Characteristics of lineaments using gravity data in the Eastern Cameroon: Structural, hydrogeological and natural risks implications

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The East region of the Cameroon is situated in the Adamaoua Yadé Domain, which is composed of CCSZ (Central Cameroon Shear Zone) and Sanaga fault that induced many tectonic movements affecting the studied area. The faults caused by these movements are not yet described. The aim of this work is to improve the knowledge of the tectonic structures in the study area (especially faults) through the exploitation of Bouguer anomaly in view of proposing a structural map that will be useful in the prevention of natural catastrophes related to faults and for hydrogeological prospection. In order to characterize these structures, two methods have been used: the multi-scale analysis of the maxima of the horizontal gradient and the Euler's deconvolution methods. The superposition of Euler's solutions to the maxima of the horizontal gradient extended upwards at several altitudes allowed to highlight the gravity lineaments that are either faults or linear contacts and to draw a structural map of the study area. From the map obtained, thirty eight lineaments have been identified, from which twenty seven linear contacts and eleven faults, which have the depth situated between 5 and 10 km, 15 and 20 km, 15 and 25 km, and 20 and 25 km. The analysis revealed that the deepest faults can constitute a natural risk in the study area. These deep faults require a monitoring within the framework of civil protection. The structural map, combined with the water system and boreholes helped to identify potential productive boreholes. The structural map obtained increases the geologic knowledge of the area and constitutes a useful document in natural risk prevention and the siting of boreholes.