The mineralization potential of the I-type granites from Misajé pluton (NW-Cameroon): AMS and geochemical constraints

Abstract

The I-type Pan-African Misajé granites, situated in the Western domain of the Central African Fold Belt are among the late-to post tectonic granites that intruded the ante-Pan-African country rocks. In this study, magnetic susceptibility and geochemistry data are integrated to evaluate the productive and non-productive metal potential of these I-type plutonic granites, which comprise Leucocratic granite, Biotite granite, Biotite-hornblende granite, and granodiorites. The magnetic susceptibility of the representative rock samples of the Misajé pluton ranges from 0.001 × 10⁻³ SI to 33.2 × 10⁻³ SI. These values indicate the coexistence of both magnetite and ilmenite-series. The magnetite-series (>3 × 10⁻³ SI; oxidized type) constitute about 32 vol.% while the ilmenite-series (<3 × 10⁻³ SI; reduced type) represent 68 vol.%. These magnetite-series vary from small MD (Ms ≤ 1) to coarse PSD (Ms > 1) grains sizes. The Misajé plutonics are high potentially productive in Zn, Th, ilmenite, and magnetite and low productive in Sn, W and Cu though their extension remains limited, probably due to the remobilization of the ancient Paleoproterozoic crust that would have contributed to the dispersing of pre-Pan-African metal deposits.