Evaluation of thermomagnetic properties and geothermal energy potential in parts of Bida Basin, Nigeria, using spectral analysis

Authors : Churchill Chukwunonso OKONKWO, Augustine Ifeanyi CHINWUKO, Ajana Godwin ONWUEMESI, Emmanuel Kenechukwu ANAKWUBA, Sunday Okechukwu OKEKE, Ayatu Ojonugwa USMAN

Pages : 13-30

Doi:10.19111/bulletinofmre.796381

View : 33 | Download : 10

Publication Date : 2021-08-19

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Thermomagnetic properties and geothermal energy potential in parts of Bida Basin, Nigeria have been evaluated using spectral analysis of integrated nine aeromagnetic data. The study area covering 27.225 km2 of aeromagnetic data was examined and construed in order to delineate the thermal properties of the country-rock in the area. The result of the visual inception of the residual map reveals that the area comprises an extremely irregular pattern of magnetic intensities that range from 220 to 240 nT. Two structural features of folding evidence were also delineated in the area namely; uplift and depression. The result of the lineament structures from the shaded relief map and Rose diagram depicts NE-SW as the major trend with the minor trend is NW - SE. Two depths to magnetic sources were distinguished in the area: the shallower bodies which vary from 1.27 to 1.96 km and the deeper bodies that vary from 2.01 to 4.27 km. The result also shows an average depth to the centroid as 12.97 km in the area. The thermomagnetic properties analysis show average values of 23.12 km Curie isotherm, 25.27 °C/km geothermal gradients and 63.17 mWm2 heat flow in the area. The study concludes that the study area possesses good potential quality for geothermal energy generation and exploration.
Keywords : Lineament, Rose Diagram, Magnetic Sources, Curie Isotherm, Thermal Properties