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Mapping Gold Mineralization Targets Using Geological Field and Magnetic Ground Data in the Yopa Area, Adamawa-Cameroon

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Abstract

This study aims map gold mineralization targets in the Boékini locality (Adamawa-Cameroon) by integrating geological and magnetic data. The geological fieldwork revealed a high level of soil cover resulting from excessive alteration of the geological formations in place, thus leading to a scarcity of geological structures. The development of the geological information distribution map made it possible to understand that the artisanal gold mining sites are located downstream and on the hillsides, and are represented by eluvial gold mineralizations. This analysis allowed the development of a first map of mineralization targets related to the topography of the area. In addition to the regional-residual separation performed by upward continuation, two other processing methods were applied to the magnetic data: analytical signal (AS) and spectral analysis. Because of the influence of surface deposits on the residual map, the AS data was calculated and revealed a set of positive anomalies not visible on the residual map. Correlation of the distribution of the mining sites with the positive anomalies in the AS allowed us to understand that they constitute potential gold mineralization targets in the study area. The 1D spectral analysis showed that the depths of the upper and lower interfaces of these anomalies are between 30–35 m and 115–130 m, respectively. The amplitude of these anomalies being between 0.8 and 2 nT/m, a discrimination of the AS data allowed to obtain a distribution map of potential mineralization targets which was then transformed into a map of primary and secondary mineralization classes. This map can be used as background document for gold exploration projects in the study area.

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Data from this study are available from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Professor ABDOUL WAHABOU, Director of School of Geology and Mining Engineering, University of Ngaoundere, for providing the infrastructural Facilities. We are also grateful to the reviewers for their valuable observations and constructive criticism making the manuscript clear.

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No funding was received for conducting this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geology and Mining Engineering, University of Ngaoundere, Ngaoundere, Cameroon

    Zanga Essomba Oyié Maurice, Meying Arsène & Ndam Njikam Mohamed Moustapha

  2. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon

    Zanga Amougou Alain

  3. National Higher School of Mines and Petroleum Industries, University of Maroua, Maroua, Cameroon

    Gouet Daniel Herve

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  1. Zanga Essomba Oyié Maurice
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ZEOM contributed to data acquisition, processing and interpretation as well as to the writing of this manuscript. NNMM contributed to data processing and interpretation. MA supervised this study.

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Correspondence to Meying Arsène.

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Maurice, Z.E.O., Arsène, M., Moustapha, N.N.M. et al. Mapping Gold Mineralization Targets Using Geological Field and Magnetic Ground Data in the Yopa Area, Adamawa-Cameroon. Pure Appl. Geophys. 180, 2257–2273 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-023-03259-1

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