Mineralogy and geochemistry study of the Nyong River sediments, SW Cameroon: Implications for provenance, weathering, and tectonic setting

Autor: Gabriel Ngueutchoua, Aristide Nadine Sonfack, Robinson Tchatchueng, David Guimolaire Nkouathio, Francis Temgo Sopie, T. Njanko, Yannick Steve Ngagoum Kontchipe, Gatien Romuald Kenfack Nguemo
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Arabian Journal of Geosciences. 14
ISSN: 1866-7538
1866-7511
Popis: Texture, mineralogy, heavy minerals, and major and trace elements, including REE, from surface sediment samples collected along the Nyong River (NR) were analyzed in the current study to characterize and discuss the intensity of weathering, provenance, and tectonic settings of the source area and estimate the chemical features that reflect the parental rocks, known from literature. The sediments are mainly fine- and coarse-grained sands, and the mineralogy is predominantly composed of quartz, accompanied by kaolinite, illite, opaque oxides, kyanite, rutile, zircon, tourmaline, sillimanite, garnet, and hypersthene. Geochemically, the sediments are classified as Fe–shale, Fe–sand, and quartz arenite. The CIA, PIA, CIW, and the A–CN–K and (A–K)–C–N plots indicate the high intensity of chemical weathering. The values of SiO2/Al2O3, Al2O3/Na2O, K2O/Na2O, ICV, and the ZTR index indicate the maturity of many samples. Most of the sediment samples experienced recycling, as revealed by the Al2O3–TiO2–Zr plot. Several bivariate plots such as Zr vs TiO2 and Th/Co vs La/Sc, and the REE pattern and size of Eu, indicate derivation from a source area composed mostly of intermediate and felsic rocks and, in a lesser extent, of mafic source rocks. Tectonic discriminant diagrams based on major and trace elements indicate rift and passive margin settings, which is consistent with several tectonic history models of the Ntem complex and the Pan-African belt.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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