Structural interpretation of magnetic and satellite remotely sensed data of Osun State, Southwestern, Nigeria

ABSTRACT This study delineates surface and subsurface structural features in the hard rock terrain of Osun State using magnetic data and satellite remote sensing imageries. To achieve this aim, several image enhancement methods were applied to the magnetic data and satellite remotely sensed imageries to improve visualization and interpretation. The subsurface lineaments were detected and traced out from the maxima of Horizontal Gradient Magnitude, peaks of Analytical Signal Magnitude, and an Euler solution of Osun state. The magnetic lineament map reveals that the structural trend in the area is dominant by NE-SW and NNE-SSW. These structural trends were found to be consistent with the regional tectonics of the Southwest Basement of Nigeria. The NE-SW is the most conspicuous structural trend in the study area. The satellite imageries depict a characteristics feature of the occurrence of underlying structures in the basement complex of Osun State. The major lineament trends delineated in the composite surface lineament map are the NE-SW, NNE-SSW, and ENE-WSW directions. The 2.5 D model across the unmapped lineaments confirmed the existence of a thin dyke’s characteristic of fracture/fault in a typical basement complex terrain. The derived lineaments may serve as a reference for future geological and structural mapping.