Geochemical characterization of the metasedimentary rocks of the Yaounde Group within the southernmost North Equatorial tectonic belt:insights into geodynamic evolution

The Proterozoic metasedimentary rocks of the Yaounde Group on the northern edge of the Congo Shield in Central Africa were investigated to understand their provenance and depositional environment.Petrography,geochemistry,and field evidence helped to subdivide the metasediments into paragneiss,mica schist,chlorite schist,and quartzite which were derived from greywacke,shale,quartz arenite,litharenite protoliths.They are immature with some mature samples,moderately weathered and reworked Neo-and Post-Archean metasediments.Rare earth element signatures(Chondrite Eu/Eu^(*)≤1),enrichment of light rare earth elements over the heavy ones,and the La/Sc ratio(>0.7)are compatible with those of the intermediate and felsic sources from the upper continental crust.These metasediments were deposited in the continental arc setting and have evolved during Proterozoic times according to the Wilson cycle to form the West Gondwana including NE Brazil.

Relative active tectonic in the metamorphic rocks of the Yaounde group: insights from geomorphic indices and topographic analysis

The Yaounde Group(YG),representing the southern edge of the North Equatorial PanAfrican Belt,consists of quartzites,schists,micaschists,amphibolites,gneisses and migmatites.Tectonism has formed a landscape characterized by the development of linear and folded valleys and ridges,fault scarps,V-shaped valleys,incised rivers and knickpoints.These landforms constitute important markers of the regional tectonic activity,which have been computed from spatial sources such as SRTM,DEM,hydrographical networks and geomorphic indices such as AF,T,Smf,Vf,Bs,Hi,U,SI and Li.The results highlighted a mature relief consisting of asymmetric basins generated by tilting and uplift phenomena.The relative index of active tectonics(RIAT)has been estimated from an average of eight geomorphic indices evaluated on 24 subbasins,in the study area.Four classes have been defined:class 1(1.38),very high active(1.0≤RIAT<1.5);class 2(1.50-1.88),high active(1.5≤RIAT<2.0);and class 3(2.00-2.13)moderate active(2.0≤RIAT<2.5).These three classes,respectively covering 10.20%(458 km2),80.10%(3595 km2)and 9.69%(435 km2)of the study area,have shown a highly active tectonic zone,and imply the existence of a neotectonic event in the YG.This tectonic unit(YG)was also affected by the dextral NW-SE strike-slip faulting,which cross-cut the Sanaga Shear Zone(SSZ)at Ebebda and the foliation oriented NW-SE.The tilting and uplift of rocks related to Moho ascending are responsible for crustal thinning in the Cameroon basement,more important to the Adamawa Plateau from the Cretaceous age and the reactivation of existing tectonic accidents.The presence of hills,fault scarps,reverse faults,knickpoints,V and U shaped valleys and rounded mountains testify to the interaction between tectonic uplift,lithology,climate,weathering and erosion.

Lithostructural controls in Douala-Buea Region landscape (SW Cameroon margin):Insights from morphometric analysis

The Douala-Buea Region(DBR;4°-5°N,9°-10°30’E),a portion of the southern Cameroon passive margin,developed on the Proterozoic granito-gneissic basement and the Cretaceous to Recent volcanosedimentary cover,was explored in order to evaluate the lithology and tectonics controls on its landscape usingthequalitativeandquantitative geomorphological analyses based on 30 m resolution Digital Elevation Models(DEM)and field evidences.This area displays an uneven and complex landscape differentiated into four morphological units:Douala,Nkondjock,Kumba and Buea Units.The Douala Unit corresponds to the Coastal Plain and is extended on the Douala-Kribi/Camposedimentarybasin.The Nkondjock Unit represents a middle plateau developed on a Proterozoic granito-gneissic basement.The Kumba Unit matches with the southernmost volcanic Western Cameroon High Plateau.The Buea Unit corresponds to the Mount Cameroon stratovolcano.The relief analysis through mountain-front sinuosity(Smf,1.19–1.43)and relative relief ratio(Rr,0.10–2.31)vary from one unit to another.The drainage network analysis including drainage patterns,stepped longitudinalriverprofiles,theassociated morphometric indexes,notably the concavity index(IC,0.56–0.88),deviation(D,267–2912 m),basin asymmetry factor(A_(F),6.37–42.12),hypsometric integral(HI,0.10–0.29),valley floor width to valley height ratio(V_(f),0.36–2.75),elongation ratio(R_(e),0.30–0.50),watershed slope(S,6.88–88.88)and stream length gradient index(SL,0–3332)vary from one basin to another too.These results also show the heterogeneous and uneven DBR landscape controlled by its lithology and active tectonics.The drainage system reveals concave to concavo-convex longitudinal river profile shapes with knick points,asymmetric basins,and fault reactivations,and highlights the tectonics activity that used to occur through the time and their control on the morphology.Together,they document the lithostructural controls on the DBR landscape evolution,extendable in the whole SW Cameroon margin.

Origin and intraplate tectonic setting of mafic magmatic enclaves from the Ngaoundal area,Adamawa-Cameroon:Insights from petrography and geochemistry

In this contribution,detailed field descriptions together with petrographic and bulk-rock major,trace and rare earth elements(REE)data are used to constrain the origin and geodynamic setting of the mafic magmatic enclaves(MMEs)recently discovered within the Pan-African Ngaoundal pluton,Adamawa area,central Cameroon.The investigated MMEs are dark-colored with chilled margins,and display medium to coarse-grain igneous textures.The mineral assemblage is either dominated by K-feldspar and carbonate(group Ⅰ),or by amphibole and plagioclase(group Ⅱ),though the overall mineral phases made of amphibole,plagioclase,K-feldspar,and biotite are similar to that of their host syenite but in different proportions.The MMEs in Ngaoundal area are foid-gabbro in composition with SiO_(2) contents ranging between 41.52% and 43.74% and are contiguous with their host granitoids of intermediate composition(SiO_(2)=57.52% to 58.98%).The host granitoid rocks are metaluminous,and belong to the shoshonitic series.Petrographic and geochemical data have revealed that the Ngaoundal MMEs derived from rapid cooling of hot injected lithospheric mantle-derived magma within cooler host granitoids magma and were emplaced in the intraplate geodynamic setting.