Geophysical Data Integration for Mineral Exploration Target Generation in the Younger Granites Province of Plateau State

Plateau State's Younger Granites Province hosts economically important tin-bearing greisen, columbite-rich alluvials, and fluorite mineralisation associated with Jurassic ring complexes whose full resource potential remains underexplored using modern multi-dataset integration approaches. This professional study integrates reprocessed aeromagnetic data, airborne radiometry, and geological mapping to generate priority exploration targets within the Ropp complex in Jos North. Aeromagnetic data were processed using enhanced filtering including analytic signal amplitude, tilt derivative, and horizontal gradient magnitude to delineate ring dyke geometries and internal lithological boundaries. Radiometric ratios, particularly thorium to potassium and uranium to thorium, were computed and draped over shaded relief images to discriminate evolved granite phases known to host mineralisation. Structural lineaments interpreted from both aeromagnetic and Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery were integrated to identify fault intersections where hydrothermal mineralisation is statistically most probable. Three priority target zones characterised by the convergence of evolved granite geochemical signatures, structural intersections, and known historical mining activity were ranked using a weighted multi-criteria scoring matrix. Follow-up ground magnetic and induced polarisation surveys are recommended to provide drill-target precision at the two highest-ranked zones. The study provides a mineral potential map and a staged exploration strategy applicable within the framework of Nigerian Mining Corporation licensing requirements. Keywords: mineral exploration, Younger Granites, aeromagnetic, radiometry, Plateau State