No abstract

Stream sediment geochemistry remains a versatile tool in exploration especially in regionswhere knowledge of the primary mineralization is lacking and the exploration activities are still at reconnaissance stage. In this study, we investigate the concentrations of gold and associated elements in stream sediment samples from the Vaimba-Lidi drainage system in northern Cameroon; a relatively remote area where alluvial gold is worked locally, and exploration activities are at early stage. The main river and its principal first and second order tributaries were sampled, panned for gold grain recovery and the 100 μm size fraction analyzed for Au by fire assay with Ni finish. A suite of other elements were analyzed for by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Gold grades estimated by the panning and weighing technique rarely exceed 1 g/t while the Au concentrations from chemical analysis range from 3.0 to 354.0 ppm. The spatial distribution of gold and all the other elements are presented as point symbol maps and the data analyzed using multivariate statistics. From the principal component analysis (PCA), the As-Mo-W-Ag as well as the Au-Zn factors point to the presence of primary hydrothermal gold-sulphide mineralization in the area and this can be further investigated. These results highlight the importance of multielement analysis and multivariate statistical interpretation of sediment geochemical data in inferring the nature of the underlying primary mineralization in any region.No represents the number of samples with concentrations above their detection limit used to calculated the statistics, Min, Max, Std. D represents the Minimum, Maximum concentration value and standard diversion, respecively, / represents no value. t

Stream sediments are widely employed in reconnaissance exploration for gold especially in areas where outcrops are scarce and the overburden thick such as in the eastern Cameroon goldfields. In this study, 337 stream sediment samples were collected from the Lom river drainage basin. The study aims at identifying the main geological processes affecting the geochemical data from the sediments by considering the multi-elements relationships and spatial features of single elements. The samples were collected in duplicate. One set was panned, gold grains picked and weighed while the second set was wet sieved and the ≤100 microns size fraction retained. This fraction was eventually analyzed for gold by fire assay and a suite of elements by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Single element maps were constructed using ArcGIS and the relationship between elements measured using Pearson correlation and principal component analysis (PCA). Gold concentrations in the samples are erratic, most below the detection limit and attain a high of 450 ppm. Five factors are derived from the PCA including single element factors for As and Au reflecting bedrock-hosted mineralization. The Cu-Zn-Y-Nb-Pb factor suggests sulphide mineralization perhaps related to felsic intrusions while the Sr-Ba-La-Ce-Zr factor is linked to lithologic control. These results demonstrate the usefulness of multi-element analysis and data interpretation using GIS tools in the exploration efforts for gold worldwide.

Exploration and exploitation for hydrocarbon are associated with a lot of complexities, it is therefore necessary to integrate available geologic models for accurate hydrocarbon prospecting and risk analysis. This study is aimed at determining the structural, petrophysical and volumetric parameters for reservoir evaluation within the Rancho field. 3D seismic data was used for evaluating the hydrocarbon potential of the field. A suite of well logs but not limited to gamma ray logs (GR), deep resistivity log (DRES), neutron log (NPHI) and density log (RHOB) from four (4) wells were employed in characterising dynamic properties of the reservoirs. The GR log was used in lithology identification while the resistivity log was used in identifying probable hydrocarbon bearing sands. A correlation exercise was carried out to identify lateral continuity and discontinuity of facies across the wells. Thereafter petrophysical parameters were analysed from the suite of wire line logs. Major faults were mapped on the 3D seismic data and identified hydrocarbon bearing sand tops from the well logs were mapped as horizons on the seismic section, maps were generated and volumetric analysis was done. Nine (9) hydrocarbon sands (Sands A -I) were identified within the study area. The well log revealed an alternation of sand and shale layers as well as shale layers increased in thickness with depth, while the sand bodies reduced in thickness with depth which characterized the Abgada Formation of the Niger Delta. The effective porosities of the sands range from 21% -31%, the permeability ranges from 28% -44%, 70% -80% for the net to gross, volume of shale range from 14% -40% and hydrocarbon saturation ranges from 63% -82%. Twelve (12) faults were mapped within the study area and the structural styles revealed a fault assisted closures. The volumetric analysis showed that Sand F had Stock Tank Oil Initially In Place

The growing need for an industrialized world, especially in Africa, cannot be feasible without adequate mineral resources. Thus, the search for more mineral deposits will continue to be necessary. An integrated approach involving geological mapping and a high-resolution geophysical (aeromagnetic) investigation was conducted to assess the manganese mineralization in parts of the Oban Massif, southeast Nigeria. The aeromagnetic data were processed using regional-residual anomaly separation techniques, first vertical derivative (1VD), analytical signals, source parameters imaging (SPI), and Euler deconvolution to better understand magnetic source distributions and their depths of occurrence. The geological investigation revealed a dominant variety of metamorphic rock types, including migmatitic (banded) gneisses hornblende granite gneisses, amphibolites, charnockites, and some quartzite ridges. Also present are some indications of pockets of dolerites. The study area also observed epithermal Mn+Fe+Qtz vein type mineralization associated with hydrothermal alteration zones whose orientation coincides with dominant structural orientation from aeromagnetic interpretation. Analysis of aeromagnetic data shows that the study area is dominated by ENE, NNE, and E-W structural directions (near-surface basement structures), with the ENE trends related to mineralization in the area. The manganese mineralization within Oban Massif is structurally controlled. The depths of the magnetic anomalies in the study area were estimated using SPI and Euler decomposition algorithms. SPI delineated the shallow, intermediate, and deep magnetic anomalies at 84–142 m, 152–200 m, and 215–656 m, respectively. Euler decomposition, however, revealed that shallow, intermediate, and deep depths occurrence of the magnetic anomalies are at 200–377 m, 393–472 m, and 499–793 m, respectively.