ESTIMATING DEPTHS TO MINERAL DEPOSITS IN GIDAN WAYA S AND ENVIRONS AS MEANS OF MITIGATING ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER

Abstract

This study estimates depths and thickness to mineral resource potential with the High Resolution Aeromagnetic (HRAM) Data of Jema’a sheet where Gidan Waya and environs, within Jema’a Local government of Kaduna State, Nigeria is within Latitudes 9.25° ???? ???????? 9.5° ???? and Longitudes 8.2° ???? to 8.5° ????. The High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Data of sheet 188 covering an area of approximately 3025 ????????2 was analysed with spectral analysis. Depth to top (???????? ) and depth to centroid (????????) of the magnetic anomalies were obtained. The values were used to estimate the Curie point depth (CPD) and the thickness (T)of the mineral resources’ potential in the study Area was estimated. Results obtained showed the minimum, mean and maximum for ???????? and T as, 0.42 km and 1.7 km, 0.62 km and 2.4 km and 0.94 km and 3.7 km respectively. In order to manage both economic crises and environmental disaster, the paper recommends that Artisanal and Government (Legal) Miners can use the estimated values to ensure that excavations do not cause environmental hazards