Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Interpretation of high resolution aeromagnetic data over southern Benue Trough, southeastern Nigeria

  • Published:
Journal of Earth System Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

High resolution airborne magnetic data of parts of the southern Benue Trough were digitally processed and analyzed in order to estimate the depth of magnetic sources and to map the distribution and orientation of subsurface structural features. Enhancement techniques applied include, reduction to pole/equator (RTP/RTE), first and second vertical derivatives, horizontal gradients and analytic signal. Results from these procedures show that at least 40% of the sedimentary basin contain shallow (<200 m) magmatic bodies, which in most cases are intermediate to mafic intrusive and hyperbysal rocks, and may occur as sills, dikes or batholiths. Magnetic lineaments with a predominant NE–SW trend appear to be more densely distributed around the basement rocks of the Oban Hills and metamorphosed rocks around the Workum Hills. 3D standard Euler deconvolution and Source Parameter Imaging (SPI TM) techniques were employed for depth estimation. Results from the two methods show similar depth estimates. The maximum depth to basement values for 3D Euler and SPI are 4.40 and 4.85 km with mean depths of 0.42 and 0.37 km, respectively. Results of 2D modelling of magnetic profiles drawn perpendicular to major anomalies in the study area reveal the existence of deep seated faults which may have controlled the emplacement of intrusive bodies in the basin. The abundance of intrusive bodies in the study area renders this part of the southern Nigerian sedimentary basins unattractive for petroleum exploration. However, the area possesses high potential for large accumulation of base metal mineralization.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adighije C 1979 Gravity field of Benue Trough, Nigeria; Nature, London 282 199–201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ajakaiye D E 1981 Geophysical investigation in the Benue-Trough. A review; Earth Evolution. Arbitrary shape; In: Computers in the Minerals industries. Part 1 (ed.) Parks G A, Stanford University Publ. Geol. Sci. 9 464–480.

  • Akaegbobi I M and Boboye O A 1999 Textural, structural features and microfossil assemblage relationship as a delineating criteria for the stratigraphic boundary between Mamu Formation and Nkporo Shale within the Anambra Basin, Nigeria; NAPE Bull. 14 (2) 193–207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akande S O and Mucke A 1993 Co-existing copper sulphides and sulphosalts in the Abakaliki Pb–Zn deposit, Lower Benue Trough and their genetic implications; J. Mineral. Petrol. 47 183–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akande S O, Horn E E and Reutel C 1988 Mineralogy, fluid inclusion and genesis of the Arufu and Akwana Pb–Zn–F mineralization, middle Benue Trough, Nigeria; J. African Earth Sci. 7 167–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benkhelil J 1986 Structure et evolution geodynamique du basin intracontinental del la Benoue (Nigeria); These, Univ. Nice, 226p.

  • Benkhelil J 1989 The origin and evolution of the Cretaceous Benue Trough (Nigeria); J. African Earth Sci. 8 251–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benkhelil J and Robineau B 1983 Le fosse de la Benoueest-ilun rift? Bull. Centres Rech. Explor. Prod. Elf-Aquitine 7 315–321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Binks R M and Fairhead J D 1992 A plate tectonic setting for Mesozoic rifts of west and central Africa; Tectonophys. 213 141–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bott M H P 1976 Formation of sedimentary basins of graben type by extension of the continental crust; Tectonophys. 36 77–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cratchley C R and Jones G P 1965 An interpretation of the geology and gravity anomalies of the Benue valley, Nigeria; Overseas Geol. Surv. Geophysical Paper No. 1.

  • Ezepue M C 1984 The geologic setting of lead-zinc deposits at Ishiagu, southeastern Nigeria; J. African Earth Sci. 2 97–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairhead J D and Okereke C S 1986 A regional gravity study of the west African rift system in Nigeria and Cameroon and its tectonic interpretation; Tectonophys. 143 141–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farrington J L 1952 A preliminary description of the Nigerian lead-zinc field; Econ. Geol. 47 583–608.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King L C 1950 Outline and disruption of Gondwanaland; Geol. Mag. 87 353–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller H G and Singh V 1994 Potential field tilt – a new concept for location of potential field sources; J. Appl. Geophys. 32 213–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nabighian M N 1972 The analytic signal of two-dimensional magnetic bodies with polygonal cross-section: Its properties and use for automated anomaly interpretation; Geophysics 37 507–517.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nabighian M N 1984 Toward a three-dimensional automatic interpretation of potential field data via generalized Hilbert transforms: Fundamental relations; Geophysics 49 780–786.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nabighian M N, Grauch V J S, Hansen R O, LaFehr T R, Li Y, Peirce J W, Philips J D and Ruder M E 2005 The historical development of the magnetic method in exploration; Geophysics 70 33–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nur A 2000 Analysis of aeromagnetic data over the Yola arm of the Upper Benue Trough, Nigeria; J. Mining and Geology 36 77–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nwajide C S and Reijers T J A 1996 Geology of the southern Anambra Basin; In: Selected chapters on Geology (ed.) Reijers T J A, SPDC, Warri, pp. 133–148.

  • Obi G C and Okogbue C O 2003 Sedimentary response to tectonism in the Campanian–Maastrichtian succession, Anambra Basin, southeastern Nigeria; J. African Earth Sci. 38 99–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Obi D A, Okereke C S, Obei B C and George A M 2010 Aeromagnetic modelling of subsurface intrusives and its implication on hydrocarbon evaluation of the Lower Benue Trough, Nigeria; European J. Sci. Res. 47 347–361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obiora S C and Charan S N 2010 Geochemical constraints on the origin of some intrusive igneous rocks from the Lower Benue rift, southeastern Nigeria; J. African Earth Sci. 58 197–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oden M I 2012 Barite veins in the Benue Trough: Field characteristics, the quality issue and some tectonic implications; Environ. Nat. Resour. Res. 2 (2) 21–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Odigi M I and Amajor L C 2009 Brittle deformation of the Afikpo Basin, SE Nigeria: Evidence for a terminal Cretaceous extensional regime in the Lower Benue Trough; Chin. J. Geochem. 28 (4) 369–376.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ofoegbu C O 1984 Interpretation of aeromagnetic anomalies over the Lower and Middle Benue Trough of Nigeria; Geophys. J. Roy. Astron. Soc. 79 813–823.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ofoegbu C O 1985 A review of the geology of the Benue Trough of Nigeria; J. African Earth Sci. 3 283–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ofoegbu C O and Mohan N L 1990 Interpretation of aeromagnetic anomalies over part of southeastern Nigeria using three-dimensional Hilbert transformation; PAGEOPH 134 13–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ofoegbu C O and Onuoha K M 1991 Analysis of magnetic data over the Abakaliki Anticlinolium of the Lower Benue Trough, Nigeria; Marine Petrol. Geol. 8 174–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oha I A 2014 Integration of geologic, remote sensing and airborne geophysical data for regional exploration of lead-zinc-barium mineralization in parts of the southern Benue Trough, south-east Nigeria; Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 201p.

  • Ojoh K A 1992 The southern part of the Benue Trough (Nigeria) Cretaceous stratigraphy, basin analysis, paleo-oceanography and geodynamic evolution in the equatorial domain of the south Atlantic; Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE). Bull. 7 (2) 131–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olade M A 1975 Evolution of Nigeria’s Benue Trough (Aulacogen): A tectonic model; Geol. Mag. 112 575–581.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olade M A 1976 On the gensis of the lead-zinc deposits in Nigerians Benue rift (aulacogen) a re-interpretation; Nigerian J. Mining Geol. 13 20–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olade M A and Morton R D 1985 Origin of lead-zinc mineralization in the southern Benue Trough, Nigeria, fluid inclusion and trace element studies; Mineralium Deposita 20 76–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orajaka S 1965 Geology of Enyigba, Ameri and Ameka lead-zinc mines; J. Geol. 3 49–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osazuwa I B, Ajakaiye D E and Verheijen P J T 1981 Analysis of the structure of part of the Upper Benue Rift Valley on the basis of new geophysical data; Earth Evol. Sci. 2 126–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reeves C V 2005 Aeromagnetic Surveys, Principles, Practice and Interpretation; Geosoft, 155p.

  • Reijers T J A 1996 Selected chapters on geology; Shell Petrol. Dev. Co. (Nigeria) Publ., 197p.

  • Reyment R A 1965 Aspects of the Geology of Nigeria; Ibadan University Press, 145p.

  • Roest W R, Verhoef J and Pilkington 1992 Magnetic interpretation using the 3D analytic signal; Geophysics 57 116–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stoneley R 1966 The Niger Delta region in the light of the theory of continental drift; Geol. Mag. 103 385–397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Talwani M and Heirtzler J R 1964 Computation of magnetic anomalies caused by two-dimensional bodies of arbitrary shape; In: Computers in the mineral industries, Part 1 (ed.) Parks G A, Stanford Univ. Publ., Geol. Sci. 9 464–480.

  • Talwani M, Worzel J L and Landisman M 1959 Rapid gravity computations for two-dimensional bodies with application to the Mendocino submarine fracture zone; J. Geophys. Res. 64 49–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson D T 1982 EULDPH – A new technique for making computer-assisted depth estimates from magnetic data; Geophysics 47 31–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thurston J, Guillion J C and Smith R S 1999 Model-independent depth estimation with the SPI TM method; 69th Annual International Meeting, SEG, Expanded Abstracts, pp. 403–406.

  • Thurston J, Smith R S and Guillion J C 2002 A multimodel method for depth estimation from magnetic data; Geophysics 67 555–561.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Umeji O P 2007 Late Albian to Campanian palynostratigraphy of southeastern Nigerian sedimentary Basins; Unpublished Ph.D Thesis, Department of Geology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 280p.

  • Whiteman A J 1982 Nigeria: Its petroleum geology resources and potentials; Graham and Trotman, London , 394p.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Whitehead N and Musselman C 2008 Montaj Grav /Mag Interpretation: Processing, Analysis and Visualization System for 3D Inversion of Potential Field Data for Oasis montaj v6.3, Geosoft Incorporated, 85 Richmond St. W., Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2C9, Canada.

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the former DG of NGSA, Prof. S Malamo who granted the first author a 6-month intenship at NGSA Abuja, in 2011. Dr O Okunola was on ground to offer useful suggestions and advice during the internship. Ria Tinion of Geosoft South Africa, provided the software (Oasis Montaj) used for data processing and interpretation. The quality of this paper has improved enormously as a result of vital comments and contributions made by two anonymous reviewers.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    I A OHA & K M ONUOHA

  2. Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Abuja, Nigeria

    A N NWEGBU & A U ABBA

Authors
  1. I A OHA
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K M ONUOHA
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A N NWEGBU
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A U ABBA
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to I A OHA.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

OHA, I.A., ONUOHA, K.M., NWEGBU, A.N. et al. Interpretation of high resolution aeromagnetic data over southern Benue Trough, southeastern Nigeria. J Earth Syst Sci 125, 369–385 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-016-0666-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-016-0666-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation