INTEGRATED GEOPHYSICAL METHOD FOR GOLD EXPLORATION IN BIRNIN GWARI, KADUNA STATE NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2025-0903-3199Keywords:
Birin Gwari, Gold mineral, Induced polarisation, Electrical resistivity, Aeromagnetic surveyAbstract
Birin Gwari is well recognised for having a wealth of minerals, particularly gold deposits, but its exploration efforts based on the use of single method have resulted to inaccurate results when it comes to detecting mineralisation zones and target accuracy. This problem was addressed by combining induced polarisation (IP) and electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) surveys techniques to further investigate the interpreted aeromagnetic data of the study. This combined technique improved subsurface characterization of the identified gold-mineralized zones with detail geological information. The study adopted GDD IP and electrical resistivity imaging survey equipment to probe further the selected nine IP profiles of delineated anomalous from the aeromagnetic survey. The results from the 2-D inverted IP - resistivity models revealed that 30 out of 34 of the anomalous zone with high chargeability and high to average resistivity were identified. Also, 33 of the IP profiles were highly charged, and their chargeability increased with depth. Meanwhile, 29 of the delineated anomalous has a width length less than 10 m while 5 has greater than 10 m. However, the depth to top length of the 34 anomalies varied from 5 to 81 m. Therefore, the study came to the conclusion that the geophysical parameters of each of the identified anomalous and the maps of mineral prospective priority targets should be served as a reference for core drilling of the suggested anomalous points.
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Adekiya, A.O., Oloruntoba, A., Ewulo, B.S., Ogunbode, T. and Sangoyomi, T. (2024). Heavy Metal Pollution in Soils near Ilesha Gold Mining Area, Nigeria. The Open Agriculture Journal, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.2174/0118743315290216240123111021
Ahmed, H. A (2022). Overview of Nigeria's Solid mineral Potentials, Challenges and Prospects. FUTY Journal of the Environment. 16(1), 76-91. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/fje/article/view/256334
Arifin, M.H., Kayode, J.S., Izwan, M.K., Zaid, H.A.H. and Hussin, H. (2019). Data for the potential gold mineralization mapping with the applications of Electrical Resistivity Imaging and Induced Polarization geophysical surveys. Data in Brief, 22, 830835. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2018.12.086.
Dusabemariya, C., Qian, W., Bagaragaza, R., Faruwa, A.R and Ali, M.M. (2020). Some Experiences of Resistivity and Induced Polarization Methods on the Exploration of Sulfide: A Review. 08(11), 6892. https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2020.811004.
Gupta, A.K., Singh, R.K. and Srivastava, S. (2019). Investigation of auriferous mineralisation over greenstone schist belt of Dhanjori Basin, Eastern India using 2D electrical resistivity tomography and induced polarisation surveys. Exploration Geophysics, 50(4), 364375. https://doi.org/10.1080/08123985.2019.1606204.
Han, M.-H., Shin, S.W., Park, S., Cho, S.-J. and Kim, J.-H. (2016). Induced polarization imaging applied to exploration for low-sulfidation epithermal AuAg deposits, Seongsan mineralized district, South Korea. Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 13(5), 817823. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-2132/13/5/817.
Joshua, E.O., Layade, G.O., Akinboboye, V.B. and Adeyemi, S.A. (2017). Magnetic mineral exploration using ground magnetic survey data of Tajimi Area, Lokoja. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, [online] 23(2),.301. https://doi.org/10.4314/gjpas.v23i2.10.
Lukman, L.M., Najime, T., Ogunleye, P.O., Magaji, S. and Caleb, N.K. (2024). Geology and Geochemical Characterization of Basement Rocks Around Burumburum Area North Central Basement Complex Nigeria. Earth Sciences, 13(1), 1438. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.20241301.13.
Mohammed, A.A., Mohammed, A.U., Abdulganiu, O. and Sadiq, D.A. (2021). Geology of the Structurally Controlled Quartz Vein Gold Mineralization in the Dikko Area, Part of ZungeruMinnaBirnin Gwari Schist Belt, NW Nigeria. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 09(07), 180191. https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2021.97012.
Moreira, C. A., Paes, R. A. S., Ilha, L. M., and da Cruz Bittencourt, J. (2019). Reassessment of Copper Mineral Occurrence Through Electrical Tomography and Pseudo 3D Modeling in Camaqu Sedimentary Basin, Southern Brazil. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 176(2), 737750. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-018-2019-2.
MMSD 2010. Gold Deposits Exploration opportunities in Nigeria, [Online] https://nairametrics.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Gold-Exploration-in-Nigeria.pdf,
Nthaba, B., Shemang, E., Hengari, A., Kgosidintsi, B. and Tsuji, T. (2020). Characterizing coal seams hosted in Mmamabula Coalfield, central Botswana using pseudo-3D electrical resistivity imaging technique. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 167, 103866. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2020.103866.
Olade, M. A. (2019). Solid mineral deposits and mining in Nigeria: a sector in transitional change. Achievers Journal of Scientific Research, 2(1), 1-16.
Oluyede, K. and Kltzli, U. (2020). Syn-collisional pan-African granite in the northern part Birnin Gwari schist belt in NW Nigeria. International Journal of Advanced Geosciences, 8(2), 197. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijag.v8i2.31095.
Revil, A., Vaudelet, P., Su, Z. and Chen, R. (2022). Induced Polarization as a Tool to Assess Mineral Deposits: A Review. Minerals, 12(5), 571571. https://doi.org/10.3390/min12050571.
Sono, P.S., Bokani Nthaba, Shemang, E., Boniface Kgosidintsi and Thato Norah Seane (2021). An integrated use of induced polarization and electrical resistivity imaging methods to delineate zones of potential gold mineralization in the Phitshane Molopo area, Southeast Botswana. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 174, 104060104060. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2020.104060.
Su, Z., Andr Revil, Ghorbani, A., Zhang, X., Zhao, X. and Richard, J. (2023). Combining Electrical Resistivity, Induced Polarization, and Self-Potential for a Better Detection of Ore Bodies. Minerals, [online] 14(1), 1212. https://doi.org/10.3390/min14010012.
Sunkari, E.D., Kore, B.M. and Tetteh, S.E.K. (2022). Petrography and structural features of the Precambrian basement rocks in the Benin-Nigerian Shield, NW Nigeria: Implications for their correlation with South Atlantic Precambrian terranes. AIMS Geosciences, [online] 8(4), 503524. https://doi.org/10.3934/geosci.2022028.
Waziri, N.M. (2014). Environmental Geochemistry of Soils and Stream Sediments from the Birnin-Gwari Artisanal Gold Mining Area, North-western Nigeria. Universal Journal of Geoscience, 2(1), 1827. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujg.2014.020103.
Yusuf, S.N., Mubarak Umar Faruk, Lucky Osaro Imagbe, Ovye Musah Yohanna, Yusuf, I., Onoshagbegbe, A., Kamal, M. and Jacob, T.T. (2022). Integrated geophysical investigation for lead and zinc mineralization in Wase, middle Benue Trough, Nigeria. Heliyon, 8(12), e12541e12541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12541.
Zankan, J.A.A and Abubakar, M.Y. (2024). Spatial Distribution of Artisanal Mining in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Kashere Journal of Geography and Sustainable Environment (KJGSE), 1(1), 263-280.
Zankan, J.A.A., Abdul, I., Mande, A.J. and Abdul, H.A. (2022), Livelihood Implication ofArtisanal Mining on Herders in Jemaa and Sanga Local Government Areas ofKaduna State, Nigeria. African Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research, 5(5), 27-47. https://doi.org/10.52589/AJSSHR-F4SHZ0HD.
Published
2025-03-31
How to Cite
Alaba, O. C., Gbolagade, M. A., & Akinbinu, V. A. (2025). INTEGRATED GEOPHYSICAL METHOD FOR GOLD EXPLORATION IN BIRNIN GWARI, KADUNA STATE NIGERIA. FUDMA JOURNAL OF SCIENCES, 9(3), 107 - 118. https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2025-0903-3199
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Section
Research Articles
FUDMA Journal of Sciences
