Geochemical maturity, litho-tectonic settings and source area paleoweathering characterization of the Cretaceous Mundeck and Mungo River Formation sandstones, North Western, Douala sub basin, West Africa: A petrographic and geochemical approach

Mokake Esue Fidelis; Mary Ewokolo Moloua Etutu; Bisse Salomon Betrant; Bokanda Ekoko Eric; Florence Njinto Kwankam; Victor L. Wotany; Lemnyuy Prosper Yiika; E. Mengu Emmanuel; Njoh, N. Clevis; N. Nfor Shannon; Patrick Mendi Wajiba; Chin Thiery Berinyuy; Kah Odilia Sih; Christorpher M. Agyingi

Solid Earth Sciences (Mar 2024)

Geochemical maturity, litho-tectonic settings and source area paleoweathering characterization of the Cretaceous Mundeck and Mungo River Formation sandstones, North Western, Douala sub basin, West Africa: A petrographic and geochemical approach

Mokake Esue Fidelis,
Mary Ewokolo Moloua Etutu,
Bisse Salomon Betrant,
Bokanda Ekoko Eric,
Florence Njinto Kwankam,
Victor L. Wotany,
Lemnyuy Prosper Yiika,
E. Mengu Emmanuel,
Njoh, N. Clevis,
N. Nfor Shannon,
Patrick Mendi Wajiba,
Chin Thiery Berinyuy,
Kah Odilia Sih,
Christorpher M. Agyingi

Affiliations

Mokake Esue Fidelis: Department of Geology, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, South West Region, Cameroon; Petroleum Geoscience Research Group, Department of Geology, University of Buea, Cameroon; Corresponding authors.
Mary Ewokolo Moloua Etutu: Department of Geology, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, South West Region, Cameroon
Bisse Salomon Betrant: School of Geology and Mining Engineering, University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon
Bokanda Ekoko Eric: Department of Geology, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, South West Region, Cameroon; Petroleum Geoscience Research Group, Department of Geology, University of Buea, Cameroon; Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Buea, Cameroon; Corresponding authors.
Florence Njinto Kwankam: National Higher Polytechnic Institute, University of Bamenda, P.O. BOX 039, Bambili, Cameroon
Victor L. Wotany: Department of Geology, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, South West Region, Cameroon; Petroleum Geoscience Research Group, Department of Geology, University of Buea, Cameroon
Lemnyuy Prosper Yiika: Department of Geology, Mining and Environmental Science, The University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 039, Bamenda, North West Region, Cameroon
E. Mengu Emmanuel: Department of Geology, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, South West Region, Cameroon
Njoh, N. Clevis: Department of Geology, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, South West Region, Cameroon; Petroleum Geoscience Research Group, Department of Geology, University of Buea, Cameroon
N. Nfor Shannon: Department of Geology, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, South West Region, Cameroon; Petroleum Geoscience Research Group, Department of Geology, University of Buea, Cameroon
Patrick Mendi Wajiba: Department of Geology, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, South West Region, Cameroon; Petroleum Geoscience Research Group, Department of Geology, University of Buea, Cameroon
Chin Thiery Berinyuy: Department of Geology, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, South West Region, Cameroon; Petroleum Geoscience Research Group, Department of Geology, University of Buea, Cameroon
Kah Odilia Sih: Department of Geology, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, South West Region, Cameroon; Petroleum Geoscience Research Group, Department of Geology, University of Buea, Cameroon
Christorpher M. Agyingi: Department of Geology, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, South West Region, Cameroon; Petroleum Geoscience Research Group, Department of Geology, University of Buea, Cameroon

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9, no. 1
p. 100164

Abstract

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The Mundeck and Mungo River Formation sandstones located within the Douala sub basin in Cameroon were subjected to both petrographic and geochemical analyses to unveil their geological characterization such as chemical and mineralogical maturity, litho-tectonic setting, climate and weathering intensity of the source area at the time of their formation. Petrographic studies reveals that the sandstones show variable colours ranging from reddish to brownish, pinkish, grey and white with textures ranging from medium to coarse grained. The studied sandstones consist of various types of angular to sub angular, quartz, rock fragments, mica, feldspar. Modal analysis data and plots of detrital modes of the studied sandstones on Qt–F–RF diagrams suggest that they were derived from a plutonic source rock (igneous origin) with little or no contribution from metamorphic sources. Plot of the Qm–F–L diagram of the studied sandstones reveal a quartzose recycled and transitional continental provenance fields. Mineralogical classification of these sandstones from Qt–F–RF triangular diagram classifies them as arkose, lithic arkose and sub-litherarenite. Bivariate plot of Qp/(F + R) vs (Qm + Qp)/(F + R), SiO2 Vs Al2O3 +K2O + Na2O coupled with values of Chemical index Alteration (CIA = 70–99) and plagioclase index Alteration (PIA>80) reveal a moderate to high intensity of weathering in the source area under a semi-humid to humid paleoclimatic conditions with high lixiviation of feldspars (PIA>80 %) for the studied sandstones. The mineralogical maturity index (MMI = 3–9) coupled with the new index of compositional variation (ICVnew <1) reveal that the sandstones are sub mature to mature. Geochemical binary plots of La/Sc, Th/Co, Th/Sc couple with plots of DF1vs DF2 and K2O/Na2O vs SiO2 points to an igneous felsic source rock formed in a passive margin for the studied sandstones.

Published in Solid Earth Sciences

ISSN: 2451-912X (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Science: Geology
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/solid-earth-sciences/

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