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Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics. 2020, 8(2), 83-93
DOI: 10.12691/JGG-8-2-4
Original Research

Detection of Neotectonic Signatures by Morphometric Analysis of Inkisi Group on Both Banks of the Congo River

Nicy Carmel Bazebizonza Tchiguina1, 2, , Timothée Miyouna1, Hardy Medry Dieu-Veill Nkodia1 and Florent Boudzoumou1, 3

1Laboratory of Geosciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technics, Marien NGOUABI University, B.P.: 69, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

2Geographic Research and Cartographic Production Center (CERGEC), B.P.: 125, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

33National Research Institute in Exact and Natural Sciences (IRSEN), B.P.: 2400, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

Pub. Date: October 11, 2020
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Nicy Carmel Bazebizonza Tchiguina, Timothée Miyouna, Hardy Medry Dieu-Veill Nkodia and Florent Boudzoumou. Detection of Neotectonic Signatures by Morphometric Analysis of Inkisi Group on Both Banks of the Congo River. Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics. 2020; 8(2):83-93. doi: 10.12691/JGG-8-2-4

Abstract

Several studies have stated the possibility of seismic hazards in the Congo Basin area. This study aims to conduct a morphometric analysis of the Inkisi Group which constitutes a part of the subsoil of the south-eastern Republic of Congo (RC) and the south-western part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to detect neotectonic signatures. GIS and ASTER GDEM images have enabled the automatic extraction of morphometric indices, in particular the Hypsometric Integral (HI), the Relative Declivity Extension (RDE) index, along with the hydrographic network and its frequency density. Analysis of the hypsometric distribution of watersheds in the Congo Basin highlights two relief trends. The first relief trend is high (HI>0.5) and is represented by young and abrupt-type basins suggesting rejuvenated relief by neotectonics. The impact of neotectonics in this rejuvenation is evidenced by the RDE index, which reveals that the first order knickpoints in the drainage gradient are mainly located in these watersheds at HI>0.5. The second relief trend is low (HI<0.5) and encompasses the basins tending towards the "equilibrium" stage in which neotectonics is less active. The young basins constitute a NE-SW oriented strip that borders on both sides of the Congo River, thus revealing elevated seismic risk on these two banks. In the Republic of Congo, these young basins perfectly overlap the high lineament density network of the Inkisi group. Moreover, the densest areas of knickpoints in the drainage gradient are located along the course of the Congo River. Thus, the course of the Congo River corresponds with a tectonically active feature; the installation of seismographs along its borders is strongly recommended to better assess the seismic risk associated within it.

Keywords

Neotectonics, Morphotectonics, Knickpoint, Inkisi, Congo

Copyright

Creative CommonsThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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