Aeromagnetic data investigations of the potential mineralized zones in parts of Zuru schist belt, Northwestern Nigeria

The study area is located within the north-western Nigeria, Zuru schists belt, bounded by latitudes 11ᵒ-12ᵒ N and longitudes 5ᵒ-6ᵒ E with a total surface area of 21,000 km2. The qualitative interpretation of the total field anomaly was carried-out using analytic signal, reduced to pole and first vertical derivative techniques. These techniques enhanced the visualization of the structural features such as faults and folds which are capable of hosting mineralized deposits within the studied region. More so, quantitative interpretation of the total field anomaly reveals the depth extents to the potential mineralized zones, with values in the range of 134.2 to 339.6 m, which were computed from the 3-D Euler deconvolution technique. The overall results of the qualitative and quantitative analyses are synonymous and thus reveal that the study area is affected by the NNE-SSW, NE-SW, N-S and E-W trends. Hence, the potential mineralized zones within the study area are structurally controlled along the Eburnean deformation (D1) and Pan-African (D2) deformation episodes.