Magnetic Basement and Geothermal Potential of the Lower and Middle Benue Trough Including part of Anambra Basin of Nigeria

Abstract

Understanding the geodynamic processes of a region requires a detailed study of geothermal parameters within the Earth’s crust. In this study, Curie depth and surface heat flow were estimated using modified centroid method and 1-D Fourier law respective beneath lower and middle Benue trough in Nigeria. The calculated values for the Curie depth beneath the study area is 11 km at Abakaliki and 27 km over the area of Anambra basin. Surface heat flow is also found between 54 mWm-2 around Anambra basin and 132 mWm-2 around Abakaliki anticlinorium. The large variations in the values of the Curie depth as compared to the smaller dimension of the study area explained the complex geodynamic process of the region. Magnetic basement of around 2.8 km and 9.4 km for the region have also been calculated using Euler decomvolution method. We also presented a separate map , showing the spatial distribution of volcanic plugs in the region which are belief to control the thermo-tectonics of the region.