ASSESSMENT OF RADIOELEMENT HOSTING STRUCTURE AND HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION ZONE USING AERO RADIOMETRIC DATA IN BASEMENT ROCK OF NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA
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Abstract
Natural gamma-ray spectrometry data of Sheet 145 of the Nigeria Geological map series in Basement rock of North Central Nigeria were used in this work to map-out radioelement distribution, delineate hydrothermal alteration zones and identify hosting rocks for the radioelement. Radioelement maps, ratio maps, and ternary maps were produced superimposed on the geology map of the study area using Oasis Montaj and ArcGIS software. The spatial distribution and occurrence of Potassium (K), Thorium (Th) and Uranium (U), were determined using the radioelement maps of Potassium (K in %), equivalent Thorium (eTh in ppm) and equivalent Uranium (eU in ppm). The hydrothermal alteration zones were delineated using the percentage potassium (% K) - equivalent Thorium (eTh) ratio (K/eTh) map. Zones of high concentrations on the map was delineated as the alterration zones. The ternary map for (K, eTh and eU) were generated to delineate areas of different radioelement concentration. Different colors on the ternary map correspond closely with different rock types when compared with the geological map.
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