DETERMINATION OF THE CRUSTAL THICKNESS WITHIN NORTHERN BIDA BASIN, NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA, USING GRAVITY DATA

Abstract

Determination of the crustal thickness within northern Bida Basin is bounded by latitudes 8o 30ʹ N and 11o 00ʹ N and longitudes 4o 00ʹ E and 7o 00ʹ E is situated in the northern part of the Bida Basin. Empirical relation method, power spectral method and modelling were used to estimate the crustal thickness within the study area using Bouguer Gravity Data. The empirical relation method shows that the average crustal thickness ranges from 33 to 47 km, the results obtained from the power spectral method gives an average crustal thickness ranges between 29 and 47 km. Within the study area, a straight line equation (HC = 39.09 –0.142BG) was derived such that for any given Bouguer anomaly value, the crustal thickness can easily be estimated from the equation. Crustal thickness was obtained by taking an average between the results obtained from the two modelling profile. The results obtained revealed that the crustal thickness within the study area ranges from 39 to 47 km. The average crustal thickness obtained from two model profile fall within the range of average Moho depth of Nigeria (32 to 44 km) and Africa (39 km). The study area is stable tectonically since Nigeria lies within a plate (Africa) and has a considerable Moho depth range.