GEOLOGY OF MABALE, HAWAL MASSIF, NORTHEAST NIGERIA
Abstract
This study presents the results of a detailed geological investigation of the poorly understood Mabale area in Hawal Massif North-Eastern Nigeria, employing field mapping and petrographic analysis to characterize its lithology, structure, and metamorphic history. Field investigations reveal a complex basement terrain consisting of three major lithological units: a basement of intrusive Pan-African granitoids, notably porphyritic granite ; and rafts of supracrustal rocks including biotite granite, quartzite. The structural geology is characterized by a NE-SW tectonic grain, defined by a pervasive gneissic foliation and subsequently overprinted by ductile shear zones and open folds. Petrographic analysis delineates key mineral parageneses: the granitess show quartz-feldspar-biotite-hornblende assemblages. The findings confirm that the Mabale area in Hawal Massif is an integral part of the Pan-African reactivated basement, with a petrogenetic and structural evolution consistent with the broader Adamawa Massif. Furthermore, the occurrence of mineralized pegmatites and quartz veins, controlled by the major structural trends, underscores the massif's high potential for gold and rare-earth-element exploration. This work provides a critical baseline for future geochronological and mineral exploration studies in this underexplored region.
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