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Compositional provenance study of alluvial cassiterite at Bambol and Mayo Seni localities of the Mayo Darlé massif, northern Cameroon

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Abstract

Cassiterite mineralization occurs in both the rock and the alluvial sediments in the Mayo-Darlé massif of northern Cameroon. Active alluvial mining by artisans constitutes the most important rural economic activity. This study focuses on the morphology, mineral inclusions, and composition of alluvial cassiterite derived from Bambol and Mayo Seni localities. Backscattered electron (BSE) images primarily analyzed the cassiterite grains to investigate their morphological characteristics and mineral inclusions. The composition was examined through electron microprobe analysis (EMPA). The cassiterite grains have an irregular to sub-rounded morphology, indicating proximity to the source, although cassiterite grains display evidence of mechanical transport and abrasion. EMPA results show mainly high SnO2 content (up to 100 wt.%), highlighting the weathering resistance of the cassiterite grains and providing a database for comparative cassiterite compositional studies around the world. Among the Sn substituting elements, only Fe, Ta, and Mn were detected at very low concentrations (Fe = 0.02–0.3 FeO, Mn = 0–0.04 MnO, and Ta = 0–0.2 Ta2O5, all in wt.% respectively), suggesting little variation in the alluvial cassiterite compositions. This high SnO2 content indicates the purity of cassiterite in the area. These chemical signatures are useful tools to explore the unknown primary source and help in mineral exploration in northern Cameroon. Binary plots of compositional variation have similar clusters, suggesting cassiterite was derived from a single bedrock source, despite having a mixed signature of pegmatite- and hydrothermal-derived cassiterite. Mineral inclusions include quartz, hematite, and columbite group minerals (CGMs), which were similar in all the samples, suggesting a homogeneous source. The quartz inclusions highlight quartz veins associated with the mineralization and potential felsic plutonic bedrocks. Granites of the Mayo-Darlé massif have been reported as having NE–SW-trending hydrothermal quartz veins, and both the veins and the hydrothermally altered zones of the granite contain disseminated cassiterite.

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Acknowledgements

This paper is part of the PhD thesis of the first author. The analyses were completed within the cooperation framework between the University of Buea and BIUST through CES and EMS. Funding from both institutions is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Economic Geology Unit, Department of Geology, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon

    Maurice Njiganga Nwamba, Cheo Emmanuel Suh, Bih Solange Tantoh & Christopher M. Agyingi

  2. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Private Bay 16, Palapye, Botswana

    Tebogo Kelepile & Elisha Mutum Shemang

  3. Department of Geology, Mining and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bambili, Cameroon

    Ralain Bryan Ngatcha & Cheo Emmanuel Suh

  4. Geology Laboratory, Higher Teacher Training College (ENS), University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 047, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    Charles Dieudonne Isidore Ilouga

  5. Department of Mining and Mineral Engineering, National Higher Polytechnic Institute (NAHPI), The University of Bamenda, P. O. Box 39, Bambili, Cameroon

    Enerst Tata

Authors
  1. Maurice Njiganga Nwamba
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  2. Tebogo Kelepile
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  6. Elisha Mutum Shemang
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  8. Enerst Tata
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  9. Christopher M. Agyingi
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Contributions

The conception of the research; CES, CMA and EMS. Fieldwork, laboratory analyses and data synthesis: NMN, TK, IC, CES, EMS, RBN, ET. NMN prepared the first draft of the manuscript. Writing, reviewing, and editing of the manuscript: all authors. Funding Acquisition: CES and EMS.

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Correspondence to Maurice Njiganga Nwamba.

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Communicated by M. V. Alves Martins

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Nwamba, M.N., Kelepile, T., Ngatcha, R.B. et al. Compositional provenance study of alluvial cassiterite at Bambol and Mayo Seni localities of the Mayo Darlé massif, northern Cameroon. J. Sediment. Environ. 8, 311–338 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43217-023-00136-8

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