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Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics. 2020, 8(1), 15-24
DOI: 10.12691/JGG-8-1-3
Original Research

Petrography and Major Element Geochemistry of the Endengue Iron Formations, Ntem Complex, South Cameroon

Robinson Tchatchueng1, , Habib Dadjo Djamo2, Timoléon Ngnotué1, Evine Laure Tanko Njiosseu1, Mamadou Traoré3, Cyriel Moudioh4, Hervé Wabo5, Cédric Djeutchou5 and Jean Paul Nzenti4

1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 67 Dschang, Cameroon

2Institute for Geological and Mining Research, P.O. Box 4110 Yaounde-Cameroon

3University of Çukurova, Department of Geological Engineering, Sarıçam, Adana, Turkey

4Department of Earth Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé

5Department of Geology University of Johannesburg-South Africa, P.O. Box: 524 Auckland Park 2006 Gauteng APK Campus

Pub. Date: March 03, 2020
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Robinson Tchatchueng, Habib Dadjo Djamo, Timoléon Ngnotué, Evine Laure Tanko Njiosseu, Mamadou Traoré, Cyriel Moudioh, Hervé Wabo, Cédric Djeutchou and Jean Paul Nzenti. Petrography and Major Element Geochemistry of the Endengue Iron Formations, Ntem Complex, South Cameroon. Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics. 2020; 8(1):15-24. doi: 10.12691/JGG-8-1-3

Abstract

The Endengue iron formations (IFs) belong to the Archaen Ntem greenstones belt at the NW edge of Congo craton and comprise magnetite-bearing gneiss associated with biotite-pyroxene gneiss and intruded by biotite granite and charnockite. The studied IFs are fine-grained; weak foliated rocks, composed of quartz-pyroxene-magnetite-plagioclase mineral assemblages, suggesting high-grade metamorphism. Whole-rock geochemical composition reveals that iron and silica are the main chemical components of the studied IFs with an average TFe2O3 + SiO2 of 93.06 wt-%, suggesting the purity of the chemical precipitation. In addition, the high average Si/Al (38.69); Fe/Ti (766.83) and Fe/Al (56.36) ratios and the Fe/Ti vs Al/(Al+Fe+Mn) plot suggest that the major components (> 80%) of the Endengue IFs are predominantly hydrothermal in origin. However, the slightly high Al2O3+TiO2 content (average of 2.14 wt-%) suggested a detrital input during their deposition. The studied IF samples with an average Total Fe content of 39.40 wt-%, low gangue (34.68 wt-% SiO2 and 1.05 wt-% Al2O3) and deleterious (P2O5: 0.07 wt-%) elements contents, correspond to accepted commercial low grade siliceous ore by global standards. The Edengue IFs shared chemical similarities with other Precambrian IFs worldwide.

Keywords

iron formation, chemical precipitation, hydrothermal origin, low grade siliceous ore, Ntem complex, southern Cameroon

Copyright

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