A Multidisciplinary Approach to Subsurface Characterization in Northwest of Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

The subsurface structures of northwestern part of Minna, north-central Nigeria has been investigated with the aid of geological, hydrogeological, geophysical and remote sensing techniques. Schlumberger Electrode Configuration using Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) in three azimuth directions was used to construct an Anisotropy polygon from which the nature of subsurface fractures of the area was interpreted. The radial geo-electric results have been confirmed by surface fracture mapping of the outcrops around the radial VES points. The radial geo-electric sounding results reveal two major fracture directions along the NW - SE and NE - SW fracture pattern. This was inferred from the dumb-bell shape of the anisotropy polygon and lineaments from satellite imagery. The surface fractures direction measurement of the outcrops around this location agrees with the interpretation of geo-electric sounding results.