Preliminary Analysis of Geophysical data of a Concession in Bishewa, Kwara State, Nigeria: Implications for Gold Exploration

Abstract

This study presents a pre-investment geophysical and remote sensing investigation aimed at identifying structures potentially hosting mineral deposits within Bishewa, a section of the Lafiagi Sheet 203 in Kwara State, Nigeria. Previous studies on mineral exploration in similar Precambrian basement terrains often relied on isolated geophysical or remote sensing techniques, limiting the holistic understanding of subsurface structures and hydrothermal alteration zones associated with gold mineralization. To bridge this gap, this study integrates remote sensing, aeromagnetic, and radiometric data to delineate potential gold-bearing zones. The total magnetic intensity anomaly data reveal an absence of major structural controls, while radiometric analysis highlights small hydrothermal features along river paths as promising sites for alluvial gold exploration. The findings align with existing metrics for interpreting hydrothermal alteration zones and demonstrate the utility of integrated geophysical methods in targeting mineralized areas. Further ground-based investigations are recommended to validate the identified zones for potential gold deposits.