A reconnaisance study to delineate the potential mineral zones around the schist belt areas Of Kano State, Nigeria using airborne magnetic data

Abstract

This work presents a reconnaissance study to delineate potential mineral zones in the schist belt areas of Kano State. These parts of the state have received little or no attention for a long time and activities of artisanal miners suggest that the area is of economic mineral value. Airborne magnetic data acquired from Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) were first reduced to the equator before subjecting them to first and second vertical derivatives. The short wavelength anomalies recorded in the study area, ranging from -99.182 to 88.338 nT indicate that the area is characterized by crystalline basement complex rocks. The results of the vertical derivatives show that lineaments (depicting faults, fractures and contacts) which represent veins of possible mineralization exist in the study area. The trend of these lineaments is in the NE-SW and E-W directions with the NE-SW trend dominating. Location with high mineral favorability is bounded within longitudes 7°51’ E to 8° 12’ E and latitudes 11° 46‘ N to 12° 30’ N in the NE – SW directions. The trend cuts through Gwarzo, Shanono, Bagwai, Tsanyawa, Bichi and Kunchi. Key words: Airborne magnetic data, Lineament, Mineralization, Schist Belt and Vertical derivatives.