Contribution of the Magnetic Susceptibility to the Characterization of the Babouri-Figuil Cretaceous Basin

Magnetic susceptibility data from marine rocks can be used for global correlation due to synchronous variations in global erosion. This work, aims to show that, the magnetic susceptibility signature which exists in the cretaceous sediments of the Babouri-Figuil basin, resides mainly in the detrital constituents. Variations of amplitudes are observed, which can be useful for regional correlation.This amplitude variation results in the transgressive and regressive movements that give way to a fluctuation of detrital deposits because of erosion. Considering the sedimentological study, carried out, different microfacies have been identified in the basin, namely, fluvial facies and lake facies that sometimes contain fossils. The combination of detailed sedimentological analysis and sequence stratigraphy is based on the modeling of vertical and lateral variations within the basin. Finally, the interpretation of the magnetic susceptibility signal suggests that in the detrital domain, this signal is mainly controlled by environmental parameters such as the agitation of the water and the rate of sedimentation, as well as diagenesis.

Diagenetic and Geochemical Study of Sediments from the Cretaceous Basin of Babouri-Figuil (North-Cameroon)

The purpose of this work is to characterize the sediments of the Babouri-Figuil Basin from a diagenetic point of view, the protolith context and weathering conditions, using major element geochemistry and mineralogy of the sedimentary rocks. Microscopic observations of diagenetic phenomena (on and around detrital grains of the basin), and the study of precipitation of the cement show that these sediments have undergone phenomena of compaction, dissolution, recrystallization and cementation. Cementation of quartz by silica is controlled by the rate of precipitation of silica, which is closely related to temperature than pressure. Thus, the sediments of the basin could be influenced by hydrothermalism during diagenesis, which would have inhibited their reservoir quality by generalized cementation phenomena. Geochemical features of the sediments show high contents in SiO2 (47.49 wt% - 90.79 wt%), Al2O3 (2.92 wt% - 23.18 wt%), Fe2O3 (0.2 wt% - 6.22 wt%) and alkali and alkaline earth metals (>3%). The chemical alteration index varies between 30.92% and 95.08%. This variation in the CIA values reflects the variation in the proportion of feldspars and different clay minerals in these sediments. However, the ICV calculation and the ICV versus CIA show compositional immature to mature sediments, with low to intense weathering character of these sediments. Petrographic and geochemical characteristics of sediments of the basin are compatible with the composition of the granitic and gneissic surrounding bedrocks.

Geochemical Characterization and Mineralogy of Babouri-Figuil Oil Shale,North-Cameroon

Organic geochemistry methods such as high temperature combustion, Rock-Eval pyrolysis and gas analysis were used to analyze oil shale from Babouri-Figuil Basin. Results show that the average content of organic matter is 36.25 %wt, while that of mineral matter is 63.75 %wt. The total organic carbon (TOC) is between 15.93 %wt and 26.82 %wt. The HI vs. Tmax diagram indicates an immature Type I kerogen. The average value of the oil potential (S2b) is 149.95 mg HC/g rock. The gases obtained by retort process are H2, CO2, CO and CnH2n, CnH2n+2. Finally, it emerges that, the organic matter of Babouri-Figuil shales was immature or has just reached the beginning of the oil window. The mineralogical study of Babouri-Figuil oil shale has been carried out by means of XRD (X-Ray Diffractometry) and XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry). The results show that mineral matrix contains silica, carbonates, sulphates, oxides and clay minerals. Besides, compounds contain metals and metalloids like Fe, In, Ca. The main oxides are SiO2 (majority), CaO, Fe2O3, Al2O3, SO3, and K2O.