Integrated Landsat multispectral imagery and airborne geophysical data for enhanced litho-structural mapping: A case study of Adamawa Massif, north-eastern Nigeria

Landsat-7 ETM + satellite imagery integrated with corrected airborne geophysical data (radiometric, gravity, and aeromagnetic) anomalies maps, and field investigations were used to discriminate lithologies and related structures in Mayo-Belwa and Jada-Ganye-Toungo areas (Adamawa Massif), northeastern Nigeria. Field investigations portray the granite-gneisses as the oldest rock units, and have sequentially been invaded by the syn-, late-to post-collisional Older granites. Subsurface linear structures in the area display dominant NE-SW, NW-SE, NNE-SSW, and ENE-WSW trends, reflective of variations in pre-existing structural orientations, and near-surface expressions of reactivated zones of weakness in the basement crust. The geodynamic systems revealed that most elongated lineaments are expressed as axial part of valleys trending NE-SW, ENE and NNW, forming diagonal grid to the NW-SE stresses. Abnormally high total radioactivity gravitates to areas of deflection (alluvium), and late- and post-tectonic granites. The gravity intensity provides a spectrum of anomalous responses including abnormally high positive gravity (volcanic rocks), moderately high positive gravity (granite-gneisses and late-to post-tectonic and syn-tectonic granites), background gravity and low negative gravity (granite-gneisses, alluvium and proluvium). Aeromagnetic anomalies discriminate the Older granites (intense positive anomalies), granite-gneisses, sediments (moderate positive, near background, and moderate-intensive negative anomalies), syn-tectonic granites (moderate positive anomalies), banded-gneiss and amphibolite (intensive negative anomalies), volcanic rocks (intense negative anomaly), and alluvium/proluvium (low positive anomalies). This present study led to the development of up-to-date and accurate litho-structural and geophysical maps of the geologically-rugged and hardly accessible Adamawa Massif, north-eastern Nigeria and further constrain the geochemical (High-K calc-alkaline, peraluminous) and tectonic (syn-to post-collisional) characteristics of typical Pan-African granitoids. •Litho-structural mapping was done using Landsat-7 ETM+, geophysical & field data.•Different litho-structures were mapped in Mayo-Belwa and Jada-Ganye-Toungo areas.•The rocks were subjected to tectonic (faulting and fracturing) disturbances.•Major NE-SW, NW-SE, NNE-SSW, and ENE-WSW lineament trends were mapped.•The lineaments depict variations in pre-existing structural trends in the basement.