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- Title
Integrated geological and geo-electric investigation of the Ikom-Mamfe Embayment, southeastern Nigeria: a preliminary quantitative assessment of some mineral ore deposits.
- Authors
Emedo, Chidubem Okwudiri; Ugbor, Charles Chibueze; Arinze, Innocent John; Ani, Chidiebere Chukwu; Ngwaka, Alexis Chibuzor
- Abstract
The Ikom-Mamfe Embayment (IME) is the NW-SE branch structure of the NE-SW trending Benue Trough of Nigeria. The economic significance of the embayment lies in the existence of mineral deposits that are concealed by a sedimentary host. Despite the numerous occurrences of these mineral ores, they are still largely underexplored and underexploited. Besides the paucity of geologic data, inadequate economic value assessment, has been identified as the major cause of their limited exploitation. Here, we employ integrated geological and geo-electric techniques to study, delineate, and provide an initial quantitative evaluation of some mineral deposits in the IME. Field geological studies were carried out to construe the stratigraphic and structural patterns of ore occurrence and the associated lithologic units. Electrical resistivity imaging (ERI), induced polarization (IP), and self-potential (SP) data were collected randomly along three Wenner-imaging lines to allow integrated interpretations and provide for corroborative evidence. Vertical electrical sounding (VES) was implemented at seventeen points identified from the ERI sections as mineral ore bodies. The thickness values of ores obtained from the VES scheme were applied in three numerical classical integration techniques for volume estimation. To verify the geophysical results and, thus, confirm the certainty of the ore bodies, exploratory drilling was conducted on two identified anomalous points. The results of geophysical studies indicate the existence of several polarizable bodies, located in the near surface at shallow depths (< 10 m), correlating with low resistivity (< 400 Ωm) and central negative SP anomalies, thus characterizing probable zones of Pb-Zn mineralization. The sub-surface electrical structure also reveals a group of fairly positive SP values and high resistivity anomaly zones (˃ 400 Ωm) of low capacitive strength, which intersect low to moderate resistivity bedrock areas and are interpreted as iron ore deposits. Thickness variation characteristics of three conspicuous ore bodies (A, B, and C) yielded ore volumes, which in combination with density data showed a preliminary resources estimate of about 41, 165 tonnes thereby providing a basis for further detailed exploratory drilling on proven reserves. These results, therefore, show tantalizing indicators that the underexplored IME has significant potential to host major mineral systems in economic quantity.
- Publication
Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2022, Vol 15, Issue 8, p1
- ISSN
1866-7511
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s12517-022-09992-6