Journal cover Journal topic
Geothermal Energy Science An open-access journal
Journal topic
Volume 5, issue 1
Geoth. Energ. Sci., 5, 1–9, 2017
https://doi.org/10.5194/gtes-5-1-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Geoth. Energ. Sci., 5, 1–9, 2017
https://doi.org/10.5194/gtes-5-1-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

  24 Mar 2017

24 Mar 2017

Regional estimation of Curie-point depths and succeeding geothermal parameters from recently acquired high-resolution aeromagnetic data of the entire Bida Basin, north-central Nigeria

Levi I. Nwankwo1 and Abayomi J. Sunday2 Levi I. Nwankwo and Abayomi J. Sunday
  • 1Department of Geophysics, University of Ilorin, PMB 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria
  • 2Physics Unit, Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract. A regional estimation of Curie-point depths (CPDs) and succeeding geothermal gradients and subsurface crustal heat flow has been carried out from the spectral centroid analysis of the recently acquired high-resolution aeromagnetic (HRAM) data of the entire Bida Basin in north-central Nigeria. The HRAM data were divided into 28 overlapping blocks, and each block was analysed to obtain depths to the top, centroid, and bottom of the magnetic sources. The depth values were then used to assess the CPD, geothermal gradient, and subsurface crustal heat flow in the basin. The result shows that the CPD varies between 15.57 and 29.62 km with an average of 21.65 km, the geothermal gradient varies between 19.58 and 37.25 °C km−1 with an average of 27.25 °C km−1, and the crustal heat flow varies between 48.41 and 93.12 mW m−2 with an average of 68.80 mW m−2. Geodynamic processes are mainly controlled by the thermal structure of the Earth's crust; therefore this study is important for appraisal of the geo-processes, rheology, and understanding of the heat flow variations in the Bida Basin, north-central Nigeria.

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The recent aeromagnetic data over the Bida Basin, Nigeria, have been used to estimate the Curie-point depths (CPDs), geothermal gradients (GGs), and near-surface crustal heat flow (HF) of the basin. The result shows that the CPD varies between 15.57 and 29.62 km, GG varies between 19.58 and 37.25 °C km−1, and HF varies between 48.41 and 93.12 mW m−2. Regions are observed in the basin with shallow CPDs and corresponding high HFs, thus suggesting anomalous geothermal conditions.
The recent aeromagnetic data over the Bida Basin, Nigeria, have been used to estimate the...
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