Geochemical investigation of stream sediments from the nlonako area; littoral, Cameroon: implications for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn mineralization potentials

  • Authors

    • Kouankap nono Gus Djibril a) Higher teachersꞌ Training College, University of Bamenda, Cameroon
    • Afahnwie Ngambu Aloysius b) Economic Geology Unit, University of Buea, Cameroon
    • Kouske Patrice Arnaud University of Douala
    • Wotchoko Pierre The University of Bamenda
    • Takodjou Wambo Jonas Didero d) Laboratory of Petrology and Structural Geology, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon
    • Agyingi Mbaringong Christopher b) Economic Geology Unit, University of Buea, Cameroon
    • Amie Anzah Rene a) Higher teachersꞌ Training College, University of Bamenda, Cameroon
    • Cheo Suh Emmanuel b) Economic Geology Unit, University of Buea, Cameroon
    2016-11-28
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijag.v4i2.6771
  • Anomalies, Geochemistry, Mineralization, Nlonako Area, Stream Sediments.

  • Abstract

    Nlonako area belongs to Cameroon Volcanic Line. To determine the mineralization potentials of the area, stream sediment survey and geochemistry were carried out. The results show weak anomalies in Gold and Silver with threshold values of 0.001 and 0.073 respectively. Copper, Lead and Zinc have some relatively high values which are 690ppm, 182ppm and 378ppm with mean values statistically calculated to be 73.90, 46.51 and 198.58 respectively. The data analyzed using multivariate statistical methods yielded 5 factors from Principal Component Analysis (PCA). These five factors are; Factor 1 (Ce, La, Nb, Y), Factor 2 (W, Mo, Sr, As, Cd, Ni), Factor 3 (Pb, Sn, Zn, Sb), Factor 4 (Au, Ag, Cu) and Factor 5 (Cr, Co, Bi). These factors point mostly to a possible sulphide mineralization. Gold shows high correlation with Ag and Cu while Y correlates more highly and positively with Ce and La. There is a relatively high input of the light rare-earth elements which form the highest factor (34.363%) of the total PCA variance and possibly points to a granitic source rock. The existence of mafic–ultramafic igneous rocks in the study area underlies high correlations between Cr and Co and other factors gotten from PCA.

  • References

    1. [1] Abolo MG, Lamilenb D, Ngounouno I & Bitom D (2014) Petrography and mineralogy of the Nlona-ko anorogenic complex rocks, Central Africa: petrogenetic implications. Sciences, Technologies et Développement 15, 32-42.

      [2] Adiotomre EE (2014) Enhancing Stream Sediment Geochemical Anomalies Using Spatial Imaging: Case Study from Dagbala and Its Environs Journal of Applied Geology and Geophysics 2, 85-96.

      [3] Atsuyuki O, Noboru I, Shigeru T & Yoshiko T (2005) Influence of surface geology and mineral de-posits on the spatial distributions of element concentrations in the stream sediments of Hokkaido Japan. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 86, 86-103. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2005.04.002.

      [4] Callender E, (2004) Heavy metals in the environment—historical trends, in Lollar, B. S., ed., Treatise on Geochemistry 9, Environmental Geochemistry 9, 67–105.

      [5] Cocker M, (1996) Distribution of selected elements in stream sediments, stream hydrogeochemistry and geology of the Oconee River Basin. Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

      [6] Embui VF, Omang BO, Che VB, Nforba MT & Suh, CE (2013) Gold grade variation and stream sediment geochemistry of the theVaimba-Lidi drainage system, northern Cameroon. Natural Science 5 (2A), 282-290. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ns.2013.52A040.

      [7] Gazel J & Gerard G (1954) Carte géologique de reconnaissance du Cameroun au 1/500000, feuille de Batouri-Est avec notice explicative. Mémoire Direction des Mines et de la Géologie, Yaoundé, Came-roun, 43 p.

      [8] Grunsky EC (2002) Statistical analysis in the geosci- ences. In: Atkinson, P.M., Ed. Encyclopaedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS). EOLSS Publishers, Oxford.

      [9] Grunsky EC (2010) the interpretation of geochemical survey data. Geochemistry: Exploration, Envi-ronment, Analaysis, 10, 27-74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/1467-7873/09-210.

      [10] Kamgang P, Chazot G, Njonfang E & Tchoua FM (2008) Geochemistry and geochronology of mafic rocks from Bamenda Mountains (Cameroon): Source composition and crustal contamination along the Cameroon Volcanic Line, C. R. Geoscience http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.crte.2008.08.008.

      [11] Key RM, De Waele B & Liyungu AK (2004) a multi-element baseline geochemical database from the western extension of the Central Africa Copper belt in north- western Zambia. Applied Earth Sci-ence, 113, 205-226. http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/037174504225005717..

      [12] Levinson AA (1974) Introduction to exploration geochemistry. Applied Publishing Co.,Calgary.

      [13] Mark OC (1996) Selected elements in the stream sediments, stream hydrogeochemistry and geology of the Oconee River Basin,Georgia. Bullettin 121. Georgia Department of natural resources.

      [14] McKee JE, & Wolf HW (1963) Water quality criteria, 2nd ed.: Calif. State water quality Board.

      [15] Mumbfu EM, Nforba MT & Suh CE (2014) Geochemical Dispersion of Gold in Stream Sediments in the Paleoproterozoic Nyong Series, Southern Cameroon. Science Research. 2, No. 6, 155-165. http://dx.doi.org/10.11648/j.sr.20140206.12.

      [16] Nzenti JP (1998a) L'Adamaoua panafricain (région de Banyo): une zone clé pour un modèle de la chaîne panafricaine nord équatoriale au Cameroun, Thèse Doct. d'Etat, Univ Cheikh Anta Diop –Univ Nancy I, France.

      [17] Nzenti JP, Abaga B, Suh CE & Nzolang C, (2010) Petrogenesis of peraluminous magmas from the Akum-Bamenda Massif, Pan-African Fold Belt, Cameroon. International Geology Review 1, 1- 29.

      [18] Omang BO, Che V, Fon AN & Suh CE (2014) Regional geochemical stream sediment survey for gold exploration in upper Lom Basin, East Cameroon. International Journal of Geosciences, 5, 1012-1026. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ijg.2014.59087.

      [19] Ottesen RT & Theobald PK (1994) Stream sediments in mineral exploration. In: HALE, M. & PLANT, J.A. (eds), Drainage Geochemistry, Handbook of Exploration Geochemistry 6, 147-184. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-81854-6.50011-0.

      [20] Oyarzun R, Javier L, Oyarzún J, Pablo H & Hugo M (2006) Strong Metal Anomalies in Stream Sediments from Semiarid Watersheds in Northern Chile: When Geological and Structural Analyses Contribute to Understanding Environmental Disturbances International Geology Review 48, 1133–1144.

      [21] Plant J & Hale M (1994) Drainage geochemistry. Handbook of exploration geochemistry. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

      [22] Robert HC (1971) Copper, Lead, and Zink Concentrations in stream sediments MetasvilleQuardrangle, Wilkes and Lincoln Counties, Georgia. Information circular 43.

      [23] Salomons W & Förstner U (1984) Metals in the Hydrocycle. Springer-Verlag, 349 http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69325-0.

      [24] Soh TL, Ganno S, Kouankap Nono GD, Ngnotue TK & Nzenti JP (2014) Stream Sediment Geo-chemical Survey of Gouap-Nkollo Prospect, Southern Cameroon: Implications for Gold and LREE Exploration. American Journal of Mining and Metallurgy 2, No. 1, 8-16.

      [25] Stanislav FB (2008). Detection of Geochemical Anomalies in Stream Sediments of the Upper Svariver Drainage Basin (Slovenia, Croatia) © by PSP Volume 17–No 2. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin

      [26] Xu Y & Cheng Q (2001) A fractral filtering technique for prospecting regional geochemical maps for mineral exploration. Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis, 1, 147-156. doi:10.1144/geochem.1.2.147. http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/geochem.1.2.147.

      [27] Yilmaz HS (2007) Stream Sediment Geochemical Exploration for Gold in the Kazda Û Dome in the Biga Peninsula, Western Turkey. Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences (Turkish J. Earth Sci.), 16, 33-55.

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Gus Djibril, K. nono, Aloysius, A. N., Patrice Arnaud, K., Pierre, W., Jonas Didero, T. W., Christopher, A. M., Rene, A. A., & Emmanuel, C. S. (2016). Geochemical investigation of stream sediments from the nlonako area; littoral, Cameroon: implications for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn mineralization potentials. International Journal of Advanced Geosciences, 4(2), 104-112. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijag.v4i2.6771

    Received date: 2016-09-18

    Accepted date: 2016-10-29

    Published date: 2016-11-28