TITLE:
Characterization of Near Surface Intrusions in South-West Cameroon Zone Using Gravity Data: Mining and Geothermal Implications
AUTHORS:
Ghislain Nkamgan Ndongmo, Fidèle Koumetio, François Ngapgue, Ernest Léontin Lemoubou
KEYWORDS:
Bouguer Anomaly, Spectral Analysis, Inverse Method, NSTD Method, Intrusive Body
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.11 No.9,
September
26,
2023
ABSTRACT: The succession of tectonic
phenomena in the South-West Cameroon area suggests that structures from the upper mantle
infiltrated and took advantage of the cracks and fractures left by these
phenomena to get closer to the earth’s surface. However, the intrusive
structures closest to the surface remain poorly known. The objective of this
work is to improve the knowledge related to the interpretation of gravity data
in order to characterise the near-surface intrusive bodies in the South-West
Cameroon area, and then analyse their mining and
geothermal implications. To achieve this objective, the indirect, inverse and normalized standard deviation (NSTD) methods were used. The NSTD method was
used to detect the contours of the intrusive bodies. The indirect method
(spectral analysis) was used to determine the depths of the interfaces of three
intrusive bodies, one located on the Bipindi-Ebolowa I axis (G5), the other on the Eseka-Pouma axis
(G8) and the last on the Bokito-Monatele axis (G11). The results obtained show
roofs located between 0 and 0.61 km, between 0 and
0.37 km and between 0 and 0.73 km for the G5, G8 and G11 bodies, respectively. Finally, the application of the 2D
inversion method allowed us to estimate the density contrasts of the intrusive
bodies (G5, G8 and G11). The superposition of the intrusive bodies detected by
the NSTD with the geological and mineral resources map, as well as an analysis
of the results obtained, gave indications of interesting zones for mining
prospecting and for the search for geothermal reservoirs.