A. N. FON ET AL.
970
with depth. Since the resistivity survey markedly identi-
fied potential quartz veins its 3D and contour maps re-
present the actual nature and extent of the quartz veins.
The IP-chargeability variations indicate the extent and
strength of mineralization (gold ± sulphide concentration
in the various materials). The high resistivity could partly
be attributed to a fault sub-parallel to the regional struc-
ture with a NE-SW orientation.
The mineralized halo observed on the maps is estimat-
ed to be ca 300 - 400 m wide. This, therefore, suggests
that not only the quartz veins are mineralized but also the
altered adjacent wall rock to a lesser extent. However,
[19] suggested that pervasive clay minerals associated
with argillic-propylitic zones cause low-resistivity ano-
malies which are related to the reaction of the rocks with
acid, steam-heated waters. In addition, the precipitation
of quartz and adularia which commonly accompanies
gold-silver mineralization causes an increase in resisti-
vity with values locally exceeding 1000 Ωm [19]. The
high resistivity observed in this study is therefore attri-
buted to the presence of quartz veins, the relatively low
resistivity areas correlate with high chargeability zones
which are indicative of sulphides associated with the
auriferous quartz veins and disseminated in the wall rock.
The significant correlation of the Au-in-soil geochemical
anomalies in the Belikombone hill gold prospect (from
previous works) with the IP-chargeability and resistivity
anomalies identified in this study, together with the
consistent NE-SW trend associated with all the anoma-
lies suggest a unique structural and mineralized body.
These anomalies are therefore succinct drill targets for
subsequent exploration and research works.
7. Acknowledgements
This article is part of a Ph.D. thesis by ANF at the Uni-
versity of Buea within a framework of cooperation with
the Cameroon Mining Company (CAMINCO SA) initi-
ated in 2006 with CES as the project academic coordina-
tor. This contribution is within the research framework of
“The Precambrian Mineral Belt of Cameroon” in the
economic geology unit of University of Buea with other
participating institutions. The authors express apprecia-
tion to the anonymous reviewers whose comments im-
proved on the nature of the figures.
REFERENCES
[1] C. E. Suh, “Sulphide Microchemistry and Hydrothermal
Fluid Evolution in Quartz Veins, Batouri Gold District
(Southeast Cameroon),” Journal of the Cameroon Acad-
emy of Science, Vol. 8, 2008, pp. 19-30.
[2] P. E. J. Pitfield and S. D. G. Campbell, “Significance for
Gold Exploration of Structural Styles of Auriferous De-
posits in the Archaean Bulawayo-Bubi Greenstone Belt of
Zimbabwe,” Transactions of the Institution of Mining and
Metallurgy. Section B Applied Earth Science, Vol. 105,
1996, pp. B41-B52.
[3] T. G. Blenkinsop, S. D. G. Campbell, P. E. J. Pitfield and
T. Muzondo, “Contrasting Structural Controls on Gold
Mineralization along the Eldorado Shear Zone, Zim-
babwe,” Transactions of the Institution of Mining and
Metallurgy. Section B, Applied Earth Science, Vol. 105,
1996, pp. B53-B59.
[4] R. J. Bowell, E. O. Afreh, N. d’A. Laffoley, E. Hanssen,
S. Abe, R. K. Yao and D. Pohl, “Geochemical Explora-
tion for Gold in Tropical Soils: Four Contrasting Case
Studies from West Africa,” Transactions of the Institution
of Mining and Metallurgy. Section B: Applied Earth Sci-
ence, Vol. 105, 1996, pp. B12-B33.
[5] H. Hase, T. Hashimto, S. Sakanaka, W. Kanda and Y.
Tanaka, “Hydrothermal System Beneath Aso Volcano as
Inferred from Self Potential Mapping and Resistivity
Structure,” Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Re-
search, Vol. 134, No. 4, 2005, pp. 259-278.
doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2004.12.005
[6] F. Cella, M. Fedi, G. Florio, M. Grimaldi and A. Rapolla,
“Shallow Structure of the Somma-Vesuvuis Volcano
from 3D Inversion of Gravity Data,” Journal of Volca-
nology and Geothermal Research, Vol. 161, No. 4, 2007,
pp. 303-317. doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2006.12.013
[7] I. Caglar and T. Isseven, “Two Dimensional Geoelectrical
Structure of the Goynok Geothermal Area Northwest
Anotolia, Turkey,” Journal of Volcanology and Geo-
thermal Research, Vol. 134, No. 3, 2004, pp. 183-198.
doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2004.01.003
[8] V. Ngako, P. Affaton, J. M. Nnange and Th. Njanko,
“Pan African Tectonic Evolution on Central and Southern
Cameroon: Transpression and Transtension during Sinis-
tral Shear Movements,” Journal of African Earth Sci-
ences, Vol. 36, No. 3, 2003, pp. 207-214.
doi:10.1016/S0899-5362(03)00023-X
[9] S. F. Toteu, W. R. Van Schmus, J. Penaye and A. Mich-
ard, “New U-Pb and Sm-Nd Data from North-Central
Cameroon and Its Bearing on the Pre-Pan-African History
of Central Africa,” Precambrian Research, Vol. 108, No.
1-2, 2001, pp. 45-73.
doi:10.1016/S0301-9268(00)00149-2
[10] S. F. Toteu, J. Penaye, E. Deloule, W. R. Van Schmus
and R. Tchameni, “Diachronous Evolution of Volcano-
Sedimentary Basins North of the Congo Craton: Insights
from U-Pb Ion Microprobe Dating of Zircons from the
Poli, Lom and Yaoundé Groups (Cameroon),” Journal of
African Earth Sciences, Vol. 44, 2006, pp. 428-442.
doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2005.11.011
[11] B. Kankeu, O. Greiling and Z. J. P. Nzenti, “Pan African
Strike Slip Tectonic in Eastern Cameroon Magnetic Fab-
rics (AMS) and Structures in the Lom Basin and Its
Gneissic Basement,” Precambrian Research, Vol. 174,
2009, pp. 258-272. doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2009.08.001
[12] B. Kankeu, R. O. Greiling, J. P. Nzenti, J. Bassahak and J.
V. Hell, “Strain Partitioning along the Neoproterozoic
Central African Shear Zone System: Structures and Mag-
netic Fabrics (AMS) from the Meiganga Area, Camer-
oon,” Neues Jarbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie
Copyright © 2012 SciRes. IJG