Geophysical Prospection Of Iron-titanium Oxide (Ilmenite) Using Magnetic Method In Magaoni, Kwale County, Kenya.

The geology of Magaoni area is associated with the presence of heavy minerals. Magaoni neighbours    Maumba and Nguluku where ilmenite was discovered by Tiomin Resource Inc. in1996, using drilling and chemical analysis.  Ilmenite mineral is known to be magnetically weak, but provides observable magnetic response. In this study, ground magnetic survey method was carried out to map magnetic anomalies of established stations, associated with ilmenite bearing formations. Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy was also done on soil samples collected randomly from the study area to determine the percentage iron and titanium oxides, with an objective of supporting the magnetic method findings. The magnetic contour map plotted showed weak and shallow magnetic signatures spread throughout the study area.2D Euler deconvolution solutions revealed presence of magnetised formations from near surface to a maximum depth of about 450 m at some points. The near surface weak magnetic formations indicated presence of ilmenite.The results from X-Ray Spectroscopy showed elevated values of titanium dioxide, ranging from 1.5 % to 13 % which is way above the global average of about 0.7 %. The percentage iron oxide was low, ranging from 1.5 % to 4 %, this being the reason for weak magnetisation of the study area. Both the geochemical and geophysical findings clearly indicate that ilmenite is present in Magaoni. Mining can commence once a confirmation survey has been undertaken using another geophysical technique such as gravity method.