TITLE:
Assessment of Mass-Movement Instabilities along the Southwestern Escarpment of the Bamileke Plateau Using Geological, Geotechnical and Remote Sensing-Derived Lineaments
AUTHORS:
Alongamo Adjiahoung Anita Marlyse, Ndonbou Raoul Merlin, Wotchoko Pierre, Nkouathio David Guimolaire
KEYWORDS:
Southwestern Escarpment of the Bamileke Plateau, Mass Movement, Geotechnics, West Cameroon Highlands, Remote Sensing Lineaments
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.14 No.6,
June
30,
2026
ABSTRACT: The southwestern escarpment of the Bamileke Plateau (SWEBP), located in the West Cameroon Highlands (WCH), is characterized by a high vulnerability to landslides. Numerous springs around vulnerable zones weaken materials and increase slope stress, leading to greater instability. The methodology combined lineament assessment from satellite imagery, an inventory of mass movement sites, and soil and rock sampling to assess the structural, geotechnical, and geological characteristics of SWEBP. The results show that the area is primarily composed of landslide-prone zones, accounting for 91.43% of landslides (32 landslides across 35 sites). Microscopic analysis shows that gneiss and granite are essentially rich in feldspars and biotite, which weather easily to form clay soils. The soil exhibits two horizons (HA and HBC), suggesting a high potential for displacement during a landslide. The soils of the SWEBP are classified into three categories: Andosols, Cambisols, and Ferrasols. The lineament map reveals zones of structural weakness that may promote mass movement. In total, 99 lineaments were identified, with a dominant NE-SW orientation and a secondary ENE-WSW trend. Geotechnical analyses of these soils show that they have an average specific weight (2.53 - 2.61 g/cm3), low dry densities (1.24 - 1.36 g/cm3), high wet densities (1.59 - 1.71 g/cm3), high porosity (47.37% - 51.21%), medium compactness (48% - 53%), high liquid limits (61.3% - 71.5%), low plastic limits (31.4% - 38.7%), high plasticity index (29.9% - 35%) and void ratios range from 0.90 to 1.05. Their water content is average to bad quality (24% - 31%), and they are mostly fine-grained (70.38% - 78.0%), and show low cohesion (0.22 - 0.45 bar) with high internal friction angles (22.3? - 26.1?). When associated with steep slopes (>25?), they are highly susceptible to mass movements. Identifying these risk zones is crucial, as mass movements reduce slope stability by weakening material cohesion and balance.