Geo-environmental Study of Geomorphological and Geological Features of Parts of Benue Trough using Advanced Space-borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data

Abstract

The structural Interpretation over parts of Benue Trough using Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data, was carried out to depict structural complexity related to the basin, analyzing lineaments to deduce the economic potentials of the study area. The processing and analysis of the ASTER imagery were carried out using ArcGIS V10.5 and ERDAS IMAGINE 2015 software by applying several digital image enhancement techniques such as general contrast stretching, edge enhancement, Band ratio colour combination images, and False-color composite, to provide suitable knowledge about the geology, lithology and the prevalent minerals. Three False color composite images, RGB 321, RGB 468, and RGB 742 were generated and used to interpret geological structures. Band Ratio of 4/2 revealed areas where iron minerals are abundant, especially around Abakaliki, Ankpa, and Oturkpo. Linear features with trend directions of E – W, NW – SE, and NE –SW with dominant orientation in the NE – SW were also interpreted from the study area. Lineament density analysis revealed areas with very high, high, moderate, low, and very low lineament densities with values of 47,500m2 35,000m225,000m215,000m2, and 5,000m2 respectively. These lineaments are believed to have controlled mineralization across the study area.