Exploratory assessment of Lead-Zinc mineralization in Bangalela area Central Benue Trough Nigeria using integrated ground geophysical data

Abstract

Integrated interpretation of ground magnetic (GM), electromagnetic very low frequency (EM-VLF), electrical resistivity (ER), and induced polarization (IP) data was carried out in this study to investigate the mineralization potentials of the Bangalela area, Central Benue Trough, Nigeria. The GM data was reduced to the equator (RTE), followed by the application of edge enhancement filtering such as first vertical derivative (FVD), to locate the contacts of linear geological features that may control mineralization in the study area, and also to isolate potential prospective exploration targets for lead-zinc deposits. Acquisition of EM-VLF and ER/IP survey were employed to further investigate the delineated zones of interest to ascertain their potentials for mineralization occurrence. The results revealed potential prospective mineralization zones, controlled by the identified conductive structures trending in directions that conforms with known tectonic orientations in the Benue Trough. These isolated mineral targets characterized by chargeability values greater than 15 msec were confirmed to be lead-zinc ore deposits on fresh core samples obtained from two drill points along the interpreted geoelectrical profiles. Probable ore reserve computation showed that the lead-zinc deposit in the Bangalela area contain mineralization volumes of high economic value.