The International Journal of Engineering and Science (IJES) || Volume || 9 || Issue || 06 || Series I || Pages || PP 34-41 || 2020 || ISSN (e): 2319-1813 ISSN (p): 20-24-1805 DOI:10.9790/1813-0906013441 www.theijes.com Page 34 Geological Studies on Uranium, Thorium, Potassium Based On Airborne Radiometric Geophysical Data of Wukari And Donga Middle Benue Trough Nigeria Nwobodo, A.N 1 .,Ikeri, H.I 2 .,Chikeleze, P C 3 . 1,2 Department Of Industrial Physics ,Enugu State University Of Science And Technology 3 Department Of Physics And Astronomy, University Of Nigeria, Nsukka --------------------------------------------------------ABSTRACT---------------------------------------------------------------- The high resolution aeroradiometric data of Wukari and Donga Middle Benue Trough used for this work were obtained from the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA). The analysis of radiometric data revealed concentrations distribution pattern of primary radioelements: potassium (K), thorium (Th) and uranium (U). The count rate range of K (0.11 - 2.75%), Th (6.79 - 27.71 ppm) and U (1.69 - 6.21 ppm) were observed within the study area. From the analysis of the maps, the relative lower values of Uranium abundances in Wukari area are roughly related to the presence of sedimentary rocks such as carbonates and sandstones in the study area while higher values of Uranium abundances in Donga area are roughly related to the presence of metamorphic rock such as schist. Results from statistics and map analysis have shown that the concentration of potassium is dominant around southern and northwestern part of Donga and Wukari area respectively and is of great advantage to agriculture in the area. In order to map out the most probable areas of radiometric mineralization, threshold values of U, Th and K% concentrations were determined statistically. The threshold value (the highest activity) for the total count was estimated as 51 cps. The approximate areas with sources of radiation which produce this anomaly (> 51 cps) are dominant in southern part of Donga area. Therefore, only the anomaly in these areas may be significant in terms of radioelement mineralization. The identified area should therefore be considered for further detailed ground spectrometric survey so as to determine the radiometric mineralization potentials of the area. KEYWORDS: radiometric, mineralization, spectrometric survey, threshold value --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 25-05-2020 Date of Acceptance: 10-06-2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. INTRODUCTION Airborne Radiometric survey has recently attracted great interests both for economic and environmental reasons. The technique originally targeted for Uranium exploration is now widely used for geologic mapping (Andrson and Nash,1997), mineral exploration and environmental radiation monitoring and control (Hashad,1982). Mapping the surface geology by radiometric survey is based on the fundamental assumption that different rocks are compose of rock- forming minerals which contain specific amount of radioactive elements. Radiometric method produces exceptional radioactive results in the mapping of the various kinds of geological formations (Kearey et al., 2002; Milsom, 2003). According to Telford et al. 1990, there are at least 20 known naturally occurring radioactive elements of which only three elements namely, Uranium U, Thorium Th, and Potassium K have isotopes that produce gamma radiation of high energy and intensity to be measured by spectrometry. Among the gamma rays U and Th are of significant interest as sources of fuel for generation of power and heat in nuclear plants (Telford et al., 1990). Variations in U, Th and K respectively contributes to changes in the geologic lithology; therefore airborne radiometric survey can be used as a reconnaissance mapping tool. In Nigeria information on uranium occurrences have been identified by few individuals who have analyzed a few rock samples and uranium ores from some locations around the Nigerian younger granite province. However, the works of Uwah (1984), Dewu (1986), and Ahmed (2006) who carried out detailed investigations of radiometric anomalies in the Sokoto Basin, Bisichi and Jingir areas of Sokoto and Plateau States respectively, form a very important step for a large scale exploration of uranium and allied minerals. Arabi et al. (2012) investigated the levels of concentration of uranium in groundwater to ascertain its compliance with the World Health Organization‟s and United State Environmental Protection Agency‟s guidelines for uranium in drinking water in the northeastern part of Nigeria. Recently researchers like (Ayodeji et al. (2011); Abdullahi (2013); Taiwo et al. (2014) and Arabi et al. (2012; 2015)) carried out research in radiometrics in the northern and northeastern part of Nigeria. In this research airborne data were presented and interpreted to map different lithologic units of the area based on the spatial differences in the U, Th and K contents. The aim of this study is to carry out statistical analysis on the data in order to obtain the threshold