Application of geophysical method to delineate Kaolin deposit at Kankara, Northwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Area around Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, which lies within the Northern Nigerian Basement complex, is considered as one of the most prospective regions for Kaolin mineralization in Nigeria. A geophysical survey involving aeromagnetic and electrical resistivity survey was employed to delineate the fault and features that may be related to the mineralization. The aeromagnetic map results which included the first and second vertical derivatives and analytical signal map, revealed that a continuous linear feature trends Northwest to Southeast direction and Northeast to Southwest direction with a few traces along East-West and North-South. The electrical resistivity tomography was taken at a mining site along which the fault line passes through. It revealed that the Kaolin mineral lies within the overburden and weathered layer, with depth approximately 10-15m, extending from East -West.