Xenoliths Evidence of Alkaline Magmatic Infiltrations Beneath Lake Nyos (Cameroon Volcanic Line, West Africa)

Xenoliths enclosed in Lavas of the Nyos volcano (Cameroon Volcanic Line, continental sector) range from fertile lherzolites to harzburgites. One spinel-free wehrlite has been also sampled. The occurrence of phlogopites and pargasites in some harzburgites together with specific textural rock-type (lherzolites transitional porphyroclastic to equigranular), including major and trace element compositions both in peridotites bulk rocks and minerals point out interactions between the mantle and basaltic magmas responsible for the formation of wehrlites beneath the Nyos volcano. Hydrous minerals (phlogopites and pargasites) and metasomatic events are their main petrogeochemical signatures different from group 1 samples which are characterized by spoon-shaped REE patterns. Later on, hydrous phases, Ti-rich Cpx, CaO rich Ol, Ti, and V rich Ol wehrlite precipitated from melt enrichments due to the percolation of the mantle by basaltic magmas of alkaline affinity. The metasomatic liquid which percolates the Nyos mantle column was a dense alkaline silicate rich in volatile, displaying low HFSE abundances in the metasomatic hydrous melts compared to the LILE. It is suggested that Nyos mantle peridotites have experienced: 1) variable metasomatic events related to the percolating of the depleted mantle by a alkaline silicate liquid, 2) the spinel-free wehrlite is a group 2 sample corresponding to a cumulate of a similar melt, 3) amphibole may be a potassium-bearing mineral instead of or in addition to phlogopite at shallower levels of Nyos upper mantle and 4) transitional textural rock facies express also the fingerprint of rising mantle plume which were percolated by alkaline magma during their transit to the surface.

Preliminary Seismic Hazard Assessment in West Africa Based on Incomplete Seismic Catalogs

West Africa is considered a region of low seismicity. However, the monitoring of earthquake activity by local seismic arrays began very early (as early as 1914) in West Africa but seismic catalogs are very incomplete. In 1991, Bertil studied the seismicity of West Africa based on networks of seismic stations in Ivory Coast and neighboring countries. The reference work of Ambraseys and Adams as well as the recent earthquakes given by the international data centres on the seismicity of West Africa were also used for the computations of earthquake hazard parameters. Different earthquake event data have been compiled and homogenised to moment magnitude (Mw). The obtained catalog covers a period of over four centuries (1615-2021) and contains large historical events and recent complete observations. The complete catalog part has been subdivided into four complete subcatalogs with each a level of completeness. The minimum magnitude and the maximum observed magnitude are equal to 2.89 and 6.8 respectively for the whole catalog. The seismic code software developed by Kijko was used to calculate the earthquake hazard parameters. The results give a b value of 0.83 ± 0.08 for the whole period and preliminary seismic hazards curves are also plotted for return periods 25, 50 and 100 years. This is a good and practical example showing that this procedure can be used for seismic hazard assessment in West Africa.

Upper Mantle Dynamic and Evolution beneath Lake Nyos Volcano (Cameroon Volcanic Line), Documented by Peridotite Xenoliths Enclosed in Alkali Basalts

Volcanic deposits from the lake Nyos contain ultramafic xenoliths: lherzolites, harzburgites and wehrlites, sometimes containing amphiboles and phlogopites. The lithospheric mantle beneath Nyos, as inferred from chemical diagrams, has experienced partial melting and variably cryptic and modal metasomatism of the two groups of samples that have been distinguished: Group 1 samples are characterized by spoon-shaped REE patterns, and Group 2 samples show light (L) REE-enriched patterns. Metasomatic events were associated with pervasive infiltration of volatile (Ti, CO2, H2O) or alkali-rich small melts fractions and fluids. Later on, hydrous phases, Ti-rich Cpx, CaO-rich Ol, Ti-rich Ol, Cr poor and low values of NiO and FO (%) in wehrlite compared to other xenoliths, precipitated from alkali enrichments due to the percolation of the mantle by basaltic magmas. The metasomatic liquid which percolates the Nyos mantle column was a dense alkaline silicate rich in volatile, displaying low HFSE abundances in the metasomatic hydrous melts compared to the LILE. It is suggested that 1) cryptic metasomatism affected Group 1 samples, 2) the spinel-free wehrlite is a Group 2 sample corresponding to a cumulate of a similar melt and 3) amphibole may be a potassium-bearing mineral in addition to phlogopite at shallower levels of Nyos upper mantle. P-T estimated indicates that xenoliths were initially equilibrated in the garnet stability field, at depth of 85 Km, and then they were re-equilibrated in the spinel field owing to isobaric heating up to 1000℃. Adiabatic decompressions occur from 85 to 50 Km materialized by sample NK14 showing transitional porphyroclastic to equigranular texture and displaying pyroxene-Cr spinel symplectites, and from 50 to 30 Km corresponding to 8 - 18 Kbar, pressures in which most xenoliths were incorporated in the host lavas. Therefore, the presence of rising mantle plumes from 85 to 50 Km (sample NK14) and from 50 to 30 Km (all studied samples) is probably related to the evolution of heterogeneous translithospheric mantle diapirs beneath this section of the continental Cameroon Volcanic Line. Local diapirs here may be interpreted as rift-zone initiators.

Magmatism of the Beka Volcanic Massifs (Cameroon Volcanic Line, West-Central Africa): New Petrographical and Mineralogical Data

The Beka volcanic massifs are located northeast of Ngaoundere region, within the Adamawa plateau. It consists mainly of basanites, trachytes and phonolites. The petrographic study shows that all the basanite lavas have porphyritic microlitic textures with a more pronounced magmatic fluidity than the felsic lavas displaying trachytic textures. The lavas are composed of phenocrysts, microlites and microphenocrysts of olivine, clinopyroxene, plagioclase and iron-titanium oxides for the basanites and of greenish clinopyroxene, alkali feldspar, and titanomagnetite for the felsic lavas. Chemical microprobe analysis indicates that the olivine crystals are magnesian (Fo73-78). Clinopyroxene crystals have a composition of diopside (Wo47-) in the basaltic lavas and diopside near the hedenbergite pole in the trachytes phonoliths and titanomagnetite (TiO2: 21.13% - 22.36% and FeO: 68% - 68%). Chemical analyses on whole rocks show that all the lavas belong to the same series and the felsic lavas come from the differentiation of basanite lavas by fractional crystallization of the minerals therein. The basanites originate from a low rate of partial melting of an OIB-type mantle. Contamination and mixing processes are suspected. Lavas of similar composition are found in other volcanic centres of the Adamawa plateau and the continental and oceanic sectors of the Cameroon Volcanic Line, in particular the Kapsiki plateau, Mounts Cameroon and Bamenda.

Geochemistry of Volcanic Rocks of Beka,North East of Ngaoundéré(Ad­amawa Plateau,Cameroon):Petrogenesis and Geodynamic Context

Beka area is situated in the Adamaoua Plateau of Cameroon in central Arica.Lavas in this area has not been studied before the present work.The volcanism of Beka is characterized by basalt,trachyte and phonolite domes and flows.The petrographic study shows that basaltic lavas have porphyritic microlitic textures.The felsic lavas indicate trachytic textures.The rocks are composed of olivine,clinopyroxene,plagioclase and iron-titanium oxide minerals for the basalts;clinopyroxene,alkali feldspar(including foids),sphene and titanomagnetite for the felsic lavas.Chemical analyses show that basaltic lavas are basanites.Felsic lavas contain modal feldspathoid(nepheline in phonolites).All these lavas belong to the same series,because the felsic lavas are derived from the differentiation of basaltic lavas by fractional crystallization.They show an alkaline nature according to their geochemistry.Trace elements including Rare Earth Elements characteristics show that rocks emplaced in the Winthin Plate volcanic zone.They derived from an evolved parent magma showing a low degree of partial melting and characteristics closer to a modified and evolved primitive spinel lherzolite.