TITLE:
Delineation of Lineaments in South Cameroon (Central Africa) Using Gravity Data
AUTHORS:
Owona Angue Marie Louise Clotilde, Tabod Charles Tabod, Nguiya Séverin, Kenfack Jean Victor, Tokam Kamga Alain Pierre
KEYWORDS:
South Cameroon; Bouguer Anomaly; Upward Continuation; Horizontal Gradient; Euler Deconvolution; Lineament
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Geology,
Vol.3 No.5,
September
5,
2013
ABSTRACT: Gravity method is among the most applied
geophysical methods in mineral and oil exploration. It may help to identify
fault networks which are of interest for mineral exploration. Potential field data can give valuable
information on the location of faults in the basement. These faults may have
propagated into the overlying sedimentary rocks and influenced fluid flow and
distribution of hydrocarbon traps and mineralization zones. A study was therefore conducted in south Cameroon with the aim of
highlighting the different lineaments of the region, which were completely or partially hidden by the sedimentary cover. Different gravity data
processing techniques including horizontal gradient coupled with upward
continuation and Euler deconvolution were used. The application of these
methods has mapped out a number of lineaments depicting gravity density
discontinuities whose directions are NS, NE-SW, EW and NW-SE. The predominant
direction for major lineaments is NE-SW. The major lineaments associated to the
faults are: the Kribi-Edea faults, Ambam faults, Ebolowa-south of Yaounde
faults; Bipindi-Yaounde faults; Pouma-Yaounde fault and the fault system which
crosses the east, north, west of Monatele city. Euler solutions indicate depths
up to18 km for the roof of the faults. The main results worked out from this study provide with new elements that
allow the improvement of the knowledge on the structure of the study area. The
structural map obtained shows major tectonic events that are responsible of the
structural layout of the study zone. In addition, information related to the
dip and depth of the various structures was also obtained. The map of lineaments is a useful tool for the planning of
hydrogeological and/or petroleum investigations.