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Evidence of tectonic control of mineralization in

Nigeria from lineament density analysis A Landsat-
study
a b
S. E. ANANABA & D. E. AJAKAIYE
a
School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Federal University of Technology , Owerri, Nigeria
b
Department of Physics , University of Jos , Jos, Nigeria
Published online: 07 May 2007.

To cite this article: S. E. ANANABA & D. E. AJAKAIYE (1987) Evidence of tectonic control of mineralization in Nigeria
from lineament density analysis A Landsat-study, International Journal of Remote Sensing, 8:10, 1445-1453, DOI:
10.1080/01431168708954788

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 INT. J. REMOTE SENSING, 1987, VOL. 8, NO. 10, 1445-1453

Evidence of tectonic control of mineralization in Nigeria from lineament

density analysis
A Landsat-study

S. E. ANANABA
School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Federal University of Technology,
Owerri, Nigeria
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and D. E. AJAKAIYE
Department of Physics, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria

(Received 30 September 1986; infinai form 17 April 1987)

Abstract. Lineaments of lengths equal to or greater than 5 km have been

interpreted on each of the 30 Landsat frames required to cover the entire area of
Nigeria north of 8° latitude. All the spectral bands 4, 5, 6 and 7 were used each at
scale I : I 000 000. A mosaic of the interpretations from the various scenes was used
to prepare a lineament map of Nigeria. Regional analysis of the lineaments based
on the spatial and directional attributes of their assemblages suggests general
northeast-southwest, northwest-southeast and north-south tectonic trends. The
density of lineaments within each 1° x 1° block was determined using the conven-
tional approach and a contour map of lineament densities produced. The lineament
density map has been compared with the primary mineral occurrences map of
Nigeria adapted from the mineral map of Nigeria. The result shows good
correlation between the areas of high lineament density and the areas where the
occurrences of most primary minerals such as iron, cassiterite, gold, lead-zinc and
uranium have been reported; this correlation suggests that primary mineralization
in Nigeria is tectonically controlled. The lineament density map therefore consti-
tutes a useful base map which could aid exploration efforts for solid minerals in
Nigeria.

I. Introduction
The exploration of mineral resources has been described as a four-step operation
involving regional reconnaissance, surface and subsurface mapping, ground geophys-
ical surveys and actual drilling (Hunt et al. 1974). Since ground geophysical surveys
and research depend on the first two steps mentioned above, to achieve better targeting
of the resources being sought for a reasonable knowledge of possible factors that may
indicate these resources has become necessary.
A mineral indicator has further been defined as any physical or chemical
phenomenon which has been found to correlate with known mineral occurrences
(Rubin 1979). Some indicators that have been found useful in the exploration of
minerals include faults, fractures, linears, arched or domed strata and oxidized and
hydrothermally altered areas (Peterson 1976). Proven relationships do exist between
known mineral deposits and certain types and directions of lineaments (Lattrnan 1973,
Offield et al, 1977. O'Leary and Simpson 1977).
 1446 S. E. Ananaba and D. E. Ajakaiye

The conventional approach to the preparation of reconnaissance or base maps for

exploration has proved to be not only expensive and laborious but also quite
unreliable, primarily because of the problem of accessibility to most areas of interest.
Consequently, the development of satellite technology, otherwise known as remote
sensing technology, has had world-wide acceptance and application particularly in the
areas of ground water exploration, geological mapping, mineral exploration, tectonic
studies and climatic and weather studies (e.g. Sonderegger 1970, Parmenter 1971,
Parmenter and Anderson 1977, Alexander et at. 1974, Ernst 1975, Peterson 1976,
Rowan et at. 1977). .
In surfacial and exploration geology, mineral exploration and regional tectonic
studies, remote sensing has played a key role because it is the most practical method of
measuring many pertinent physical properties of large and generally inaccessible areas
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(Rowan 1975). The information derived provides a cost-effective means of studying

regional features for extrapolating local measurements to regional scales and for
identifying critical areas for subsequent detailed studies (Rowan 1975).
As part of a continuing research programme on remote sensing, the authors have
attempted to map the identifiable lineaments on the available Landsat images covering
all parts of Nigeria north of 8° latitude (figure I) and to prepare a mosaic of them. In
carrying out this exercise, a lineament has been taken to mean 'a mappable simple or
composite linear feature of a surface whose parts are aligned in a rectilinear or slightly
curvilinear relationship and which differs distinctly from the patterns of adjacent
features and presumably reflects a subsurface phenomenon' (O'Leary et at. 1976). The
methods of analysis and interpretation are presented in this paper.

2. Compilation of lineament map

The present study requires a regional appraisal of the Landsat data over Nigeria for
a better overview of the various features that may be of interest to the exploration

Figure I. Index or Landsat coverage or Nigeria.

 Tectonic control of mineralization in Nigeria 1447
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Figure 2. Diagrammatic representation of the compilation of a mosaicfrom Landsat frames.

geologists, geophysicists and resource planners. The compilation of the lineament map
was limited to all the scenes north of 8° latitude because of the excessive amount of
cloud cover and poor image quality south of this latitude (figure I). A total oDO scenes
were used (figure 2) and all interpretations were made monoscopically.
The criteria used for the identification of lineaments include two major surface
features. These are geomorphic (caused by relief) and tonal (caused by contrast or
tonal differences) (Sabins 1978). Geomorphic features include land forms, linear
boundaries between different types of terrain, straight stream valleys and alignment of
minor stream segments. Tonal features include straight boundaries between areas of
contrasting tone.
"Each-suspected lineament or curvilinear was checked and re-evaluated using
all the four Landsat spectral bands 4, S, 6 and 7 and the geological maps. Avail-
able topographic and road maps were also consulted because linear roads, scan
lines and aircraft traces could easily be mistaken for lineaments. The lack of detailed
and up-to-date topographic and road maps could be said to be one of the limitations of
the exercise. All the information obtained from all Landsat frames and transferred on
to matte acetate papers were used to prepare a mosaic of lineaments. The resulting
mosaic was matched with the geological map at the same scale as shown in figure 3. It
was found that a disparity of about 3 min existed between the location of some well-
known structures on the geological map, particularly some of the younger granite ring
complexes in Central Nigeria and the same structures as identified on the Landsat
images. The accuracy of the matching between the Landsat grid and the geological
maps could therefore be said to be better than 9S per cent. It should however be noted
that only lineaments longer than or equal to S km were mapped from the images at the
given scale. This threshold of linear length may seem too low for the scale used, but it
was considered realistic for the area because the good rock exposures in the area made
it possible to identify unambiguously well-known features like dikes of known lengths
over some of the younger granite ring complexes.
 t
00
10 0 1'1 10'
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14°
G E R
.-r\->
"-r
\ l"
... - _ . I n ...... L I \0

I~
\
,0....-
A

/" /\
-, -
I
V)

~
I :...
- I
~
::
"
~

"::
"
"-
\:l
~
~
,,'
;>;-

"
'~.

Figure 3. Lineament map of Nigeria north of So latitude.

 Tectonic control of mineralization in Nigeria 1449

It has to be indicated also that the accuracy of the lineament map as interpreted is
very much limited by the lack of adequate facilities for the enhancement of the images.
Enhancement was achieved by the use of an illuminated large magnifying mirror of
15ern diameter. The quality of the mosaic could have been equally enhanced if
transparencies or negatives have been acquired rather than prints. This would have
enabled the density and scene contrasts to be controlled in the dark room to provide
uniform prints for the mosaics since all the images were not acquired the same day
along each orbit path. The side lap of adjacent orbit paths and the about 10 per cent
forward overlap of consecutive images have greatly facilitated the mosaic compilation.
Furthermore, attempts have not been made to classify the lineaments either as faults,
joints, etc. Only detailed ground geological and geophysical follow-up can distinguish
between them.
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3. Regional analysis of the lineament map

The analysis and interpretation of Landsat images and other forms of remote
sensing imagery are determined by the objective of the interpretation. The regional
analysis of the lineaments presented in this work has been based on the spatial and
directional attributes of their assemblages rather than on the evaluation of individual
features. A purely statistical approach has been adopted and realistic inferences made
on the mineralogical implications of the available data.
First of all, an attempt was made to quantify the main tectonic trends in the country
using the available data. To achieve this, the frequency of lineaments within 30°
azimuthal intervals was extracted from the interpreted lineaments for the whole area.
This was weighted by the lengths of the lineaments, and a rose diagram of the
cumulative frequency distribution of the lineaments to the east and west was plotted
(figure 4).

W4-t-----, - - - - +.... E

s
Figure 4. Rose diagram showing distribution of lineaments over Nigeria.
 1450 S. E. Ananaba and D. E. Ajakaiye

The rose diagram (figure 4), suggests predominantly northeast-southwest,

northwest-southeast and north-south tectonic trends as earlier suggested by Chukwu-
Ike (1977). These pattern of lineaments have been observed consistently world-wide.
particularly 'in the Precambrian shield areas and basement rock bodies of most
continents (Gel nett 1975).
Thecausative mechanism is not well understood but there is general agreement that
their origin is related to global tectonics. Where they overly unconsolidated sediments,
their propagating mechanism has been attributed partly to repeated diurnal stresses
caused by earth tides (Rumsey 1971).

4. Lineament density map

For practical purposes, lineament density may be defined as the summed length of
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lineaments within a specified unit area of the grid (Karcz 1978). Quantitative
presentation and interpretation of lineament distributions, particularly in relation to
mineral deposits, can be achieved by first computing the lineament densities at grid
intervals over the study area and subsequently presenting the data in the form of a
contour map. Such a map could be compared with the available mineral map of the
area to see whether any correlation exists between identifiable trends and known
mineral deposits, and to speculate on the possible areas of search for new ore deposits.
This method has been applied to further analyse and interpret the lineament map
shown in figure 3.
0
The project area was first divided into 51 I" x 1 cells with each cell having an area
ofapproximatcly 12 100 m 2 (110 by 110 km squares). The summed length in kilometres
of the lineaments within each cell was divided by the area of the cell and the result
plotted at the centre of each cell. The exercise was carried out for all the cells and the
resulting plots contoured at 0·005 contour intervals. The result is shown in figure 5. It
should be noted that more data points would have resulted if the grid size had been
smaller. However, for regional studies such as this, the lOx 10 grid size was considered
adequate.

14".-'i=----r---:+-"..,,-r--.;..:---r--~-....,..--r_:_-....,....---'F_-.-"'T""--,

10·

Figure 5. Lineament density map of Nigeria north of 80 latitude.

 Tectonic control of mineralization in Nigeria 1451

S. Correlation between lineament densities and primary mineral occurrences

A comprehensive documentation of the ore and mineral occurrences in Nigeria is
contained in the Atlas of the Federal Republic of Nigeria published in 1978 by the
Federal Surveys, Lagos, at scale I: 2 000 000. This atlas, together with the map
(unpublished) showing the location of mineral occurrences in Nigeria produced by the
Geological Survey of Nigeria (GSN), has been modified in order to eliminate all
minerals that result from sedimentation. This means that only minerals that result
from fracturing (primary minerals) are emphasized (figure 6). It is therefore easier to
compare the lineament density map and the primary mineral occurrences map since the
former was compiled from the lineament distributions as interpreted from Landsat
imagery.
A comparative look at the lineament density map (figure 5) and the primary
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mineral map (figure 6) reveals some remarkable correlations between the areas of high
lineament densities and the areas of known primary mineral occurrences. The areas of
high mineral densities cover parts of the Kwara, Plateau, Sokoto, Kaduna, Gongola
and Bauchi States. These are the areas where major minerals such as iron, cassiterite,
gold, lead-zinc and uranium are either being mined at present or are suggested by
reconnaissance geological and geophysical work. They also fall along the

7 9 11 1 3°

10

L E GEN 0
• Mineral Occurrences Investigated in Detail
~ Mineral Occurrences PortiOlly Investigated
o Minerol Occurrenc es Found in Traces
Am Am ethyst Fs Feldspar Sn Cassi terite
Au Gold K Kyanite. T Tant~lite
Ba Barite Mo Molybdenite U Uranium
Bi Bismuth Nb Col urn bit e W Wolfram
Cu Copper PblZn Lead_Zinc s: Sillimanite
fe tr o n ---- State boundary

Figure 6. Primary mineral occurrences map of Nigeria.

 1452 S. E. Ananaba and D. E. Ajakaiye

northeast-southwest, northwest-southeast and north-south general tectonic trends in

Nigeria.
Of great interest is the very prominent north-southwest lineament trend parallel to
thc Nigeria-Cameroon border. This coincides with part of the lead-zinc mineral zone
in Nigeria and has for the first time been defined from satellite data. When compared
with the general geology map of Nigeria (figure 7) it is found that the lineament trend
co vcrs an area where igneous activity (basalt) has been reported. The conclusion is that
primary ore bodies in Nigeria are probably oriented following the tectonic trend. The
lineament density map therefore constitutes a significant base map which could air
exploration efforts for solid minerals in Nigeria.

10 14°E
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_ 13°N

10

o
LEGEND
• Basalt
Deretaceous and Post
OCretaceous Ssdirnents
DBasement ROcks
___Strike of Bedding
"""" l.eud., Zinc Mineral

Figure 7. Generalized geological map or Nigeria.

Acknowledgment
This work benefited from the fruitful discussions with Professor Peter Pal of the
Department of Geology, University of Tlorin, Nigeria.

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