INVESTIGATION OF THE LATERAL EXTENT OF A COAL SEAM USING ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY IMAGING AT MOLKO VILLAGE, GONGOLA BASIN NORTH EASTERN NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1005-5018Keywords:
Gombe formation, electrical resistivity, lateral extent, coal seamAbstract
Subsurface uncertainty in the Gombe Formation, particularly within the Gongola Sub-basin of the Upper Benue Trough, presents significant challenges for coal exploration due to the formation's complex and heterogeneous nature. The Gombe Formation consists of a rapidly changing sequence of sandstones, shales, mudstones, and coal seams. Two-dimensional (2D) electrical resistivity imaging was conducted to detect and delineate the lateral extent of the coal seam, utilizing a dipole-dipole array. This protocol was chosen because of its high sensitivity to resistivity variations beneath the electrodes in each dipole pair. The ABEM Terrameter SAS 4000 was used for data acquisition, while Res2Dinv software was employed for data processing. Additionally, a borehole (BH) was used in this study to integrate the results and produce a clearer interpretation. Measurements were successfully conducted across five profiles using 21 electrodes. Profile one covered a distance of 525 m; profile two, 315 m; profile three, 420 m; profile four, 315 m; and profile five, 315 m, with an inter-electrode spacing of 5 m. The 2D electrical resistivity pseudosection model revealed resistivity values associated with coal ranging from 400 Ω·m to 1000 Ω·m at depths of approximately 20 m to 25 m, with an average thickness of 2 m to 4 m. The coal seam extends laterally over a distance of 252 m, with the deposit being more prominent in the eastern part of the study area. The resistivity variations observed in this study align well with findings from previous research on coal resistivity.
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