Delineation of source magnetization and subsurface discontinuity of Ririwai Ring Complex along Kano, North Western Nigeria

Abstract

High Resolution Aeromagnetic (HRAM) data of Ririwai (sheet 126) which lies between latitude 10° 30' to 11° 00' N and longitude 8° 30' E to 9° 00' E, was used for this research. The study area, Ririwai is situated along Kano, in the Northwestern part of Nigeria, both qualitative and quantitative interpretation techniques were employed in this study. This procedure was carefully undertaken by employing enhancement filters; vertical derivative, upward continuation, analytical signal amplitude processing, and quantitative approaches such as Euler 3D deconvolution and an apparent susceptibility filter to help further give solutions for depth estimates and magnetization. The Euler deconvolution was able to show that the solution plotted clustered around the region where the geological structures are located with average depths range of <139.8 to >904.5 m, with very few solutions having depths less than 200 m, the most prominent structure particularly the Ririwai ring complex have a depth range of 182.9 to 301.5 m. The magnetic susceptibility reading obtained shows that the area is composed of rocks high in magnetic minerals such as magnetite along the western end of the area, it is also flanked by medium to high magnetic values around the central parts with only regions of low magnetic values predominantly along the Ririwai complex and its adjoining outcrops towards the eastern half of the area under study.