Magnetic inversion modeling of subsurface geologic structures for mineral deposits mapping in southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Magnetic inversion techniques have been implemented to infer the extension and geometry of magnetic structures and also evaluate its influence on mineralization within Abakaliki and its environs, southeastern Nigeria. The modeling approach considers the techniques of three-dimensional (3D) magnetic data inversion, Euler deconvolution, analytic signal inversion, Enhanced Local Wavenumber (ELW) Technique and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to estimate source parameters and compare results. Model solutions were interpreted to represent possible geologic units with varying trends, housing mineralization within the study region. Results from inversion computation over some active mine locations show subsurface bodies with magnetic susceptibilities >0.00188 SI. Model results also show structural sources with almost 5.5 km depth extension, stretching 18 km in the EW direction at Ngbo – Ekerigwe location. This could imply significant mineral deposits at the location. Inversion of both magnetic anomaly and analytical signal enabled derivation of the actual subsurface structures in the region, with most of the structures appearing as dykes with depths ranging from 0.2 – 1.8 km at most of the mining sites. Location and depths of some of the modeled intrusions have been corroborated with the active on-site mines. The delineation of mineralization structures by this study would guide systematic exploration in the region.