Exploration of Relative Abundance of Radioelement Concentrations over the Lower Part of the Sokoto Basin, Northwestern Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates the relative abundance and distribution of radioelements within the lower part of the Sokoto Basin, northwestern Nigeria, using aero-radiometric data. The datasets were obtained from the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) and processed using Oasis Montaj 8.4 and QGIS software. Results revealed that the distribution of uranium, thorium, and potassium is closely associated with geological structures responsible for hosting these radioelements. Depth estimates obtained from Euler deconvolution ranged from −12,242.7 m to 12,100.5 m, indicating the occurrence of both shallow and deep-seated mineralization. The Tambuwal and Kebbe axes exhibited deeper mineralized structures, whereas the Dange and Gwandu axes showed both shallow and deep sources. Potassium was identified as the most abundant radioelement across the study area, with concentrations ranging from 0.108% to 2.064%. Uranium concentrations varied between 0.82 and 5.05 ppm, while thorium concentrations ranged from 4.23 to 18.18 ppm. The observed radioelement distribution is attributed to the dominance of sedimentary formations such as shale and sandstone within the basin. The eastern and western flanks of the study area were identified as zones with significant mineralization potential. The study provides baseline geophysical information for future mineral exploration and environmental investigations within the Sokoto Basin.