TITLE:
Mapping and Petro-Structural Study of Northern Komborodougou Formations, in Korhogo Gold District: A Substantial Contribution to the Discovery of a Potential Gold Mineralization in Birimian Greenstone Belts
AUTHORS:
Houssou N’Guessan Nestor, Allialy Marc Ephrem, Adingra Martial Pohn Koffi, Pria Koffi Kossonou Jean-Marie, Koffi N’guessan Martial Ahossi, Loba Gbriga Franck Cyrille
KEYWORDS:
Geological Mapping, Petro-Structural, Gold Mineralization, Komborodougou, Côte d’Ivoire
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Geosciences,
Vol.13 No.10,
October
13,
2022
ABSTRACT: The Gold District of Korhogo, in the northern region
of C?te d’Ivoire, holds enormous potential for gold mineralizations, some of
which are under exploration phase and others
in exploitation phase (example of Tongon Gold Mine). Dormant since 1998, Mapping Services of most of the
West African countries hardly provide geological maps at the scales of:
1/200,000, 1/50,000 and 1/25,000. This situation of unavailability of detailed
geological maps does not help mining operators in the selection of prolific
areas and also in the interpretation of in soil geochem anomies or gold
mineralizations. Consequently, during the years 2020 and 2021, we have
undertaken a campaign of geological mapping and petro-structural study of the
northern sector of Komborodougou, located in the southern extension of Banfora
Birimian Belt. This work, which allowed the
realization of a geological map at 1/20,000 scale, reveals that: the mapped area includes
three (3) major lithological units: 1) a volcano-sedimentary unit made up of
metasediments (metaarenites, metasiltites and
metaflyschs) and metavolcanites (metabasalts), which are metamorphosed and outcrop in the form of schists; 2) a
metaplutonic and intrusive unit composed on the one hand of
quartz-diorites and metagabbros, and on the other hand of granites and
granodiorites; 3) and finally, a unit of dikes formed by microgranites, microgabbros, aplites and
quartzites. The volcano-sedimentary complex is
affected by a regional fold with an axis subparallel to the regional tectonic
grain and an S1 schistosity oriented NE-SW to NNE-SSW with steep dips
(>60o), except for those of the metaflyschs which are weak (o); a regional NW-SE compression would be at the origin of
the setting of this schistosity. The
volcano-sediment and metaplutonite complex is crossed in a NNE-SSW direction by a senetral
shear-zone or main shear-zone and secondary shear-zones oriented sometimes
NE-SW or N-S. These shear-zones are intersected
by more or less dextral or senestral strike-slip faults of NW-SE and E-W
trends. N-S to NNE-SSW (N0o - N20o) and NW-SE (N130o - N160o) vein systems associated with the various
shear-zones are the hosts of the gold mineralization in the region. These veins
have been mined by orpaillors for more than two decades. The northern sector of
Komborodougou is in the NNE continuity of the gold mineralization highlighted
by the mining company Mako Gold Sarl on its Gogbala and Tchaga prospects, Napie
project.