MAPPING MINERALIZED POTENTIAL AREAS USING INTEGRATED GEOPHYSICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL TECHNIQUES IN PART OF ILORIN SHEET 223, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study employs an integrated geophysical and geochemical approach to delineate mineralized zones in part of Ilorin Sheet 223, southwestern Nigeria. Advanced filtering and transformation techniques were applied to the high-resolution aeromagnetic data, this includes reduction to the equator (RTE), analytic signal amplitude (AS), tilt derivative (TDR), total horizontal derivative (THDR), first vertical derivative (FVD), source parameter imaging (SPI), and Euler deconvolution techniques, revealing a structurally complex terrain dominated by NE-SW and NW-SE lineaments, shallow magnetic sources (60–350 m depth). Aeroradiometric analysis, which consist of ternary maps and K/Th and K/U ratios, highlighted potassic alteration and radioelement enrichments associated with felsic granites and pegmatites. Soil geochemical analysis of 49 samples for 13 trace elements (Li, Rb, Cs, Nb, Ta, Sn, Cu, U, Th, Pb, Zn, Fe, La) using XRF, analyzed with statistical analysis including univariate and multivariate statistics, identified log-normal distributions, element correlation that reveal strong element associations, and three principal factors were observed: (1) Fe-Cu-Zn-U (hydrothermal/supergene), (2) Li-Cs-Nb-Ta-Sn-Rb (LCT pegmatite-related), and (3) Th-La-Pb-U (REE-radiogenic). Integration of these datasets delineates high-priority polymetallic targets in the northeastern (Elesin-Funfun/Alayin), western (Oniguguru/Oniyere/Ahogbada), and southeastern (Erin-Ile) sectors, controlled by structural intersections and hydrothermal alteration. The results provide a robust, multi-parameter exploration model that reduces target ambiguity and highlights the prospectivity for polymetallic mineralization, supporting sustainable resource development in the study area.