TITLE:
Interpretation of Gravity Anomalies by Multi-Scale Evaluation of Maxima of Gradients and 3D Modelling in Bipindi Region (South-West Cameroon)
AUTHORS:
Fidèle Koumetio, Donatien Njomo, Constant Noutchogwe Tatchum, Alain Pierre Kamga Tokam, Tabod Charles Tabod, Eliezer Manguelle-Dicoum
KEYWORDS:
Gravity Anomalies, Maxima of Gradients, Residual Anomalies, Modelling
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Geosciences,
Vol.5 No.12,
November
14,
2014
ABSTRACT: The gravity maps display, in Bipindi zone, local
oval culminations of low anomalies indicative of a presence of intrusive light body in a
subsurface but the nature, the form and the position of this body are still
unknown. The analyses of established gravimetric anomaly maps, the multi-scale
evaluation of maxima of gradients and the quantitative interpretation of
residual anomalies by 3D modelling permit characterizing the intrusive light body situated at
Bipindi. The multi-scale evaluation of maxima of gradients
shows that the
modelling of the intrusive light body of Bipindi can be done without the problem of
interference of anomalies from different sources. The 3D model of Bipindi zone
shows two dissymmetrical blocks of the same type of rock with a density
contrast of -0.095 g·cm-3 in comparison with the density of the surrounding
metamorphic rocks. The two blocks are at a distance about 3 km from one to
another. The upper surfaces of these blocks lie at a depth
between 1 and 2 km. Their lower surfaces have two landings; one lies at a depth
of about 8 km and another at a depth about 14 km. A consideration of the
density of the modelled body, of the ranges of densities of specific rocks
present in the general region indicates that the body may be composed of nepheline
syenites. The intrusive body of Bipindi is situated in a senestral shear zone.
The area situated between the two blocks of this intrusive body may be
indicated for a detail study in the domain of mineral research.