Understanding the Meaning of the Positive Bouguer Anomaly of Waza (Northernmost Cameroon, Central Africa)

Abstract

Gravity and magnetic data were analyzed in conjunction with available geological data to determine the origin of observed positive gravity anomaly at Waza and its possible relationship to mafic intrusions. The data analysis includes the construction of a Bouguer gravity anomaly, isostatic residual gravity anomaly, total magnetic gradient and Euler solutions maps, and two and one-half dimensional gravity models. A positive gravity anomaly that occurs in Waza has amplitude of 35 mGal and can be separated into two parts. The top of the disturbing body causing the anomaly cannot be deeper than 4 km. We believe the anomaly is probably caused by a body of basaltic rocks lying at the upper surface of the Precambrian basement and originate from a self-propagating disturbance of magmatic loads on a pre-existing zone of lithospheric weakness. Melt migration might have been aided by tectonic and flexural stresses, such that the intrusion is limited in extent to the melting region of the plume and did not reach the surface. The model calculated to satisfy the observed anomaly consists of a 2.5 Km-thick slab underlain by a 10.5 km deep column. This model is interpreted to represent a sheet or saucer-like mafic intrusion that has a thick deep feeder. Detailed geophysical studies would be necessary to locate any possible economic occurrences.

Parameters estimation from the gravity anomaly caused by the two-dimensional horizontal thin sheet applying the global particle swarm algorithm

“…6d. The expected parameters of the body by applying the suggested method convolved with the moving average method have a good agreement with the results accomplished by Albert et al (2019) method.…”

“…Fig. 6a shows a gravity anomaly profile (A-A) collected in the Logone Birni Basin in the West and Central African rift system, Northernmost Cameroon (Albert et al, 2019). This basin is characterized by polyphase rifting isolated by structural tectonic events that can be recognized as regional folding deformation, hiatus of sedimentation and non-conformities in both seismic interpretation and outcrops.…”