Mapping of Deep Tectonic Structures of Central and Southern Cameroon by an Interpretation of Surface and Satellite Magnetic Data

Constantin Mathieu Som Mbang,Charles Antoine Basseka,Cyrille Donald Njiteu Tchoukeu,Joseph Kamguia,Marcelin Pemi Mouzong,Jacques Etamè

doi:10.1155/2018/5845670

Constantin Mathieu Som Mbang, Charles Antoine Basseka + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5845670

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the depth of deep tectonic structures observed in the Adamawa-Yadé zone (central part of Cameroon) and propose a new structural map of this area. The horizontal gradient associated with upward continuation and the 3D Euler deconvolution methods have been applied to the Earth Magnetic Anomaly Grid 2 (EMAG2) data from the study area. The determination of the maximum magnitude of the horizontal gradient of the total magnetic intensity field reduced to the equator, in addition to the main contacts deducted by Euler solution, allowed the production of a structural map to show the fault systems for the survey area. This result reveals the existence of two structural domains which is thus confirmed by the contrast of magnetic susceptibility in the Central Cameroon Zone. The suggested depths are in the range of 3.34 km to 4.63 km. The structural map shows two types of faults (minors and majors) with W-E, N-S, NW-SE, NE-SW, ENE-WSW, WNW-ESE, NNE-SSW, and NNW-SSE trending. The major faults which are deepest (3.81 km to 4.63 km) with NE-SW, W-E, and N-S direction are very represented in the second domain which includes the Pangar-Djerem zone. This domain which recovers many localities (Ngaoundéré, Tibati, Ngaoundal, Yoko Bétaré-Oya, and Yaoundé) is associated with the Pan-African orogeny and the Cameroon Volcanic Line.

Highlights

The study area is located in the central part of Cameroon (Central Africa) between 11∘30󸀠00󸀠󸀠E and 15∘30󸀠00󸀠󸀠E and between 3∘00󸀠00󸀠󸀠N and 7∘30󸀠00󸀠󸀠N (Figure 1)
The total magnetic map (TMI) shows the variation of the magnetization field of the body buried under the ground (Figure 3)
The interpretation of magnetic anomalies of the AdamawaYadezone between the Tibati-Banyo fault and the northern limit of the Congo craton has been realized by using Earth Magnetic Anomaly Grid 2 (EMAG2) data

Summary

Introduction

The study area is located in the central part of Cameroon (Central Africa) between 11∘30󸀠00󸀠󸀠E and 15∘30󸀠00󸀠󸀠E and between 3∘00󸀠00󸀠󸀠N and 7∘30󸀠00󸀠󸀠N (Figure 1). This area, with an average altitude of 1200 m, occupies the Adamawa High relief and the southern plateau of Cameroon. Reference [3] proposed a structural map of the Southeast Cameroon They mark out deepest accidents with depth about 3000 m to 4000 m and NW-SE direction. Reference [4] characterized three structural domains in the Southern Cameroon and detected in the Congo craton, the faults which extend over 400 km among Cameroon to Central African Republic (CAR) with W-E, NESW, and ENE-WSW direction. Our work consists of using horizontal gradient associated with upward continuation and 3D Euler deconvolution methods to delineate the deepest

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