Discovering the rabba potential for kaolin deposit worth of optimal return on investment: A geophysical perspective

Essentially, this study was aimed at establishing the spatial-extent and average thickness occurrence of the kaolin deposit in part of Rabba, Northern Nigeria using geophysical method. Twenty five VES measurements were made within Rabba area in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State which lies within the Bida Basin, Northern Nigerian. The geophysical interpretation of the results using IP2WIN software revealed three geo-electric layers mostly across all the five profiles and that the Kaolin mineral lies within the investigated subterranean. The Kaolin deposit was overlain by the weathered layer of the sandstone unit. The average delineated Kaolin thickness ranged between 12.05 and 58.69 m, while the depth ranged from 3.40 to 60.01 m, cutting across both the first and the second geo-electric layers. The apparent resistivity values of the Kaolin clay unit within the location ranged between 1.23 and 389.30 Ωm. The estimated Rabba Kaolin Reserve was up to 4.8 x 106 t which is capable of producing an optimal return on Kaolin mining investment. Further detailed geological and geochemical investigation is thus recommended for the area considering the estimated economy of the discovered Kaolin deposit.