Assessment of Structures and Depth to Magnetic Source in the Southern Part of Katsina State Using Aeromagnetic Data

The discovery of oil and the subsequent oil boom in Nigeria, which began in 1960, have resulted in the country's complete reliance on oil and the neglect of other economic sectors, particularly the mineral industry, which would have caused a spike in the nation's revenue production. The study area lies within the Northern Nigeria Basement complex. This study aimed to delineate geological lineaments and estimate the depth to magnetic source using two aeromagnetic Sheets (Sheet 78 Funtua and Sheet 79 Malumfashi) that were provided by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) in Abuja. Consequently, the objectives of this research are to produce a composite total magnetic intensity (TMI) map of the study area, to identify prominent structural lineaments and their trends in the study area using the first vertical derivative, to identify magnetic source location using the analytic signal method and to estimate the depth to magnetic source within the study area using the analytic signal method. From the results, the first vertical derivative map of the study area accentuated the short wavelengths within the study area revealing the structures. Structures are predominant within the northeastern part of the area down to the south along the eastern edge of the area. The analytic signal within the study area varies from 0.003 nT/m low amplitude to 0.194 nT/m high amplitude. The analytic signals within this study area have been grouped into three classes (low, medium, and high). The low analytic signal amplitude ranges from 0.003 nT/m to 0.035 nT/m, the medium analytic signal class ranges from 0.035 nT/m to 0.114 nT/m, and the high analytic signal values are greater than 0.114 nT/m. The depth to the magnetic source here varies from deep sources (657.991 m) to shallow sources (12.725 m). Zango Bayaro, Maigunya, Barga, Dan Maiki, Kuka, Tudun Wada, Tugen Na’alma, Dan Mani, Jankollawa, Dadin Kowa and Kofar Fada have been shown to have shallow depth to magnetic sources. Mai Kandamba, Funtua, Kankara, Malumfashi, Dan Sare, Kumbawa, Unguwar Tofa, Pada and Dorobo are areas with the deepest magnetic sources.