Abstract
The bauxite duricrust in the Bangam and surroundings is classified into three major storey levels as follows: the upper level on top of the plateaus where the continuous bauxites outcrop in slabs over distances of about 1 km, the intermediate level on top and at the flanks of the hills where the bauxites flush in metric blocks, the lower level at the talwegs where bauxites duricrust are gravels. The average thickness of the duricrust is 9.6m and extends over an area of about 9.5km2. Five types of facies are encountered here: nodular, pisolitic, pseudobreccia, vacuolar and massive. These different facies were carried out by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, X-ray diffractometric, thermal analysis (ATD / ATG) and by polarizing microscope observation. The results of these analyses show that, gibbsite is the dominant mineral; kaolinite, anatase, hematite, goethite, magnetite and ilmenite are also present. The chemical composition of the major elements that characterize bauxites are 38-60% Al2O3; 2 -22% SiO2 and 9-42% Fe2O3. These values are almost similar to those obtained in Doumbouo-Fokoué, Ghana, Ngaoundal, and Minim-Martap precisely at Briskok prospect. The different minerals paragenesis and geochemistry data show that, the Bangam locality is a bauxite ore deposit in spite of a high content of iron and silicate of some facies, nevertheless, these can be used in some industries.
Highlights
Bauxites are residual rocks containing at least 40% Al2O3, less than 10% SiO2 and 20% Fe2O3 (Bardossy & Aleva 1990) and are recognized as the main supplier of aluminium
The main objective of this study is to explore the Bangam locality, characterize the bauxites indices found there and compare it with others Cameroonians and Africans bauxites
We distinguish three great levels of bauxitization such as: the upper level between 1780-1620m, which are constituted by aboriginal bauxites and continuous at the top of plateaus, the intermediate level between 1620-1540m, this level consists of the bauxites reworked at the top of the hills and on the flanks, between 1540-1400m at this level of the talwegs, one meets crushed duricrust gravels and some boulders
Summary
Bauxites are residual rocks (laterites and karst bauxites) containing at least 40% Al2O3, less than 10% SiO2 and 20% Fe2O3 (Bardossy & Aleva 1990) and are recognized as the main supplier of aluminium. The study of bauxites in tropical regions has already been the subject of several scientific studies by authors such as Eno Belinga (1972), Nyobé (1987) and Momo et al (2012) for Cameroonian bauxites; Boulangé (1984) for Ivorian bauxites and Lucas et al (1989) in Brazil It began in the early 20th century and focused on the characterization and evaluation of well-known indices. In Dounbouo-Fokoué, we have 47.5-49.5% alumina and 7.6% silica These datas indicate that Cameroon has the third bauxitic reserve in the world with approximately 1.5 billion tons, this amount seems to underestimate some unexplored areas where there are bauxite indices in Cameroon SABAP exploration (Weeksteen.1957) and the recent geological map of Cameroon (Ntep, 2009). The main objective of this study is to explore the Bangam locality, characterize the bauxites indices found there and compare it with others Cameroonians and Africans bauxites
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