Application of Radar Imagery to Tectonic, Structural and Geological Studies in Afikpo Basin, Southeastern Benue Trough, Nigeria

Abstract

Radar imagery was used to identify geological features and the production of geological maps of the Afikpo basin. The essence of this study was to delineate significant geological and geomorphological features that have not been imaged by the traditional ground field mapping. The application of Radar imagery technique will be relevant to the discovery of subsurface structures that will aid the accumulation or concentration of certain economic minerals or natural resources. It will enhance the identification of significant geological information such as lineaments, geologic structures, drainages, etc, that will serve as a guide to the actual ground field work investigation. Results from radar imageries revealed drainage pattern, major geomorphological units, mega lithostratigraphic units, lineaments and structures. The geology of Afikpo basin consist of Cretaceous, Tertiary and Quaternary rocks are recognizable; the highly deformed Cretaceous rocks are characterized by regional lineaments. Some of the rivers are aligned along the regional lineaments. The NW-SE and NE-SW lineaments truncate one another, suggesting different ages for the lineament groups. A few sinistral tensional movements occur in the eastern sector of the basin.  The major folds in the Afikpo basin have NE-SW and NW-SE trends, and occur as anticlines and synclines. The basement structuring and basin framework suggest a tectonic setting in the southeastern Benue Trough resulting from the Early Cretaceous opening of the South Atlantic Ocean and interpolate movement in Africa. From the evidence currently available we may conclude that the post Santonian Afikpo basin falls within the transtenstional basin categories associated with transform faults. The regional tectonics interpreted from the radar imageries are likely hydrocarbon related structural features.