Lithochemistry, and gold and sulphides chemistry from the Abiete-Toko Gold District in the NW edge Congo Craton, Nyong Complex (SW-Cameroon): Insights into the primary source of alluvial gold deposits and occurrence in the area

Abstract

The Abiete-Toko Gold District (ATGD), in the Nyong Complex, NW edge of the Congo Craton, is one of the numerous Cameroonian mining districts producing alluvial gold. Although numerous works were focused on the ATGD alluvial gold deposits, their primary source(s) remain(s) unknown. This study combines the chemistry of pyrite and chalcopyrite which were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), the chemistry of alluvial gold grains determined by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and whole rock composition determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The results provide the first evidence of gold in the rocks, and its genesis is subsequently discussed. Gold in the ATGD rocks is essentially invisible and lattice bound in pyrite and chalcopyrite, which intake up to 3.11 ppm and up to 32.6 ppm Au, respectively. The gold-bearing metatexites (garnet migmatite) and ultrabasites (serpentinised peridotites) are here therefore, interpreted as possible sources of the ATGD alluvial gold deposits and occurrences. In metatexite, pyrite and chalcopyrite occur within quartz biotite veins, while in ultrabasites pyrite and chalcopyrite are disseminated grains of millimetric sizes, and ovoid or cubic shapes. Gold mineralisation is shear-hosted and, shows evidence of hydrothermal alteration (sulphidation) induced by circulating magmatic and Co-rich (0.01–1.53 %) fluids.