Structural controls on rare-metal mineralization: Depth-specific mapping of economic deposits in Nigeria Basement Complex

This study aims to identify prospective zones for mineral exploration and enhance understanding of mineralization processes within Precambrian terrains. High-resolution aeromagnetic data were analyzed using integrated geophysical techniques such as Analytic Signal, Tilt Derivative, Phase Symmetry, Source Parameter Imaging, Butterworth bandpass filtering, 3D magnetic anomaly inversion, and Euler Deconvolution to delineate subsurface structures and determine their spatial distribution, depths, and relationships to mineral occurrences. The results revealed NE-SW and NW-SE trending lineaments corresponding to major shear zones and fault systems that govern mineral emplacement. Shallow sources (250-500 m) are associated with industrial minerals such as clay, intermediate depths (500-720 m) relate to rare-metal pegmatites hosting columbite-tantalite and wolframite, while deep-seated structures (>1200 m) indicate potential source regions for mineralizing fluids. High-amplitude analytic signal anomalies (0.04-0.05 nT/m) coincide with geological contacts and structural boundaries marking zones of potential mineralization. This represents the first comprehensive investigation of subsurface mineralized structures in the region, and by applying multiple geophysical processing techniques, previously unmapped structural features were exposed and the vertical continuity of mineralized zones confirmed. The findings provide depth-specific mapping of economic mineral deposits, offering valuable insights for targeted exploration efforts and enabling more precise, cost-effective strategies for locating columbite-tantalite, wolframite, kaolin, and other economically significant minerals in the Basement Complex.