Source of metals related to gold occurrences in Cameroon, Central African Belt

IF 1.4 4区地球科学 Q3 GEOCHEMISTRY & GEOPHYSICS

Acta Geochimica Pub Date : 2024-02-21 DOI:10.1007/s11631-023-00669-9

Kevin Igor Azeuda Ndonfack, Jinlin Zhang, Yuling Xie, N. Samiratou Yaya, Emmanuel Archelaus Afanga Basua

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Abstract

Suites of granitic and metamorphic rocks form a perfect geological environment in which to investigate the source of metals related to gold deposits. In the East Province of Cameroon, the source of metals-related gold (grade ~ 4.6 g/t) that occurs within metamorphic and granitic rocks remains ambiguous. The host rocks were subjected to XRF and ICP-MS whole-rock geochemistry and BSE/EDS mineral analyses to investigate the source(s) of metals related to gold in the Province. Petrographically, chalcopyrite-pyrite and magnetite-ilmenite are the main sulfides and oxides of granites, respectively. The low-grade metamorphic rocks are sulfide-rich consisting of arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, and sphalerite, and oxides include magnetite, ilmenite, hematite, and rutile. Cu, Ni, Co, Sb, Sc, and Zn concentrations depleted in high-grade metamorphic rocks and granites compared to low-grade metamorphic rocks. As well, Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Sb, V, W, and Zn concentrations decrease with increasing temperatures from low-grade rocks to high-grade rocks and granites. The suite of depleted elements in high-grade rocks and granites is almost identical to those enriched in gold occurrences. We conclude that metals (Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Sb, and Zn) related to gold mineralization in the East Province of Cameroon likely originated from metal-rich low-grade metamorphic rocks during prograde metamorphic processes prior to partial melting.

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中部非洲地带喀麦隆金矿相关金属的来源

花岗岩和变质岩套房为研究与金矿床有关的金属来源提供了绝佳的地质环境。在喀麦隆东部省，变质岩和花岗岩中与金属有关的金（品位约为每吨 4.6 克）的来源仍然不明确。对主岩进行了 XRF 和 ICP-MS 全岩地球化学和 BSE/EDS 矿物分析，以调查该省与金有关的金属来源。从岩相上看，黄铜矿-黄铁矿和磁铁矿-钛铁矿分别是花岗岩的主要硫化物和氧化物。低品位变质岩富含硫化物，包括黄砷矿、黄铜矿、黄铁矿和闪锌矿，氧化物包括磁铁矿、钛铁矿、赤铁矿和金红石。与低品位变质岩相比，高品位变质岩和花岗岩中的铜、镍、钴、锑、钪和锌浓度降低。此外，从低品位岩石到高品位岩石和花岗岩，Bi、Cd、Co、Cu、Ni、Sb、V、W 和 Zn 的浓度随着温度的升高而降低。高品位岩石和花岗岩中的贫化元素与金矿床中的富化元素几乎相同。我们的结论是，喀麦隆东部省与金矿化有关的金属（Bi、Cd、Co、Cu、Ni、Sb 和 Zn）很可能源自部分熔融之前的级变质过程中富含金属的低品位变质岩。

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来源期刊

Acta Geochimica GEOCHEMISTRY & GEOPHYSICS-

CiteScore

2.80

自引率

6.20%

发文量

1134

期刊介绍： Acta Geochimica serves as the international forum for essential research on geochemistry, the science that uses the tools and principles of chemistry to explain the mechanisms behind major geological systems such as the Earth‘s crust, its oceans and the entire Solar System, as well as a number of processes including mantle convection, the formation of planets and the origins of granite and basalt. The journal focuses on, but is not limited to the following aspects: • Cosmochemistry • Mantle Geochemistry • Ore-deposit Geochemistry • Organic Geochemistry • Environmental Geochemistry • Computational Geochemistry • Isotope Geochemistry • NanoGeochemistry All research articles published in this journal have undergone rigorous peer review. In addition to original research articles, Acta Geochimica publishes reviews and short communications, aiming to rapidly disseminate the research results of timely interest, and comprehensive reviews of emerging topics in all the areas of geochemistry.