Abstract
The Congo Craton is a well-known mineralized Province in Africa being host to a wide variety of mineral deposits. Exploration work in the Nyong Series over the years has yielded only gold and iron prospects. Analysis of 460 regional soils and 60 stream sediment samples revealed new mineral prospects in the area. Au content ranges from below detection limit (bdl) to 216 ppb and bdl to 18.1 ppm in soil and stream sediments, respectively. Ag contents are within the range of 5 ppb to 237 ppb in soils and from 0.01 to 1.02 ppm in stream sediments. An uncommon positive correlation is noticed between Au and U in the soils while Au–Ag correlation is observed in stream sediments. La attains a maximum concentration of 123,500 ppb in soil and >1.5% in stream sediments implying a possible mineralization of La in this study area. Principal component analysis (PCA) presents loadings of high field strength elements and chalcophile elements in factors 1 and 2 of both soil and stream sediments illustrating input from the catchment geology. Factor maps turn out a single anomaly for Au–U in soil. Streams draining the Bidou prospect yield wider Au anomalies within the prospect. Surficial geochemical maps display Bidou hill as a single urge prospect with possible disseminated mineralization throughout the entire hill. Other potential minerals of interest within Bidou prospect include Ag, Cu, Th, U, and REEs.
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