Exploring the Application of Potential Field Gravity Method in Characterizing Regional-trends of the Earth’s Sequence System over the Sokoto Basin, NW, Nigeria

Abstract

In this chapter some preliminaries evaluation were outline briefly based on exploring the use of potential gravity field method in characterizing regional trends of Earth’s sequence system interms of gravitational potentials and fields, viz-a-viz., the background, instrumentation, theoretical model, gravity data reduction, geological framework, Bouguer reduction density, density acceptable models, free-air anomaly and interpretation of Bouguer gravity anomaly. Therefore, application of potential field method (gravity) explore these relationships by focusing on the formation and fill of a continental rift basin in characterizing regional trends of the Earth’s system interms of data processing, interpretation and Earth’s modelling. The study was carried out with the aim to understand and characterized the structural styles and regional trends of the Earth’s sequence beneath the Sokoto Basin and its surroundings. Results from the Bouguer gravity anomaly revealed gravity high of characteristic feature on the Bouguer map with a strong positive oval shape of causative bodies anomaly (> −14.0 mGal) having E-W trend. On contrary a number of gravity minima (−43.31 mGal) and maxima (−39.54 mGal) can be found ENE, N-W parts which are almost defining locations of deep basinal areas. The anomalous features shows negative as well as the lineaments pattern are virtually oriented in the NW-SE, ENE and E-W trends.