Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

Geophysical Evaluation of Central Nigeria Earth Tremor Activities using High Resolution Airborne Magnetic Data

Oyibo David, Omali Aurelius Ojaina, Kadiri Umar Afegbua, Iduma Kelvin Uche

Advances in Research · pp. 23–38 · Published 16 Feb 2022

10.9734/air/2022/v23i230327

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the actual causes of earth tremors in Central Nigeria using geophysical technique. Since 1933 till date (over 88 years), small to moderate magnitude earthquakes have either been observed or instrumentally recorded in Nigeria. However, the specific causes of the intra plate earthquakes in Nigeria is still not well known. In this study therefore, a high-resolution aeromagnetic data analysis was performed to evaluate the various theories proposed as the causes of tremor activity in central Nigeria with a view to ascertaining the actual causes of earthquakes in the West African country that lies on a stable crust. The total magnetic intensity data acquired from the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) in the Central Basement complex of Nigeria, was processed and filtered using the tilt derivative, lineament analysis, and advanced Analytic Signal- Hilbert Solution filter. To define the trends of both major and minor structure, a lineament plot was extracted and plotted. The analysis revealed a dominant NE-SW and NW-SE trending structure that is distributed throughout the study area. The regional North Atlantic Romanche fault system, which extends from the offshore (Niger Delta) into the continental crust, was mapped and is thought to extend from Gwagwalada in the study area's south, through Gwarinpa and Mpape, to Kwoi, and beyond Kafanchan.Findings from our study have indicated that, areas prone to Earth tremors are linked to the Romanche fault by numerous NE-SW and NW-SE faults that act as conduits for seismic energy that causes tremor. Using lineament density analysis, tremor active areas have been interpreted to be highly deformed; thus, seismic energy induced into the environment would result in tremors. This study demonstrates that the regional North Atlantic Romanche fault system is the primary source of seismic energy that causes the earth tremors in central Nigeria.

Aeromagnetic central Nigeria first vertical derivative lineament causes of earth tremors

References (20)

  1. 1 Potential field tilt—a new concept for location of potential field sources [DOI]
  2. 2 New insights into magnetic derivatives for structural mapping [DOI]
  3. 3 Stress field constraints on intraplate seismicity in eastern North America [DOI]
  4. 4 The Basement Complex of Nigeria
  5. 5 Proterozoic crustal development in the Pan-African regime of Nigeria [DOI]
  6. 6 Earthquakes in Stable Continental Crust [DOI]
  7. 7 PRECAMBRIAN OF WEST AFRICA [DOI]
  8. 8 Some metallogenetic features of the Nigerian basement [DOI]
  9. 9 A physical understanding of large intraplate earthquakes [DOI]
  10. 10 A review of earthquake occurrences and observations in Nigeria [DOI]
  11. 11 Integrated geophysical mapping of the Ifewara transcurrent fault system, Nigeria [DOI]
  12. 12 Structural Analysis Using Aeromagnetic Data: Case Study of Parts of Southern Bida Basin, Nigeria and the Surrounding Basement Rocks [DOI]
  13. 13 The July 28, 1984 southwestern Nigeria earthquake and its implications for the understanding of the tectonic structure of Nigeria [DOI]
  14. 14 Towards an integrated seismic hazard monitoring in Nigeria using geophysical and geodetic techniques [DOI]
  15. 15 Dam sites and crustal megalineaments in Nigeria
  16. 16 Preliminary geological evidence for multiple tremors in Kwoi, Central Nigeria [DOI]
  17. 17 Another possible earthquake near Gombe in Nigeria on the 18-19 June 1985 [DOI]
  18. 18 Evaluation of the 7 March 2000 earth tremor in Ibadan area, southwestern Nigeria [DOI]
  19. 19 An Overview of Earthquakes and Tremors in Nigeria: Occurrences, Distributions and Implications for Monitoring [DOI]
  20. 20 The Review of the Historical and Recent Seismic Activity in Nigeria [DOI]

Cited by 3

A Decadal Review of Geophysical Investigations in the Southern Kaduna Basement Terrain, North-Central Nigeria: Structural, Mineral, Groundwater and Seismotectonic Perspectives

T. Danjuma, Emmanuel A. Paul, O. Oyelade · Nigerian Journal of Physics · 2026

Lithological and structural mapping of parts of southwestern Nigeria using aeromagnetic data

E. Ike, A. S. Oniku, S. Ezike · Recent Advances in Natural Sciences · 2024

Showing 2 of 3 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.

Related research

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

44

Page views

0

PDF downloads

8

Outbound clicks

3

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.