Application of electrical resistivity tomography for mapping gold mineralization potential in Iperindo, Ilesha schist belt, southwestern Nigeria

  • Authors

    • Olawale OlakunleOsinowo Department of Geology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
    • Ahmed Kehinde Usman Department of Geology, University of Ibadan
    • Ayotunde Allen Omitoogun Department of Geology, University of Ibadan
    2020-09-02
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijag.v8i2.31023
  • Gold Mineralization, Low Resistivity Zones, Vertical Faults, Pegmatitic Veins, Iperindo.

  • Abstract

    This study applied Electrical Resistivity Tomography geophysical investigation technique to evaluate the gold mineralization potential of Iperindo in Ilesha Schist Belt, southwestern Nigeria, where commercial exploitation capable of generating revenue and employment for the inhabitants has been challenged by lack / inadequate subsurface geological/geophysical information. The filtered and inverted electrical resistivity data acquired through five (5) 336 m long E – W trending profiles, established 10 m apart from each other, delineate isolated near surface but thick (> 30 m) low resistivity zones, especially at the eastern and western ends of the study area. Some of the delineated low resistivity zones (3 – 200 ð›€m) present vertical sharp edges, likely created by vertical faults that flank the zones on both sides. The low resistivity of these zones could be attributed to the occurrence of conductive material such as gold and associated base metals which probably exist in pegmatitic veins within the zones.

     

     


     

  • References

    1. [1] Burke, K.C., Freeth, S.J. and Grant, N.K. (1976). The Structure and Sequence of GeologicalEvents in the Basement Complex of Ibadan Area, Western Nigeria, Prec. Res. Vol. 3 No. 6,1976.https://doi.org/10.1016/0301-9268(76)90017-6.

      [2] Chiao, L., Chen, Y., Gung, Y., 2014. Constructing empirical resolution diagnostics forkriging and minimum curvature gridding. J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth 119 (5), 3939e3954.https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JB010364.

      [3] Elueze, A. (1981). Petrographic studies of metabasic rocks and meta-ultramafites in relationto mineralization in Nigerian schist belts. J. Min. Geol, 18(1), 31-36.

      [4] Friedman, S.P., 2005. Soil properties influencing apparent electrical conductivity. Comput.Electron. Agric. 46, 45e70.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2004.11.001.

      [5] Garba, I. (1985). Geological and geochemical investigations of the gold occurrences north ofIsanlu, Kwara State, Nigeria. Unpublished M. Sc. Thesis, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria.

      [6] Grant, N.K. (1971). South Atlantic, Benue Trough and Gulf of Guinea Cretaceous TripleJunction. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 82,2295-2298.https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82[2295:SABTAG]2.0.CO;2.

      [7] Griffiths, D.H., Turnbull, J. and Olayinka, A.I. (1990). Two-Dimensional ResistivityMapping with a Computer-Controlled Array. First Break, 8, 121-129.https://doi.org/10.3997/1365-2397.1990008.

      [8] Jones, H. A., and Hockey, R. D. (1964). The Geology of Part of Southwestern NigeriaGeological Survey of Nigeria (Bulletin 31), 1-101.

      [9] Loke M.H. and Barker, R.D. (1996). Rapid Least-Squares Inversion of Apparent ResistivityPseudosections by a Quasi-Newton Method. Geophysical Prospecting, 44, 131-152.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2478.1996.tb00142.x.

      [10] NGSA (2009). Nigerian Geological Survey Agency’s Lineament and Geological Map of Nigeria, Scale 1:100 000.

      [11] Osinowo, O. O., Agbede, O. A. and Olayinka, A. I. (2017). Application of ElectricalResistivity Imaging (ERI) Geophysical Technique to Determine

      [12] Causes of Stress InducedCracks Observed on Office Building Complex within University of Ibadan Campus, Ibadan,Southwestern Nigeria. Journal of Mining and Geology, Vol.53(1), pp. 31 – 44.

      [13] Osinowo, O. O., Falufosi, M. O., &Omiyale, E. O. (2018). Integrated electromagnetic (EM)and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) geophysical studies of environmental impact ofAwotan dumpsite in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 140,42-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2017.12.026.

      [14] Oyinloye, A. O. (2011). Geology and Geotectonic Setting of the Basement Complex Rocks in Southwestern Nigeria: Implications on Provenance and Evolution. Earth and Environmental Sciences, 98 – 117.

      [15] Oyinloye, A. O. and Steed, G.M. (1996). Geology and Geochemistry of the Iperindo Primary gold deposits Ilesha schist belt Southwestern Nigeria. Inferences from stable carbon isotope studies. Africa J. Sc. Tech. 8 (1) pp 16-19.

      [16] Reynolds, J.M., 1997. An Introduction to Applied and Environmental Geophysics, vol.2. John Wiley and Sons Ltd., West Sussex, p. 796.

      [17] Sharma, P.V., 1997. Environmental and Engineering Geophysics. Cambridge UniversityPress, pp. 173.https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139171168.

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    OlakunleOsinowo, O., Kehinde Usman, A., & Allen Omitoogun, A. (2020). Application of electrical resistivity tomography for mapping gold mineralization potential in Iperindo, Ilesha schist belt, southwestern Nigeria. International Journal of Advanced Geosciences, 8(2), 146-152. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijag.v8i2.31023

    Received date: 2020-07-19

    Accepted date: 2020-08-23

    Published date: 2020-09-02