-lying bodies, likely corresponding to the magnetic basement depth due to thicker sediment accumulation. The regional magnetic field data delineate major tectonic elements that influence the structural framework of the area. The first-order polynomial analysis map of the aeromagnetic data highlights a dominant regional SW-NE trend, showing closely spaced, sub-parallel contour orientations in the northern and southern sections which suggest the presence of faults. Most magnetic anomalies exhibit an East-West trend, with minor trends oriented toward Northeast-Southwest. The study further reveals that the overall orientation of magnetic contour closures and magnetic lineaments aligns predominantly with the SW-NE trend, characteristic of the Pan-African Orogeny.
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