Influence of Climate and Tectonics on the Crystallization of Carnallite and Related Salts in the Congolese Atlantic Basin during the Lower Cretaceous, Republic of Congo

Lithological, petrographic, and morphoscopic studies were conducted on cuttings and cores from three boreholes drilled in the Loemé salt, Kanga site, Republic of the Congo, to determine 1) the preferential conditions for crystallization of carnallite and associated salts and 2) to reconstruct paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic conditions at the time of sedimentation. Sequential analysis of logs, sedimentary structures, carnallitite facies and associated salts concluded to the existence of a potassic carnallitite lagoon basin with low water cover, on a very wide and extensive plateau, affected by coastal waves and swells resulting from successive collapses. This basin evolved in two phases: confined and then open. The regular stratifications of halite, the rhythmicity of the halite-carnallitite elementary sequences are characteristic of salts that precipitated in relatively stable brines. These salts are therefore tectonosedimentary. The brecciated facies of the carnallitites sometimes associated with tachyhydrite result from the evolution of these deposits into salt crusts reworked by the surges into subaquatic allochemical gravelly cords under water. These crusts mark stages of partial and complete drying of the basin in a very hot and arid climate. Prolonged exposure of halite brines as well as their homogenization by surges accelerated evaporation and their abrupt evolution into carnallite brines obstructing the fossilization of sylvite. The precipitation of tachyhydrite marks the final stage of the successive complete drying of the basin.

Sedimentological Study of Alluvial Deposits on the Congolese Coast: Highlighting the Erosive Character of the Holocene Wet Climatic Phases

A granulometric, mineralogical, morphoscopic and exoscopic study and Rock-Eval analysis carried out on samples taken in the Loango Bay and at Kivesso on the Congolese coast have made it possible to highlight the highly erosive character of the well-documented wet phases ca 9000 - 3000 years B.P. and ca 320 B.P. in the sub-region. Supported by carbon-14 dating, total organic carbon analyses highlight two major phases of peat deposit emplacement. The first, ca. 7000 years B.P., corresponds to the beginning of the deposition of the yellow formation in the entire Loango Bay;the second, ca. 320 years B.P., is contemporary with the deposition of peat in the Kivesso sector. The granulometric analysis of the sediments shows that they are essentially sandy-clay and very poor in silt, alternating with beds of silty clay sometimes rich in organic matter. These sands have a predominant mode of 0.200 mm and an average varying between 0.150 and 0.300 mm. They constitute the flood phase of the carrier current. They are associated with a population of mode 0.125 mm sometimes 0.050 mm with an average varying between 0.100 mm and 0.126 mm which corresponds to the settling phase. Morphoscopic examination showed several varieties of quartz that argue for a source of supply close to the depositional sites.

Miocene Foraminifera Biostratigraphy and Interpretation North Deep Sea Block of the Congolese Atlantic Basin

This work is the subject of the biostratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental study of the North Deep Sea area of the Congolese Miocene Atlantic Basin. This study is made from samples of lateral cores, drill cuttings and electrical logs. Lithology generally exhibits an irregular alternation of weakly indurated grey clay, light grey siltstones, and whitish, quartzitic sand, medium to coarse-grained, sub-angular to rounded. The presence of glaucony indicates that sediments have been deposited in a calm and reducing environment. The entire formation is fossiliferous. Micropaleontological analysis revealed 120 species of foraminifera including 98 planktonic (81.67%) and 22 benthic (18.33%) species used for biozonation, dating and interpretation of palaeoenvironments. Similarly, the bio-events of plankton foraminiferal, characterized by the level of the first appearance of certain species, have made it possible to identify fifteen biozones (Globorotalia plesiotumida, Globorotalia merotumida, Globorotalia acostaensis, Globorotalia menardii, Globigerina nepenthes, Globorotalia siakensis, Globorotalia fohsi, Globorotalia praefohsi, Globorotalia peripheroacuta, Globorotalia peripheroronda, Praeorbulina sicana, Catapsydrax dissimilis, Globigerinatella insueta, Paragloborotalia kugleri and Globorotalia kugleri) corresponding to age between Aquitanian and Lower Pliocene. Biofacies analysis of foraminifera has identified palaeoenvironments that vary from open marine environments, bathyal to abyssal.

Sedimentology and Mineralogy of Surface Formations of the Mossendjo Area (Republic of Congo): Paleoenvironmental and Paleoclimatic Implications

Studies undertaken at several sites in the Congolese basin and in the Chaillu massif are helping to reinterpret the sedimentological formations known as cover formations, which are widely exposed in Central Africa. This article presents the results of granulometric, morphoscopic, mineralogical and chemical analyzes obtained at three sites in the Chaillu. Gronulometric analysis indicates that the sands at the three sites are rated medium to high. The cumulative curves are essentially sigmoidal with regular and spreading slopes. This facies indicates that the deposition took place due to a banal and moderate variation in the competence of the carrier current. The morphoscopy of the quartz grains shows that they are mainly angular and shiny. These data reflect a relatively close source and transport by water. The synthesis of lithological, granulometric, petrographic and geochemical analyzes allowed us to highlight three episodes of deposits in the Mossendjo area: the first is characterized by a channel-type fluvial system marked by deposits from the hospital borehole and from the station;the second, which is alluvial, corresponds to the clogging of the channel. These two alluvial phases are overcome by a third, fluvial, channel-type episode, the end of which is marked by the establishment of the yellow formation. The vertical and lateral organization at the outcrop of this yellow formation has the same characteristics as those described earlier and in the sub-region where it was attributed to the wind-generated cover formation. This study thus highlights the existence of a wet phase during which two fluvial systems of non-contemporary channel types developed which overlap.

Characterization and Application of the Makoua Clay in the Chemical and Bacteriological Depollution of Gutter and Well Waters of Brazzaville

In this work, the authors made aquatic filters according to the formulation “clay stabilized at 4% of cement mixed with 4% of kambala sawdust and 10% of white sand” then heated to 1050°C to decontaminate the waters of gutters and wells. The authors carried out geotechnical, geochemical, thermal, infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy that analyzed the clay material. Geotechnical analyzes have shown that this material is made up of 22% thin sand, 22% of silt, and 56% of clay with 26 plasticity index. The geochemical analysis showed the presence of trace elements shared out as follows: 3% of alkaline metals, 24% of alkaline earth metals, 46% of transition metals, 10% of metal, 16% of lanthanides, 1% of actinides. The most abundant trace elements are barium (19%), vanadium (12%), chromium (11%) and zinc (9%). The thermal and microscopic analyzes revealed the kaolinitic nature of materials. The chemical depollution studies have shown elimination yields of 50% - 52.38% of sulphates;77.33% - 85.19% of phosphates;34.85% - 88.49% nitrates;91.3 - 100 of sulphides;The removal of bacteriological pollution are 92.8% - 98% of total germs;94% - 97% of total coliform and 95% - 98% of E. coli.

Effect of Incorporation of Chips and Wood Dust Mahogany on Mechanical and Acoustic Behavior of Brick Clay

An experimental study was carried out on bricks using local materials in order to take into account the waste wood management to protect the environment and to reduce the cost of the habitat. Chips and sawdust were built-in clay bricks in order to study their influence on the compressive strength, Young’s modulus and the speed for soundproofing. Testings in compressive strength were made on the parallelepiped clay bricks, stabilized with different percentages of cement, with incorporation to various percentages of sawdust or wood chips (Mahogany), using a universal press. Young’s modulus was measured from the speed of sound by the ultrasonic method. The results obtained show that the incorporation of mahogany tree chips in the stabilized brick at 8% of cement, does not have much effect on the compressive strength. It was found that the incorporation of chips or sawdust on the clay brick, does not improve the compressive strength. The Young’s modulus decreases with increasing content of sawdust and practically remains constant regardless of the content of chips at 4% and 6% of cement. The clay brick mixed with 8% of mahogany sawdust can be an acoustic barrier.