In the past decades, several iron ore occurrences have been discovered in the Precambrian Belt of southern Cameroon, with focus on their economic potential, and little attention on the deposit type. However, few studi...In the past decades, several iron ore occurrences have been discovered in the Precambrian Belt of southern Cameroon, with focus on their economic potential, and little attention on the deposit type. However, few studies have been geared towards understanding the different deposit types within this region. This paper seeks to provide new insight on the different styles of iron ore mineralisation of two potential, yet least studied iron ore deposits in this region in addition to enhancing exploration efforts within the different prospects. Petrology and geochemistry of rock samples from the Binga and Djadom iron prospects in southern Cameroon are investigated. The structural disposition of the prospects was mapped and cores described, sampled and subsequently analysed to enhance the understanding of the alteration mineralogy, ore mineralogy and textural features of the iron-bearing lithologies. Polished thin sections were studied by standard microscopy while the bulk rock geochemistry was determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for major and trace elements. At Binga, the main rock types are magnetite gneisses, amphibolites, quartz-biotite gneisses, and mafic intrusions, while the main rocks encountered at Djadom are magnetite gneisses, amphibolitic BIFs, quartz-biotite gneisses, amphibolites and fault rocks. At both prospects, the target lithology for iron ore is the magnetite gneiss. The magnetite gneisses at the Binga prospect are weakly to moderately foliated, but strongly foliated at Djadom, and both contain fractures that are healed by irregular magnetite. Magnetite is anhedral to euhedral in outline and it is closely associated with amphibole, garnet and pyroxene. Iron content of the magnetite gneisses ranges from 17.44 - 33.40 wt% (at Binga) and 27.73 - 43.39 wt% (at Djadom) and the ore enrichment process involved progressive loss of silica and aluminium. Trace element concentrations show high contents of Ba, Zn, Cu and V but lower abundances of Sr and Zr, as well as low values for Ti in both prospects. At the Binga iron ore prospect, TiO<sub>2</sub> and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> display a linear co-variation with Zr, while in the Djadom prospect, TiO<sub>2</sub>, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and MgO display a negative co-variation with Zr. The origin of the former could be linked to a magmatic fluid-related process, while the genesis of the later is tied to both skarn formation and hydrothermal enrichment.展开更多
Sabga-Bamessing is a part of the Bamenda Mountains, an extinct volcanic center of the West Cameroon Highlands along the Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL). The pristine volcanic rocks of the Sabga area are alkali mafic to f...Sabga-Bamessing is a part of the Bamenda Mountains, an extinct volcanic center of the West Cameroon Highlands along the Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL). The pristine volcanic rocks of the Sabga area are alkali mafic to felsic (basanites, phonolites, trachytes and rhyolites). Some weathered sections of a heterolithologic debris flow with a suppositious primary chemistry of the original volcanic rocks prior to weathering have shown significant calcium carbonate enrichment. CaO and LOI values of up 61.31% and 41.72% respectively show corresponding enrichment of 16.54 and 10.88, when compared with average fresh volcanic rocks. Na+ normalized molar ratios computed from the chemistry of springs and rivers show carbonate dissolution signature which is contrary to silicate dissolution expected in acid volcanic rocks. Saturation indices (SI) calculated with PHREEQC reveal that brackish to saline springs are supersaturated with Calcite (CaCO3), Aragonite (CaCO3), Dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2 and Hydroxyl apatite (Ca5(PO4)3OH). Recharging contributions to spring water chemistry deviate from those produced by rock weathering, precipitation and evaporation/crystallization. An enrichment process is therefore predicted as a recharging contributor to water chemistry.展开更多
文摘In the past decades, several iron ore occurrences have been discovered in the Precambrian Belt of southern Cameroon, with focus on their economic potential, and little attention on the deposit type. However, few studies have been geared towards understanding the different deposit types within this region. This paper seeks to provide new insight on the different styles of iron ore mineralisation of two potential, yet least studied iron ore deposits in this region in addition to enhancing exploration efforts within the different prospects. Petrology and geochemistry of rock samples from the Binga and Djadom iron prospects in southern Cameroon are investigated. The structural disposition of the prospects was mapped and cores described, sampled and subsequently analysed to enhance the understanding of the alteration mineralogy, ore mineralogy and textural features of the iron-bearing lithologies. Polished thin sections were studied by standard microscopy while the bulk rock geochemistry was determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for major and trace elements. At Binga, the main rock types are magnetite gneisses, amphibolites, quartz-biotite gneisses, and mafic intrusions, while the main rocks encountered at Djadom are magnetite gneisses, amphibolitic BIFs, quartz-biotite gneisses, amphibolites and fault rocks. At both prospects, the target lithology for iron ore is the magnetite gneiss. The magnetite gneisses at the Binga prospect are weakly to moderately foliated, but strongly foliated at Djadom, and both contain fractures that are healed by irregular magnetite. Magnetite is anhedral to euhedral in outline and it is closely associated with amphibole, garnet and pyroxene. Iron content of the magnetite gneisses ranges from 17.44 - 33.40 wt% (at Binga) and 27.73 - 43.39 wt% (at Djadom) and the ore enrichment process involved progressive loss of silica and aluminium. Trace element concentrations show high contents of Ba, Zn, Cu and V but lower abundances of Sr and Zr, as well as low values for Ti in both prospects. At the Binga iron ore prospect, TiO<sub>2</sub> and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> display a linear co-variation with Zr, while in the Djadom prospect, TiO<sub>2</sub>, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and MgO display a negative co-variation with Zr. The origin of the former could be linked to a magmatic fluid-related process, while the genesis of the later is tied to both skarn formation and hydrothermal enrichment.
文摘Sabga-Bamessing is a part of the Bamenda Mountains, an extinct volcanic center of the West Cameroon Highlands along the Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL). The pristine volcanic rocks of the Sabga area are alkali mafic to felsic (basanites, phonolites, trachytes and rhyolites). Some weathered sections of a heterolithologic debris flow with a suppositious primary chemistry of the original volcanic rocks prior to weathering have shown significant calcium carbonate enrichment. CaO and LOI values of up 61.31% and 41.72% respectively show corresponding enrichment of 16.54 and 10.88, when compared with average fresh volcanic rocks. Na+ normalized molar ratios computed from the chemistry of springs and rivers show carbonate dissolution signature which is contrary to silicate dissolution expected in acid volcanic rocks. Saturation indices (SI) calculated with PHREEQC reveal that brackish to saline springs are supersaturated with Calcite (CaCO3), Aragonite (CaCO3), Dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2 and Hydroxyl apatite (Ca5(PO4)3OH). Recharging contributions to spring water chemistry deviate from those produced by rock weathering, precipitation and evaporation/crystallization. An enrichment process is therefore predicted as a recharging contributor to water chemistry.
