Understanding the Meaning of the Positive Bouguer Anomaly of Waza (Northernmost Cameroon, Central Africa) - Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection

GEP > Vol.7 No.6, June 2019

Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection

Volume 7, Issue 6 (June 2019)

ISSN Print: 2327-4336 ISSN Online: 2327-4344

Google-based Impact Factor: 0.72 Citations

Understanding the Meaning of the Positive Bouguer Anomaly of Waza (Northernmost Cameroon, Central Africa) ()

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Download as PDF (Size: 2506KB) PP. 55-65

DOI: 10.4236/gep.2019.76005 511 Downloads 1,897 Views Citations

Author(s)

Eyike Albert¹, Basseka Charles Antoine², Lordon Djieto Anatole Eugene³, Nguimbous-Kouoh Jean Jacques⁴, Zanga-Amougou Alain¹, Tabod Charles Tabod⁵

Affiliation(s)

¹Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
²Department of Earth Science, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
³Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
⁴Department of Gas and Petroleum Exploration, Institute of Mines and Petroleum Industries, University of Maroua, Maroua, Cameroon.
⁵Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

ABSTRACT

Gravity and magnetic data were analyzed in conjunction with available geological data to determine the origin of observed positive gravity anomaly at Waza and its possible relationship to mafic intrusions. The data analysis includes the construction of a Bouguer gravity anomaly, isostatic residual gravity anomaly, total magnetic gradient and Euler solutions maps, and two and one-half dimensional gravity models. A positive gravity anomaly that occurs in Waza has amplitude of 35 mGal and can be separated into two parts. The top of the disturbing body causing the anomaly cannot be deeper than 4 km. We believe the anomaly is probably caused by a body of basaltic rocks lying at the upper surface of the Precambrian basement and originate from a self-propagating disturbance of magmatic loads on a pre-existing zone of lithospheric weakness. Melt migration might have been aided by tectonic and flexural stresses, such that the intrusion is limited in extent to the melting region of the plume and did not reach the surface. The model calculated to satisfy the observed anomaly consists of a 2.5 Km-thick slab underlain by a 10.5 km deep column. This model is interpreted to represent a sheet or saucer-like mafic intrusion that has a thick deep feeder. Detailed geophysical studies would be necessary to locate any possible economic occurrences.

KEYWORDS

Northern Cameroon, Waza Bouguer High, Total Magnetic Gradient, Basaltic Intrusion

Share and Cite:

Albert, E. , Antoine, B. , Eugene, L. , Jacques, N. , Alain, Z. and Tabod, T. (2019) Understanding the Meaning of the Positive Bouguer Anomaly of Waza (Northernmost Cameroon, Central Africa). Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 7, 55-65. doi: 10.4236/gep.2019.76005.

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[1]	Parameters estimation from the gravity anomaly caused by the two-dimensional horizontal thin sheet applying the global particle swarm algorithm
	2020

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