Ground Magnetic Investigation of Iron Occurrence in the Basement Rocks ofDadoru and Environs, Adamawa Massif, North East Nigeria

Abstract

The study area is located in the northwestern part of the Adamawa massif of northeastern Nigeria and lies between longitude 11 0 50 / E and 12 0 00 / E and latitude 8 0 49 / N and 8 0 55 / N. Lithologies of the area include: granite-gneisses, porphyritic granites, and biotite hornblende gneiss. A G-856 Memory-Mag TM proton precision magnetometer was used to acquire ground magnetic data of the area following a regular grid pattern. The magnetic data were subjected to diurnal correction and contoured using Surfer 11surface mapping software to produce a magnetic map. Areas characterized by anomalous magnetic values (34342 -34348 nT) are interpreted as areas of iron occurrences. The computer software WingLink was been used to generate 2-D subsurface geologic models for the computation of the depths to the anomalous bodies. The average depth to the source of anomalous bodies is 351.67 m, which is interpreted as average depth to iron mineral occurrence. Ground geologic mapping confirmed areas of surface iron occurrences as veins in granite gneiss. Geological investigation of the discovery is suggested to determine the tenor and tonnage for possible economic exploitation as part of Nigeria’s government plan to revitalize the solid mineral/mining industry.