Estimation of Curie-point depths, geothermal gradients and near-surface heat flow from spectral analysis of aeromagnetic data in the Loum – Minta area (Centre-East Cameroon)

Abstract

The current study deals with an estimate the Curie point depth, Heat flow and geothermal gradient from spectral analysis of aeromagnetic data in the Loum – Minta area, Centre-East Cameroun. Aeromagnetic data reduce to equator was divided into 5 blocks. All of the blocks overlapped with adjoining blocks by 50 percent and each block analyzed using the spectral centroid method to obtain depth to the top, centroid and bottom of magnetic sources. The depth values were subsequently used to evaluate the Curie-point depth (CPD), geothermal gradient and near-surface heat flow in the study area. The result shows that the CPD varies between 5.22 and 14.35 km with an average of 9.09 km, the geothermal gradient varies between 40.42 and 111.11 °C/km with an average of 72.24 °C/km, and the resulting heat flow varies between 101.05 and 277.77 mW m−2 with an average of 180.59 mW m−2. Such heat flow values are suggestive of anomalous geothermal conditions and are recommended for detailed geothermal exploration.