Geothermal Resource Potential in Zamfara Area, North-Western Nigeria: Insights from Airborne Magnetic Data

The transition to sustainable energy in Nigeria requires a precise characterization of untapped geothermal reservoirs; however, the thermal architecture of the northern basement complexes remains largely unexplored. To address this, the geothermal resource potential of the Zamfara State sector within the Northern Nigerian Basement Complex was evaluated using airborne magnetic data. This evaluation provides the empirical framework necessary to guide future energy exploration and development in the region. The area covers approximately 12,100 km² between longitudes 5°30′E-6°30′E and latitudes 12°00′N-13°00′N. The magnetic data showed significant variations in total magnetic intensity, with high anomalies corresponding to granitic intrusions, migmatite-gneiss units and banded iron formations, while low anomalies align with the thin sedimentary cover of the Sokoto Basin. Spectral depth analysis indicated shallow magnetic sources (0.25-0.36 km) associated with near-surface intrusions and deeper sources (2.36-7.52 km) representing the Precambrian basement. Curie point depth estimates ranged from 4.39 to 14.69 km, reflecting the influence of heat-producing granitic lithologies on the crustal thermal regime. A range of values from 39.47 to 131.89 °C/km were obtained for geothermal gradients and heat flow ranged from 98.68-329.73 mWm-², with the highest values observed around the Maru and Bungudu areas. Radiogenic heat production exhibits spatial variability, reaching up to 6.51 µW/m³ in dominant granitic regions. These results demonstrate a strong geological control on magnetic and thermal properties, highlight areas of anomalous geothermal potential and provide a robust framework for future geothermal exploration in the area.