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Regional estimation of geothermal resources of the entire Benue Trough, Nigeria using high-resolution aeromagnetic data

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Abstract

The present study interpreted high-resolution aeromagnetic data using spectral analysis interpretation technique to carry out a regional estimation of geothermal resources of the entire Benue trough, Nigeria. The data was partitioned into 46 overlapping blocks and the depths to top, bottom and center of the magnetic sources for each overlapping data were computed. The calculated depths were then used to determine curie-point depths, geothermal gradients, and heat flow in the basin subsurface. The geothermal gradient in the study area indicated a range of values from 12.5 to 38.3 °C/km with a mean value of 26.0 °C/km, while the curie-point depths vary from 15.0 to 45.3 km with a mean depth of 23.2 km. The study identified four separate geothermal zones namely A, B, D, and F. However, zone F before this study has been unknown. It, therefore, represents an additional geothermal zone to the previous works in the study area. The values of heat flow vary from 31.2 to 95.8 mW m−2 with a mean value of 65.1 mW m−2. This study provides new insights into the geothermal resources of the Benue trough. The high heat flow values in the entire region might be considered good for geothermal exploration and therefore, the geothermal zones identified should be considered for further investigations.

Article Highlights

The study identified four separate geothermal zones: A, B, D, and F. The geothermal zone F before this study has been unknown. It provides new insights into the geothermal resources of the Benue trough.

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Modified from Adebiyi et al. (2020) using Arc map version 10.3

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Data availability

Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA).

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) for making the data for the study area available and the University of Ilorin, Ilorin Nigeria, for making their facilities available for the research work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Sciences, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria

    Kehinde Oladele Dopamu

  2. Department of Physics, University of Ilorin, PMB 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria

    Kehinde Oladele Dopamu & Clement O. Akoshile

  3. Federal University, Kashere, Nigeria

    Levi Ikechukwu Nwankwo

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  1. Kehinde Oladele Dopamu
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  2. Clement O. Akoshile
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  3. Levi Ikechukwu Nwankwo
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Correspondence to Kehinde Oladele Dopamu.

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Dopamu, K.O., Akoshile, C.O. & Nwankwo, L.I. Regional estimation of geothermal resources of the entire Benue Trough, Nigeria using high-resolution aeromagnetic data. Geomech. Geophys. Geo-energ. Geo-resour. 7, 78 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-021-00276-z

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