Aeromagnetic investigation of crustal stability of Osi, north central Nigeri

High-resolution aeromagnetic data of Osi north central Nigeria has been processed with a view to establish the earthquake-prone fault zones in the area. The analytical signal amplitude, shaded relief total horizontal derivative, first vertical derivative and 3D Euler deconvolution maps produced from the residual magnetic intensity anomalies of the study area identified the structural features in the area. The locations and the orientations of the extracted magnetic lineaments were revealed by the structural map of the area and the associated rose diagram. The lineaments were observed to strike NE-SW, ENE-WSW, E-W, NW-SE, WNW-ESE, NNE-SSW and NNW-SSE. The upward continuation maps showed evidence of deep-lying faults while the source parameter imaging and spectral analysis revealed depth to magnetic sources ranging from 81 m to 402 m and 103 m to 460 m respectively. The predominant NE-SW and NNE-SSW trending faults in the study area depicted stress history related to Ifewara faults; which is an indication of possible impending earthquake occurrence in the area.