3rd TAGRA

This study evaluates iron ore prospectivity in Itakpe and its environs, North-Central Nigeria, through the integration of high-resolution aeromagnetic data with the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) within a GIS environment. High-resolution aeromagnetic data were processed to enhance magnetic anomalies and delineate subsurface geological features. Processing techniques included Reduction to the Equator (RTE) to center anomalies over their sources, residual magnetic anomaly separation to isolate near-surface sources, and derivative-based filters including First Vertical Derivative (FVD), Total Horizontal Derivative (THD), Tilt Derivative (TDR), and Analytical Signal (AS) to highlight edges, contacts, and high-magnetization zones associated with ferruginous bodies. Spectral analysis using Fourier transform was applied to estimate depths to magnetic sources, distinguishing shallow from deep-seated anomalies. Detailed structural interpretation revealed a network of faults, fractures, and lithological contacts controlling iron mineralization, with lineament density analysis further identifying zones of intense deformation favorable for ore emplacement. To quantitatively assess prospectivity, four key thematic layers; Analytical Signal, First Vertical Derivative, Lineament Density, and Geology were selected based on their relevance to iron ore controls. These layers were weighted using AHP pairwise comparison matrix with consistency ratio validation, and integrated through weighted overlay analysis in ArcGIS to generate a final prospectivity map. The resulting map classified the study area into very low, low, moderate, and high mineral potential zones. High prospectivity zones exhibit strong correlation with banded iron formations, high analytical signal amplitudes, shallow depth to magnetic sources, and high lineament density, confirming that mineralization is dominantly lithologically and structurally controlled. The study demonstrates that the synergy of aeromagnetic data processing and AHP-GIS modeling offers an effective, cost-efficient, and reproducible framework for regional mineral exploration, providing a reliable decision-support tool for future detailed exploration and sustainable resource development in Itakpe and analogous Basement Complex terrains across Nigeria, and to informed policy formulation in mineral exploration.