| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4728634 | Journal of African Earth Sciences | 2015 | 8 Pages |
•GIS-based mapping approach for bauxite exploration in West Cameroon.•Brightness and textural attributes of Landsat ETM+ imagery to map bauxitic surfaces.•Morphological, mineral and geochemical characterizations of bauxites.
The present study aims at mapping some western Cameroon bauxites combining results of digital processing of satellite data (ETM+ of LandSat) with the geological, structural, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the Foumban area. Two categories of encrusted bauxitic surfaces have been identified: (i) discontinuous surfaces covering a total area of 11.13 km2, and (ii) continuous surfaces overlapping 2.41 km2. Field observations portray discontinuous surfaces with 5.5 m thick bauxitic mantle subdivided into 1.5 m thick discontinuous duricrust lying on 4.0 m thick continuous duricrust. The continuous surfaces are 4.1 m thick bauxitic duricrust. Mineralogical studies showed that the Foumban bauxites exhibit 78–86% of gibbsite, 7–22% of goethite and less than 7% of kaolinite. Geochemically, Al is the most abundant element with 45.6–58.7 wt.% of Al2O3; followed by Fe with 12.9–20.1 wt.% of Fe2O3 and Si with 1.0–3.7 wt.% of SiO2. Element mobility stated with enrichment factor (EF) allows differentiating three chemical elements: strongly depleted with EF < 1 (Si, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Cu, Mn, Zn); strictly enriched with EF > 1 (Al, Fe, Cr); and with irregular depletion and enrichment behavior with EF ± 1 (Nb, Sr, V, Zr). Based on mass-transport function (M), elements decrease as follows:Sr > Nb > Cr > Al > Zr > V > Zn > Fe > Cu > Si > Ca > K = Na > Mg > Mn. The Foumban encrusted bauxites are classified as laterite and iron-rich high grade orth-bauxites with 45.6–58.7 wt.% of Al2O3 and 1.0–3.7 wt.% of SiO2, with bauxite reserves estimated to 75.8 million tons. The mapping approach has shown to be suitable for delineating encrusted bauxitic surfaces within loose laterites in tropical regions.
