The Middle Niger Basin in Nigeria Has a Rift Origin, as Revealed by the Inversion and Modeling of Gravity and Magnetic Data

Abstract

The NW-SE oriented Middle Niger Basin, which is a Campano-Maastrichtian inland basin has been the subject of debate among geoscientists regarding its origin and development. This paper aims to unravel the basin's origin and evolution by using high-resolution magnetic, gravity, and topographical data. The integration of aeromagnetic and gravity data provides a means to assess the influence of igneous intrusions during the basin's evolution. The study presents a new perspective on the origin of the basin, suggesting a rift origin where orthogonal extension played a crucial role in its evolution. The research also investigates the relationship between intrusive rocks and the formation of the basin, finding these rocks are solely located within the basement. The magnetic and gravity maps reveal anomalies associated with intrusive structures within the Precambrian crystalline basement. This is a common feature shared with rifted basins on a global scale.