Geophysical Identification of Hydrothermally Altered Structures That Favour Gold Mineralisation.

Abstract

This research study uses geophysical method (aeromagnetic) to identify hydrothermally altered structures which favour the inflow of hydrothermal fluid that usually brings about gold mineralisation in Egbe-Isanlu Schist Belt Area, North Central Nigeria. The application of data enhancement filtering algorithm such as reduction to the pole to the magnetic data aided in mapping of various hydrothermally altered structures that may favour gold mineralisation. The interpretation of the aero data set has enhanced a lot of hydrothermally altered structures that trend northeast-southwest(NE-SW). A number of hydrothermally altered structures are seen. Therefore the areas that are hydrothermally altered are potential sites for gold mineralisation, most importantly those areas that lie within or adjacent to major faults around Odogbe and Okolom in the North Central portion of the study area. Similarly, regions around Egbe in the western edge are suspected to be mineralized zones. The results obtained in this research study demonstrated that the geophysical tools adopted are powerful and effective means for gold mineral exploration. This method is unique because it is non-invasive which prevented any environmental degradation and it enhances the coverage of very large area. 

Keywords: Aeromagnetic Data; Isanlu; Structures; Gold Mineralisation; Hydrothermally Altered.