<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><!DOCTYPE article  PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD Journal Publishing DTD v3.0 20080202//EN" "http://dtd.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/3.0/journalpublishing3.dtd"><article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" dtd-version="3.0" xml:lang="en" article-type="research article"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">JSEMAT</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title>Journal of Surface Engineered Materials and Advanced Technology</journal-title></journal-title-group><issn pub-type="epub">2161-4881</issn><publisher><publisher-name>Scientific Research Publishing</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.4236/jsemat.2014.46040</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">JSEMAT-50804</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Articles</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="Discipline-v2"><subject>Chemistry&amp;Materials Science</subject><subject> Engineering</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title>
 
 
  Geochemical Characterization and Mineralogy of Babouri-Figuil Oil Shale, North-Cameroon
 
</article-title></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>lexis</surname><given-names>Jacob Nyangono Abolo</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Simon</surname><given-names>Ngos III</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>2</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Augustin</surname><given-names>Desire Balla Ondoa</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff3"><sup>3</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Bruno</surname><given-names>Garcia</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff4"><sup>4</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Maria</surname><given-names>Fernanda-Sarmiento</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff4"><sup>4</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Olive</surname><given-names>Cecile Mbesse</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff5"><sup>5</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Guy</surname><given-names>Martin Abolo</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff6"><sup>6</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Daniel</surname><given-names>Mackaire Eloung Nna</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Augustin</surname><given-names>Ephraim Nkengfack</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Emmanuel</surname><given-names>Ndjeng</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Jialin</surname><given-names>Qian</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff7"><sup>7</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib></contrib-group><aff id="aff4"><addr-line>Geosciences Division, Institut Fran?ais du Pétrole, Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN), Rueil-Malmaison, France </addr-line></aff><aff id="aff7"><addr-line>Department of Chemistry, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, China</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff3"><addr-line>Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, Ngaoundere, Cameroon</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff5"><addr-line>Faculty of Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff6"><addr-line>National Hydrocarbons Corporation, Yaounde, Cameroon</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff2"><addr-line>Faculty of Sciences, University of Maroua, Maroua, Cameroon</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff1"><addr-line>Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon</addr-line></aff><author-notes><corresp id="cor1">* E-mail:<email>alexis_abolo@yahoo.com(LJNA)</email>;<email>sngos@yahoo.com(SNI)</email>;<email>bruno.garcia@ifpen.fr(BG)</email>;<email>maria-fernanda.romero-sarmiento@ifpen.fr(MF)</email>;<email>mbesse2001@yahoo.fr(OCM)</email>;<email>elnad2006@yahoo.fr(DMEN)</email>;<email>augustelecompte2007@yahoo.fr(AEN)</email>;<email>mg_abolo@yahoo.fr(EN)</email>;<email>jlqian2001@yahoo.com(JQ)</email>;</corresp></author-notes><pub-date pub-type="epub"><day>06</day><month>10</month><year>2014</year></pub-date><volume>04</volume><issue>06</issue><fpage>359</fpage><lpage>368</lpage><history><date date-type="received"><day>4</day>	<month>September</month>	<year>2014</year></date><date date-type="rev-recd"><day>1</day>	<month>October</month>	<year>2014</year>	</date><date date-type="accepted"><day>17</day>	<month>October</month>	<year>2014</year></date></history><permissions><copyright-statement>&#169; Copyright  2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. </copyright-statement><copyright-year>2014</copyright-year><license><license-p>This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</license-p></license></permissions><abstract><p>
 
 
  Organic geochemistry methods such as high temperature combustion, Rock-Eval pyrolysis and gas analysis were used to analyze oil shale from Babouri-Figuil Basin. Results show that the average content of organic matter is 36.25 %wt, while that of mineral matter is 63.75 %wt. The total organic carbon (TOC) is between 15.93 %wt and 26.82 %wt. The HI vs. T
  <sub>max</sub> diagram indicates an immature Type I kerogen. The average value of the oil potential (S
  <sub>2b</sub>) is 149.95 mg HC/g rock. The gases obtained by retort process are H
  <sub>2</sub>, CO
  <sub>2</sub>, CO and C
  <sub>n</sub>H
  <sub>2n</sub>, C
  <sub>n</sub>H
  <sub>2n+2</sub>. Finally, it emerges that, the organic matter of Babouri-Figuil shales was immature or has just reached the beginning of the oil window. The mineralogical study of Babouri-Figuil oil shale has been carried out by means of XRD (X-Ray Diffractometry) and XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry). The results show that mineral matrix contains silica, carbonates, sulphates, oxides and clay minerals. Besides, compounds contain metals and metalloids like Fe, In, Ca. The main oxides are SiO
  <sub>2</sub> (majority), CaO, Fe
  <sub>2</sub>O
  <sub>3</sub>, Al
  <sub>2</sub>O
  <sub>3</sub>, SO
  <sub>3</sub>, and K
  <sub>2</sub>O.
 
</p></abstract><kwd-group><kwd>Oil Shale</kwd><kwd> Babouri-Figuil</kwd><kwd> Organic Matter</kwd><kwd> Mineral Matter</kwd><kwd> Rock-Eval Pyrolysis</kwd><kwd> X-Ray Diffractometry</kwd><kwd> X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry</kwd></kwd-group></article-meta></front><body><sec id="s1"><title>1. Introduction</title><p>As the overall situation of conventional oil and gas resources becomes increasingly severe, oil shale resources begin to be paid more and more attention. Since oil shale is characterized by beneficial features, economic values and large resources, it is considered as an important substitution resource for the 21<sup>st</sup> century [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref1">1</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref2">2</xref>] .</p><p>In Cameroon, one of the main deposits of oil shale is localized in the Cretaceous Basin of Babouri-Figuil, North Region, precisely in the Mayo Figuil and Mayo Tafal series (or outcrops). Due to the economic and scientific interest of this resource, the Laboratory of Petroleum and Sedimentary Geology of University of Yaounde I—Cameroon has decided to study these oil shale formations.</p><p>The aim of this study is to give the organic and inorganic composition of Babouri-Figuil oil shale and to characterize their organic matter. All the information has been obtained by high temperature combustion method, Rock-Eval pyrolysis, gas analysis, XRD and XRF.</p></sec><sec id="s2"><title>2. Geological Setting</title><p>The Babouri-Figuil Basin is one among the numerous lower Cretaceous intra-continental small basins of Northern Cameroon (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>) and belongs, like the Benue trough, to the West and Central African Rift Systems (WCARS), linked to the opening of the Southern Atlantic Ocean [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref3">3</xref>] - [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref7">7</xref>] . The structure of this basin is half-gra- ben and consists of a synclinal feature that has an East-West extension [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref5">5</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref8">8</xref>] . The total surface is about 251 km<sup>2</sup>. In terms of sedimentary succession, the Neocomian-Barremian series (with a maximum thickness of 1500 m) begins with breccias, conglomerates, micro-conglomerates, sandstones, claystones and arkoses. Above those layers, clays, marls and sandstones occur in alternance. The series lie unconformably on a granitic basement and is cross-cut by volcanic rocks and plutonic intrusions [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref8">8</xref>] - [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref10">10</xref>] . The depositional environment in the Babouri- Figuil basin is lacustine and/or fluvial-lacustrine [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref5">5</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref7">7</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref8">8</xref>] .</p><p>In this basin, the oil shales have been discovered in two series, Mayo Figuil and Mayo Tafal [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref5">5</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref8">8</xref>] . From the sedimentological and environmental viewpoint, it emerges that, the lithology of the two series are nearly similar and consists of conglomerates, sandstones, limestones, clays, schistose marls (abundant) and oil shales all restful on a</p><fig id="fig1"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref></label><caption><title> Location of Babouri-Figuil Basin. Adapted from [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref5">5</xref>] </title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-1180258x6.png"/></fig><p>crystalline plinth (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">Figure 2</xref>). In the Mayo Figuil series, the oil shale beds occur at in the top of the series, while in the Mayo Tafal series, they occur from the bottom to the top.</p><p>The oil shale deposits consist of numerous black or grey coloured beds, with the thicknesses of a few centimeters to about tenths of meters. These layers outcrop at the surface and disappear at the depth. They cut up either into rocky leaf or in small parts of rocks.</p></sec><sec id="s3"><title>3. Sampling, Materials and Methods</title><p>In the Babouri-Figuil Basin, two representative oil shale samples (F1, F2) were obtained from Mayo Figuil series (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref>(a), <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref>(b)) and two others (T1, T2) came from Mayo Tafal series (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref>(c), <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref>(d)). Those samples were tested and analyzed.</p><p>The methods have consisted in crushing, grinding and sieving to yield samples with a particle size of 75 &#181;m.</p><p>In order to study the content and composition of mineral matter, organic matter was prior removed [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref1">1</xref>] . In our case we used high temperature combustion method; which consisted in burning the rock powder at 550˚C in the furnace. Following this operation, the shale ash obtained was analyzed by XRD, whereas oil shale powder which was obtained by crushing and grinding was analyzed by XRF. XRD was carried out by the AGEs Laboratory of the University of Liege-Belgium, whereas XRF has been realized at the MIPROMALO and CAPAM Laboratories (Cameroon Mining and Material Laboratories).</p><fig-group id="fig2"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">Figure 2</xref></label><caption><title> (a) Graphic log of Mayo Figuil series; (b) Graphic log of Mayo Tafal series.</title></caption><fig id ="fig2_1"><label> (b)</label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-1180258x7.png"/></fig></fig-group><fig id="fig3"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref></label><caption><title> Oil shale of Babouri-Figuil Basin: Mayo Figuil samples ((a) =F1 and (b) =F2)</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-1180258x8.png"/></fig><fig id="fig4"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref></label><caption><title> Oil shale of Babouri Figuil basin: Mayo Tafal samples ((c) =T1 and (d) =T2)</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-1180258x9.png"/></fig><p>Concerning the study of the organic matter, the mineral matrix content was also prior removed. For this operation, Babouri-Figuil oil shales were treated repeatedly with HCl (6N), HCl (4N) and 40% HF (HCl was used for mineral carbonates removal, and HF for removal of mineral oxides and silicates) [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref1">1</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref11">11</xref>] .</p><p>The Rock-Eval instrument was developed at IFPEN (former Institut Fran&#231;ais de P&#233;trole (IFP)) in 1977 [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref12">12</xref>] - [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref14">14</xref>] . The method consists in estimating petroleum potential of rock samples by pyrolysis according to a programmed temperature pattern [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref15">15</xref>] . Rock-Eval analyses were performed at the geochemistry-petrophysics department of IFPEN, using a Rock-Eval 6 device.</p><p>The “reservoir method” was used to analyze these samples and this method consists to perform firstly a pyrolysis cycle starting from 180˚C (initial temperature during 10 min) to 650˚C using a heating rate equal to 25˚C/min and, secondly, an oxidation cycle from 300˚C to 850˚C at a temperature rate equal to 25˚C/min.</p><p>From this method, the following parameters were obtained S<sub>1r</sub>, S<sub>2a</sub>, S<sub>2b</sub>, TOC, T<sub>max</sub>, HI and OI, among others.</p><p>S<sub>1r</sub> = lightest free or sorbed hydrocarbons; S<sub>2a</sub> = heavier free or sorbed hydrocarbons; S<sub>2b</sub> = hydrocarbons potentially generated from thermal maturation of sedimentary organic matter (kerogen); TOC = total organic carbon; T<sub>max</sub> = temperature of the maximum of S2b peak; HI = hydrogen index and OI = oxygen index.</p><p>The gas analysis has been performed at the China University of Petroleum (Beijing). Oil shale was crushed and heated to approximately 520˚C by direct contact with heated ceramic balls. At this temperature, the organic matter in oil shale rapidly decomposes to produce hydrocarbon vapor. Subsequent cooling of this vapor yields crude oil shale and light hydrocarbon gases [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref16">16</xref>] .</p></sec><sec id="s4"><title>4. Results and Discussion</title><sec id="s4_1"><title>4.1. High Temperature Combustion</title><p>The percentage of mineral and organic matter can be easily obtained by the high temperature combustion method. In fact, during the heating of raw oil shale at 550˚C, the mass loss is attributed mostly to the removal of organic matter, while the remaining material (shale ash), can be considered as the mineral matter [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref17">17</xref>] . The usual formula used for the determination of the organic matter percentage is:</p><disp-formula id="scirp.50804-formula474"><label>(1)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-1180258x10.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>where, dry mass is the initial weight of the oil shale sample (g), and 550 mass is the sample weight at the end of the combustion of organic matter (g).</p><p>It’s known that, oil shale sample constituted by organic and mineral matter, and then the equation of the total mass (wt%) of raw oil shale material can be written as:</p><disp-formula id="scirp.50804-formula475"><label>(2)</label><graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-1180258x11.png"  xlink:type="simple"/></disp-formula><p>Note that, organic matter = Loi550.</p><p>The <xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref> shows the different percentage of mineral and organic matter giving by high temperature com- bustion method for the Babouri-Figuil oil shale.</p><p>The mineral matter content in Babouri-Figuil samples is between 55 %wt - 73 %wt and the average value is 63.75 %wt; while the organic matter content is between 27 %wt - 45 %wt, for an average value of 36.25 %wt. Concerning the organic matter, all the samples show a percentage greater than 10 %wt meaning that the rock</p><table-wrap id="table1" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref></label><caption><title> Characteristics of the initial samples, %</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >Oil shale samples</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Mineral matter %</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Organic matter %</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >F1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >60</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >40</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >F2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >67</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >T1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >55</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >45</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >T2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >73</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >27</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Average values %</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >63.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >36.25</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>samples analyzed belong to the oil shale group. In comparison, the results obtained by high temperature combustion method for the Fushun and Maoming oil shale in China are respectively 72.2 %wt of mineral matter and 27.8 %wt of organic matter; and 71.9 %wt of mineral matter and 28.1 %wt of organic matter [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref1">1</xref>] - [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref18">18</xref>] . These data show that, the ratio of organic matter in Fushun and Maoming oil shale is lower than those of Babouri-Fi- guil Basin. It is the same case for the German Dotternhausen samples which show an organic matter ratio of 8.8. With a ratio of 50.5 %wt, the organic matter of Kukersite oil shale in Estonia is higher than the one of Babouri-Figuil oil shale (see <xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref>).</p></sec><sec id="s4_2"><title>4.2. Rock-Eval Pyrolysis</title><p>Organic matter abundance, type, thermal maturity and hydrocarbon potential of rock samples can be investigated by Rock-Eval pyrolysis [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref2">2</xref>] . The results are summarized in the <xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">Table 3</xref>.</p><p>The TOC content of Babouri-Figuil oil shale varies between 15.93 %wt - 26.82 %wt, with an average value of 21.08 %wt. Samples show TOC values greater than 15 %wt, meaning that samples are organic matter-rich rocks. The average TOC content of Mayo Tafal samples is 21.4 %wt, whereas the average TOC content of Mayo Figuil samples is 20.8 %wt, it emerges that, the TOC content in Mayo Tafal samples is slightly higher than that the one of Mayo Figuil. These high values of TOC are assigned to favorable environment of production and preservation of the organic matter.</p><p>The free or sorbed hydrocarbons (S<sub>1r</sub> + S<sub>2a</sub>) in the samples vary between 3.32 and 14.85 mg HC/g rock, for an average value of 7.51 mg HC/g rock.</p><p>The oil potential (S<sub>2b</sub>) ranges from 121.58 to 199.42 mg HC/g rock in the Mayo Tafal series and, from 127.54 to 151.27 mg HC/g rock in the Mayo Figuil. The value is 149.95 mg HC/g rock. These S<sub>2b</sub> values indicate that, oil shale samples from Babouri-Figuil have a strong tendency to hydrocarbons generation. The HI of all the samples is more than 650 mg HC/g TOC; and the OI value of the samples is between 9.47 - 11.99 mg CO<sub>2</sub>/g TOC. High HI and low OI values in Babouri-Figuil oil shale samples reflect a sapropelic organic content.</p><p>The Rock-Eval T<sub>max</sub> (422˚C - 435˚C) indicate that, organic matter of Babouri-Figuil shales is immature or has just reached the beginning of the oil window.</p><p>The Rock-Eval HI and T<sub>max</sub> are important parameters reflecting the type and evolution of organic matter [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref19">19</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref20">20</xref>] . The HI vs. T<sub>max</sub> diagram classifies the kerogen of Babouri-Figuil oil shale as Type I kerogen (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig5">Figure 5</xref>), indicating a lacustrine environment associated to anaerobic conditions.</p><p>This domination of Type I kerogen indicates that, Babouri-Figuil oil shale has a high oil generating potential. Usually, the Type I kerogen is derived essentially from algal material and terrestrial bacteria [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref21">21</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref22">22</xref>] . Probably, the cyanophyceae (blue-green algal) identified by [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref7">7</xref>] in the basin, is the main algal type which constitutes the organic matter content of Babouri-Figuil oil shale.</p></sec><sec id="s4_3"><title>4.3. Gas Analysis</title><p>The composition of retort gas of Babouri-Figuil oil shale produced by Chinese retorts processing is shown in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref>. From this table, the gas contains is as follows: 34.70% H<sub>2</sub>, 19.74% CO<sub>2</sub>, and 5.74% CO. The C<sub>n</sub>H<sub>2n</sub> gaseous hydrocarbons are between 1.51% - 3.07%, for a total of 9.68%. The C<sub>n</sub>H<sub>2n+2</sub> gaseous hydrocarbons vary between 0.63% - 18.53%, for a total of 30.24%, and the high value (18.53%) belongs to methane (CH<sub>4</sub>). From oil shale retorting gas, hydrocarbons represent about 40% of the total gaseous compounds.</p><fig id="fig5"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig5">Figure 5</xref></label><caption><title> Relationship between HI and T<sub>max</sub> showing the position of the four Babouri-Figuil oil shales</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/6-1180258x12.png"/></fig><table-wrap id="table2" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref></label><caption><title> Comparative organic and mineral matter ratios of Fushun, Maoming, Dotternhausen, Kukersite, and Babouri-Figuil oil shale</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >Oil shale samples</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Organic matter (%)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Mineral matter (%)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >References</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Fushun</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >27.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >72.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >[<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref1">1</xref>]</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Maoming</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >28.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >71.9</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >[<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref1">1</xref>]</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Dotternhausen</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >91.9</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >[<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref24">24</xref>]</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Kukersite</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >49.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >[<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref15">15</xref>]</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Babouri-Figuil</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >36.25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >63.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><table-wrap id="table3" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">Table 3</xref></label><caption><title> Rock-Eval data of Babouri-Figuil oil shale</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >Oil shale samples</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >T<sub>max</sub>, (˚C)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >TOC, (%)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >S<sub>1r</sub>, mg HC/g rock</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >S<sub>2a</sub>, mg HC/g rock</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >HC free, mg HC/g rock</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >S<sub>2b</sub>, mg HC/g rock</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >HI, mg HC/g TOC</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >OI, mg CO<sub>2</sub>/g TOC</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >F1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >435</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >22.28</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.32</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >151.27</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >679</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.47</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >F2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >430</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >19.29</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.27</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.88</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >127.54</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >661</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10.01</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >T1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >427</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >26.82</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.28</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13.57</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14.85</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >199.42</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >744</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10.29</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >T2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >422</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >15.93</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.33</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.38</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.71</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >121.58</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >763</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.99</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><table-wrap id="table4" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref></label><caption><title> Composition of Babouri-Figuil oil shale retorts gas</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Component</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Composition, vol%</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >CO<sub>2</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >19.74</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >C<sub>n</sub>H<sub>2n</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.68</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >C<sub>5</sub>H<sub>10</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.51</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >C<sub>4</sub>H<sub>8</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.02</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>6</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.98</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.07</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >CO</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.74</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >H<sub>2</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >34.70</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >C<sub>n</sub>H<sub>2n+2</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >30.24</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >CH<sub>4</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >18.53</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>6</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.11</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>8</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.78</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >C<sub>4</sub>H<sub>10</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.19</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >C<sub>5</sub>H<sub>12</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.63</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >100</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>These gases can also be classified into two groups according to their carbon and hydrogen atoms numbers. The first group is light gas which consists of CO, CO<sub>2</sub>, H<sub>2</sub>, CH<sub>4</sub> and C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>. The second group is the heavy gas which is made up of C<sub>2</sub> (10.18%), C<sub>3</sub> (5.76%), C<sub>3</sub> (3.21%) and C<sub>5</sub> (2.14%) hydrocarbons, and consists of (C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>6</sub>, C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>6</sub>, C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>8</sub>, C<sub>4</sub>H<sub>8</sub>, C<sub>4</sub>H<sub>10</sub>, C<sub>5</sub>H<sub>10</sub>, C<sub>5</sub>H<sub>12</sub>).</p><p>The oil shale retort gas includes many interesting and potentially valuable components. These range from simple fuel compounds like methane to more exotic compounds such as butylene, propylene and ethylene [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref23">23</xref>] .</p></sec><sec id="s4_4"><title>4.4. X-Ray Diffractometry</title><p>The results of four oil shale samples of Babouri-Figuil Basin show that their mineralogy consists of silica (quartz, feldspars, analcime, wairakite), carbonates (calcite, dolomite), sulphates (pyrite, carlinite, cooperite), oxides (anatase) and clay minerals. The clay minerals identified are kaolinite, smectite, montmorillonite, illite, chlorite and tarasovite (composed clay).</p><p>The mineral matter in oil shale can be divided into three types according to its source. The first type is the mineral matter originally existing in planktons and vegetables, the remnants of which became the mineral matter of oil shale, such as silicon oxide from bacillariophycene and calcium oxide from shells. The second type is the mineral matter derived from dismantling of surrounding relief and infiltrated into oil shale during its formation, or some was carried by rivers and underground water into lakes, where oil shale was formed. The third type is the mineral matter which is formed during the chemical reaction occurring inside the sediment. The first and third types are regarded as intrinsic mineral matter, while the second type is called extrinsic mineral matter [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref1">1</xref>] .</p><p>The mineral matter of Babouri-Figuil oil shale may probably be derived by those three sources. In this way, some minerals are derived from rock alteration and were deposited in the basin after transport whereas others are formed directly within the sedimentary basin. This last group is called authigenous mineral and it may be the case of carbonates mineral in Babouri-Figuil Basin.</p></sec><sec id="s4_5"><title>4.5. X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry</title><p>The XRF analysis permits to obtain the chemical composition of Babouri-Figuil oil shale. It emerges from <xref ref-type="table" rid="table5">Table 5</xref> that, the main oxides are SiO<sub>2</sub> (57.95%), CaO (11.51%), Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (7.25%), Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (6.4%), SO<sub>3 </sub>(4.15%), K<sub>2</sub>O (2.45%), Na<sub>2</sub>O (0.5%) and TiO<sub>2</sub> (0.3%). Beside, the same <xref ref-type="table" rid="table5">Table 5</xref> [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref1">1</xref>] (modified) shows that, the composition of Babouri-Figuil oil shale is close to the Fushun and Maoming one regarding the high silicon oxide (SiO<sub>2</sub>) contents and the low calcium and magnesium oxides contents (CaO, MgO respectively). This is due to the oil shale formation conditions in ancient age and can also be related to the current climate conditions that causes the loss of Ca and Mg and the concentration of Al and Fe [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.50804-ref1">1</xref>] .</p><p>Spectrometer was also used to determine the elements contents of Babouri-Figuil oil shale and the results are summarized in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table6">Table 6</xref>. The main elements found in the basin are iron (Fe) with content varying between 2% - 6.85%; calcium (Ca) with content varying 0.75% - 3.1% and indium (In) with content varying 0.12% - 45.01%. Potassium (K), titane (Ti), cobalt (Co), strontium (Sr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) are also present but, in small amounts with the percentage comprised between 0.01% - 0.12%.</p><p>Those elements can be also divided into two groups. The first group includes only one macro nutritional elements, which is potassium (K). The second group is the heavy metal and metalloid and consists of iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), indium (In), titanium (Ti), cobalt (Co), strontium (Sr), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn).</p><p>The presence of indium (In), with a rate of 45% in some oil shale samples can be a great opportunity for the mining sector in the Babouri-Figuil Basin.</p></sec></sec><sec id="s5"><title>5. Conclusions</title><p>The Babouri-Figuil Cretaceous Basin in North-Cameroon includes rich organic matter sediment. These sediments are named “oil shale”. The host rocks are mainly claystone, in which organic matter is heterogeneously and finely dispersed. The current oil shale deposits are localized in Mayo Figuil and Mayo Tafal series. The organic geochemical and mineralogical methods used during this study have made their characterization possible. High temperature combustion method showed that, organic matter content varies from 27 %wt to 45 %wt, while mineral matter content is between 55 %wt and 73 %wt. The Rock-Eval analysis indicates that, the content of TOC is higher than 15 %wt for the whole sample of the Basin. The average value is 21.08%. The average value of the potential hydrocarbon is 149.95 mg HC/g rock, and the average value of total free hydrocarbons is 7.51 mg HC/g rock. The T<sub>max</sub> value of the entire sample is lower than 435˚C. The main kerogen is Type I.</p><table-wrap id="table5" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table5">Table 5</xref></label><caption><title> Comparative chemical compositions of Fushun, Maoming, Green River, Kukersite, Dotterrnhausen, and Babouri- Figuil oil shale</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >Samples</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, %</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, %</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >SO<sub>3</sub>, %</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >SiO<sub>2</sub>, %</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >TiO<sub>2</sub>, %</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >SO<sub>2</sub>, %</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >CaO, %</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >MgO, %</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >K<sub>2</sub>O, %</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Na<sub>2</sub>O, %</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Others</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Fushun</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >28.02</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >58.04</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.81</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.35</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.41</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Maoming</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.92</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >29.42</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >53.42</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.86</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.69</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.23</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.39</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Green River</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.60</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12.22</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >43.81</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.22</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >22.06</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.36</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.36</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.33</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Kukersite</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >30.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >40.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Dotterrnhausen</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.53</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.87</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.54</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >34.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >32.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.67</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Babouri-Figuil</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >57.95</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.51</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.45</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.49</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><table-wrap id="table6" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table6">Table 6</xref></label><caption><title> Contents of some metals and metalloids in Babouri-Figuil oil shale</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >Samples</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Fe%</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Ca%</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >In%</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >K%</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Ti%</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Co%</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Sr%</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Cu%</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Zn%</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >F1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.85</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.11</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.03</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.05</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.01</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.04</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >F2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.43</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.05</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.07</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.01</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.01</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >T1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.57</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.02</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.04</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.03</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.01</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >T2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >45.01</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.01</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.06</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.01</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.01</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>All those parameters indicate that, Babouri-Figuil oil shale is a good source rock, but has not the required temperature to generate hydrocarbons. The composition of Babouri-Figuil oil shale retort gas consists of 34.70% H<sub>2</sub>, 19.74% CO<sub>2</sub>, and 5.74% CO. The content of C<sub>n</sub>H<sub>2n</sub> gaseous hydrocarbons is 9.68%, whereas the content of the C<sub>n</sub>H<sub>2n+2</sub> gaseous hydrocarbons is 30.24%.</p><p>The organic matter of these shales is derived from planktonic biomass (lacustrine origin), probably associated with a bacterial and terrestrial material.</p><p>The mineralogical study shows that, the mineral matter composition of Babouri-Figuil oil shale consists of a variety of minerals, like silica, carbonates, sulphates, oxides and clay minerals. Besides, compounds containing Fe, In, Ca, etc. K, Ti, Co, Sr, Zn, Cu are also sometimes present in small amounts. The main oxides are SiO<sub>2</sub>, CaO, Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, SO<sub>3</sub>, and K<sub>2</sub>O. Na<sub>2</sub>O and TiO<sub>2</sub> are also present.</p><p>Finally, the mineral matter of the Babouri-Figuil oil shale is derived from mineral matter originally existing in planktons and vegetables and mainly from dismantling of surrounding relief and chemical transformations that occurred during the sedimentation.</p></sec><sec id="s6"><title>Acknowledgements</title><p>Authors are grateful for financial and material supports from the “University Commission for Development” (UCD) and University of Liege-Belgium (ULg). Thanks also to Geremie Letort (IFPEN) who carried out the Rock-Eval analysis, to Jialin Qian, Shuyuan Li and Yue Ma (China University of Petroleum) for the organization and realization of several analyses and documentation. Thank also to Shu Tao (China University of Mining and Technology) for the significant literature.</p></sec><sec id="s7"><title>NOTES</title></sec></body><back><ref-list><title>References</title><ref id="scirp.50804-ref1"><label>1</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Qian, J. and Yin, L. (2010) Oil Shale—Petroleum Alternative. China Petrochemical Press, Beijing, 619 p.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.50804-ref2"><label>2</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Tao, S., Wang, Y.B., Tang, D.-Z., Xu, H., Zhang, B., He, W. and Liu, C. (2012) Composition of the Organic Constituents of Dahuangshan Oil Shale at the Northern Foot of Bogda Mountain, China. Oil Shale, 29, 115-127.http://dx.doi.org/10.3176/oil.2012.2.03</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.50804-ref3"><label>3</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Benkhelil, J. (1982) Benoue through and Benue Chain. 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