跳至主要内容

Regional Geochemical Stream Sediment Survey for Gold Exploration in the Upper Lom Basin, Eastern Cameroon

Read full paper at:
http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=49177#.VJJom8nQrzE

Stream sediments are widely employed in reconnaissance exploration for gold especially in areas where outcrops are scarce and the overburden thick such as in the eastern Cameroon goldfields. In this study, 337 stream sediment samples were collected from the Lom river drainage basin. The study aims at identifying the main geological processes affecting the geochemical data from the sediments by considering the multi-elements relationships and spatial features of single elements. The samples were collected in duplicate. One set was panned, gold grains picked and weighed while the second set was wet sieved and the ≤100 microns size fraction retained. This fraction was eventually analyzed for gold by fire assay and a suite of elements by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Single element maps were constructed using ArcGIS and the relationship between elements measured using Pearson correlation and principal component analysis (PCA). Gold concentrations in the samples are erratic, most below the detection limit and attain a high of 450 ppm. Five factors are derived from the PCA including single element factors for As and Au reflecting bedrock-hosted mineralization. The Cu-Zn-Y-Nb-Pb factor suggests sulphide mineralization perhaps related to felsic intrusions while the Sr-Ba-La-Ce-Zr factor is linked to lithologic control. These results demonstrate the usefulness of multi-element analysis and data interpretation using GIS tools in the exploration efforts for gold worldwide.
Cite this paper
Omang, B. , Bih, C. , Fon, A. , Embui, V. and Suh, C. (2014) Regional Geochemical Stream Sediment Survey for Gold Exploration in the Upper Lom Basin, Eastern Cameroon. International Journal of Geosciences, 5, 1012-1026. doi: 10.4236/ijg.2014.59087. 
 

[1] Levinson, A.A. (1974) Introduction to Exploration Geo-Chemistry. Applied Publishing Co., Calgary.
[2] Plant, J. and Hale, M. (1994) Drainage Geochemistry. Handbook of Exploration Geochemistry, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
[3] Key, R.M., De Waele, B. and Liyungu, A.K. (2004) A Multi-Element Baseline Geochemical Database from the Western Extension of the Central Africa Copper Belt in North-Western Zambia. Applied Earth Science, 113, B205.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/037174504225005717
[4] Bellehumeur, C., Marcotte, D. and Jebrak, M. (1994) Multi-Element Relationships and Spatial Structures of Regional Geochemical Data from Stream Sediments, Southwestern Quebec, Canada. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 51, 11-35.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0375-6742(94)90003-5
[5] Bellehumer, C. and Jebrak, M. (1993) Regional Heavy Mineral Survey in the Exploration for Gold Using Regression: Greenville Province, Southwestern Quebec. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 51, 45-46.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0375-6742(93)90058-T
[6] Tremblay, M. (1975) Report on Gold Properties in Eastern Cameroon. Records, Ministry of Mines, Water and Energy, Cameroon.
[7] Vairon, J., Edimo, A., Simeon, J. and Valada, P. (1986) Protocole d’accord pour la recherche des mineralisation d’or dans la province aurifiere de l’Est (Cameroun) mission or, Batouri. Deuxieme et troisieme phases, Rapport BRGM 85, 251 p.
[8] Freyssinet, P.H., Lecompte, P. and Edimo, A. (1989) Dispersion of Gold Base Metals in the Mborguene Lateritic Profile, East Cameroon. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 32, 99-116.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0375-6742(89)90050-2
[9] Suh, C.E. and Lehmann, B. (2003) Morphology and Electron-Probe Microanalysis of Residual Gold Grains at Dimako, Southeast Cameroon. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie Monatshefte, 6, 255-275.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/0028-3649/2003/2003-0255
[10] Suh, C.E., Lehmann B. and Mafany, G.T. (2006) Geology and Geochemical Aspects of Lode Gold Mineralization at Dimako-Mboscorro, SE Cameroon. Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis, 6, 295-309.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/1467-7873/06-110
[11] Fon, A.N., Che, V.B. and Suh, C.E. (2012) Application of Electrical Resistivity and Chargeability Data on a GIS Platform in Delineating Auriferous Structures in a Deeply Weathered Lateritic Terrain, Eastern Cameroon. International Journal of Geosciences, 3, 960-971.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ijg.2012.325097
[12] Embui, V.F., Omang, B.O., Che, V.B., Nforba, M.T. and Suh, C.E. (2013) Gold Grade Variation and Stream Sediment Geochemistry of the Vaimba-Lidi Drainage System Northern Cameroon. Journal of Natural Science, 5, 282-290.
[13] Soba, D. (1989) La serie de Lom: etude geologique et geochronologique du bassin vocano-sedimentaire de la chaine. Panafricaine a l’Est du Cameroun, These de doctoral d’Etat, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris.
[14] Soba, D., Michard, A., Toteu, S.F., Norman, D.I., Penaye, J., Ngako, V., Nzenti, J.P. and Dautel, D. (1991) Donnees geochronologiques nouvelles (Rb-Sr, U-Pb, Sm-Nd) sur la zone mobile panafricaine de l’Est Cameroun: Age Proterozoique superieur de la serie de Lom. Comptes Rendus de l’Academie des Sciences, 315, 1453-1458.
[15] Dane, A. (1998) Lom river property: Geological report. Bridge Consulting, 86.
[16] Ngako, V., Affaton, P., Nnange, J.M. and Njanko, Th. (2003) Pan-African Tectonic Evolution in Central and Southern Cameroon: Transpression and Transtension during Sinistral Shear Movements. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 36, 207-221.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0899-5362(03)00023-X
[17] Toteu, S.F., Yongue, F.R., Penaye, J., Tchakounte, J., Seme Mouague, A.C., Van Schmus, W.R., Deloule, E. and Stendal, H. (2006) U-Pb Dating of Plutonic Rocks Involved in the Nappe Tectonic in Southern Cameroon: Consequence for the Pan-African Orogenic Evolution of the Central African Fold Belt. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 44, 479-493.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2005.11.015
[18] Kankeu, B., Greiling, R.O. and Nzenti, J.P. (2009) Pan-African Strike-Slip Tectonics in Eastern Cameroon—Magnetic Fabrics (AMS) and Structure in the Lom Basin and Its Gneissic Basement. Precambrian Research, 174, 258-272.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2009.08.001
[19] Kankeu B., Greiling R.O., Nzenti, J.P., Bassahak, J. and Hell, J.V. (2012) Strain Partitioning along the Neoproterozoic Central African Shear Zone System: Structures and Magnetic Fabrics (AMS) from the Meiganga Area, Cameroon. Neues Jarbuch für Geologie und Palaontologie Abhandlungen, 265, 27-47.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/0077-7749/2012/0244
[20] Pinna, P., Calvez, J.Y., Abessolo, A., Angel, J.M., Mekoulou-Mekoulou, T., Mananga, G. and Vernhet, Y. (1994) Neoproterozoic Events in the Tchollire Area: Pan-African Crustal Growth and Geodynamics in Central-Northern Cameroon (Adamawa and North Provinces). Journal of African Earth Sciences, 18, 347-353.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0899-5362(94)90074-4
[21] Toteu, S.F., Penaye, J. and Djomani, Y.P. (2004) Geodynamic Evolution of the Pan-African Belt in Central Africa with Special Reference to Cameroon. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 41, 73-85.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e03-079
[22] Toteu, S.F., Penaye, J., Deloule, E., Van Schmus, W.R. and Tchameni, R. (2006) Diachronous Evolution of Volcano-Sedimentary Basins North of the Congo Craton: Insights from U-Pb Ion Microprobe Dating of Zircons from the Poli, Lom and Yaounde Groups (Cameroon). Journal of African Earth Sciences, 44, 428-442.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2005.11.011
[23] Bafon, T.E. (2011) Quartz Veining, Wall Rock Alteration and Mineralization at the Belikobone Prospect, Eastern Cameroon. University of Buea, Buea, 52.
[24] Naseem, S., Sheikh, A., Qadeeruddin, M. and Shirin, K. (2002) Geochechmical Stream Sediment Survey in Winder Valley, Balo Chistan, Pakistan. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 76, 1-12.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0375-6742(02)00201-7
[25] Ali, K., Cheng, Q., Li., W.C. and Chen, Y.Q. (2006) Multi-Element Association Analysis of Stream Sediment Geochemistry Data for Predicting Gold Deposits in South-Central Yunnan Province, China. Geochemistry Exploration Environment Analysis, 6, 341-348.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/1467-7873/06-109                   eww141218lx
标签：

评论

发表评论

此博客中的热门博文

Does Immigration Promote the Investment of the Monopolistic Firm?

In the present paper, we examine the effect of increasing uncertainty of immigrants’ growth on the optimal timing of investment of a firm that has a monopolistic power over the labor market. It is revealed that when the uncertainty of immigrants’ growth is more than a threshold level, increasing uncertainty of immigrants’ growth accelerates the optimal timing of firms’ investment and enhances the economic growth, even if the uncertainty of immigrants’ growth is formulated by the geometric Brownian motion, which is in sharp contrast to the standard result that an increase in the uncertainty postpones the optimal timing. With an increase in the immigrants over the past ten years, workforces in the host countries have been growing significantly to the extent that the immigrants represent 70% of the increase in the workforce in Europe, and 47% in the United States as OECD indicates. In the present paper, we attempted to investigate the effect of increased uncertainty caused by the growi...
发表评论
阅读全文

Education Policy Implementation: A Mechanism for Enhancing Primary Education Development in Zanzibar

Education is one of the fundamental rights of individuals; therefore, the government of a country needs to develop and strengthen educational policy and quality as well as to ensure that everyone has equal access to basic education. The improvement of access and quality of education in the world is becoming as an essential factor in development, whereas the basic education (primary school), is acknowledged as a foundation of the higher educational development for every country. To fulfill this goal, governments introduce several policies and procedures; however, it requires some reforms and participation from the politician, policymakers, and other stakeholders to re-examine educational policy so that it can lead to multiplication and betterment of the reforms. Educational reforms actually focus on accountability. A positive educational development and reform is very challenging and needs more effort and strategy on how to use and utilize the resources effectively as such it can achie...
发表评论
阅读全文