Application of Airborne Magnetic Data to Assess the Structures that Favour Gold Mineralization within Southern Parts of Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

The Nigerian schist belts are endowed with gold mineralisation and to delineate the geological structures that favour gold mineralisation, the airborne magnetic data that cover the study area was employed. Also, the residual magnetic anomaly data of the research area was reduced to the Equator (RTE) followed by the application of the centre for exploration targeting (CET) plug-in and three source edge mapping techniques; analytic signal (AS), first vertical derivative (FVD) and the horizontal gradient magnitude (HGM), for structural delineation and subsequently the structural density map of the area was produced. Structural density varies from 0.186 km/km2 low to 0.93 km/km2 high. Portions within the study area with high structural densities are Bakori in the southwest, Shanono in the northeast, Gwarzo situated directly south of Shanono, north and south of Karaye, the border between Kafur and Rogo in the south, all within the schist. Since structures are conduits for the migration of mineralisation fluids, areas with high structural densities will be viable for gold mineralisation. Also, comparing the structural density map of the area to the analytic signal map of the area has revealed the high structural density portions to coincide with the high analytic signal zones. This implies that structures within these portions are responsible for the migration of mineralization fluid into these environments.