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Preliminary Survey for Uranium in Cretaceous Sandstones of Bonako-Sole Areas, Ngondo Complex, Southwestern Cameroon

Received: 3 January 2017    Accepted: 18 January 2017    Published: 27 February 2017
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Abstract

Unconformity-type uranium deposits are characterized by mineralization developed along the contact between younger sandstone cover and underlying crystalline basement rocks. Twenty-five sandstone samples were collected at the Ngondo Complex of southwestern Cameroon along the unconformity contact from Bonako through Nyanga to Sole. Petrographic studies on thin sections revealed the presence of sub-rounded to angular quartz grains (80% grains) and ferruginous cement (20% cement). Some quartz grains also showed evidence of deformation. Radioelement concentrations for U, Th and K were determined by gamma-ray spectrometry. The samples showed the various element concentration ranges; 0.0-3.3ppm U, 5.5-11.1ppm Th and 0.1-1.3% K. Variations in the U, Th and K concentration in the sandstone is related to the bedrock geology. The sandstones were also analysed for 21 associated elements using an X-ray fluorescence analyzer. Most of the samples showed moderate concentrations of CaO, Fe2O3, MgO, TiO2, K2O, Zr, Sr, Nb, Cr and V. Matrix of Pearson’s correlation shows positive correlation between the following; U/Zn; U/Sc, V, Cr; U/Ti; Zn/Nb, Ba, TiO2; Zn/Zr, V/Zn, Rb, Cr, Ba. These reflect the geology of the study area and also suggest the presence of heavy mineral phases like zircon, monazite, rutile.

Published in Earth Sciences (Volume 6, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.earth.20170601.11
Page(s) 1-9
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Unconformity-type, Uranium, Ngondo Complex, Cameroon

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    Juliana Amboh Tifang, Cheo Emmanuel Suh, Ekah Nzume Ndimeh, Ze Achille Desire, Mero Yannah. (2017). Preliminary Survey for Uranium in Cretaceous Sandstones of Bonako-Sole Areas, Ngondo Complex, Southwestern Cameroon. Earth Sciences, 6(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.20170601.11

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    ACS Style

    Juliana Amboh Tifang; Cheo Emmanuel Suh; Ekah Nzume Ndimeh; Ze Achille Desire; Mero Yannah. Preliminary Survey for Uranium in Cretaceous Sandstones of Bonako-Sole Areas, Ngondo Complex, Southwestern Cameroon. Earth Sci. 2017, 6(1), 1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.earth.20170601.11

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    AMA Style

    Juliana Amboh Tifang, Cheo Emmanuel Suh, Ekah Nzume Ndimeh, Ze Achille Desire, Mero Yannah. Preliminary Survey for Uranium in Cretaceous Sandstones of Bonako-Sole Areas, Ngondo Complex, Southwestern Cameroon. Earth Sci. 2017;6(1):1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.earth.20170601.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.earth.20170601.11,
      author = {Juliana Amboh Tifang and Cheo Emmanuel Suh and Ekah Nzume Ndimeh and Ze Achille Desire and Mero Yannah},
      title = {Preliminary Survey for Uranium in Cretaceous Sandstones of Bonako-Sole Areas, Ngondo Complex, Southwestern Cameroon},
      journal = {Earth Sciences},
      volume = {6},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-9},
      doi = {10.11648/j.earth.20170601.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.20170601.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.earth.20170601.11},
      abstract = {Unconformity-type uranium deposits are characterized by mineralization developed along the contact between younger sandstone cover and underlying crystalline basement rocks. Twenty-five sandstone samples were collected at the Ngondo Complex of southwestern Cameroon along the unconformity contact from Bonako through Nyanga to Sole. Petrographic studies on thin sections revealed the presence of sub-rounded to angular quartz grains (80% grains) and ferruginous cement (20% cement). Some quartz grains also showed evidence of deformation. Radioelement concentrations for U, Th and K were determined by gamma-ray spectrometry. The samples showed the various element concentration ranges; 0.0-3.3ppm U, 5.5-11.1ppm Th and 0.1-1.3% K. Variations in the U, Th and K concentration in the sandstone is related to the bedrock geology. The sandstones were also analysed for 21 associated elements using an X-ray fluorescence analyzer. Most of the samples showed moderate concentrations of CaO, Fe2O3, MgO, TiO2, K2O, Zr, Sr, Nb, Cr and V. Matrix of Pearson’s correlation shows positive correlation between the following; U/Zn; U/Sc, V, Cr; U/Ti; Zn/Nb, Ba, TiO2; Zn/Zr, V/Zn, Rb, Cr, Ba. These reflect the geology of the study area and also suggest the presence of heavy mineral phases like zircon, monazite, rutile.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Preliminary Survey for Uranium in Cretaceous Sandstones of Bonako-Sole Areas, Ngondo Complex, Southwestern Cameroon
    AU  - Juliana Amboh Tifang
    AU  - Cheo Emmanuel Suh
    AU  - Ekah Nzume Ndimeh
    AU  - Ze Achille Desire
    AU  - Mero Yannah
    Y1  - 2017/02/27
    PY  - 2017
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.20170601.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.earth.20170601.11
    T2  - Earth Sciences
    JF  - Earth Sciences
    JO  - Earth Sciences
    SP  - 1
    EP  - 9
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5982
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.20170601.11
    AB  - Unconformity-type uranium deposits are characterized by mineralization developed along the contact between younger sandstone cover and underlying crystalline basement rocks. Twenty-five sandstone samples were collected at the Ngondo Complex of southwestern Cameroon along the unconformity contact from Bonako through Nyanga to Sole. Petrographic studies on thin sections revealed the presence of sub-rounded to angular quartz grains (80% grains) and ferruginous cement (20% cement). Some quartz grains also showed evidence of deformation. Radioelement concentrations for U, Th and K were determined by gamma-ray spectrometry. The samples showed the various element concentration ranges; 0.0-3.3ppm U, 5.5-11.1ppm Th and 0.1-1.3% K. Variations in the U, Th and K concentration in the sandstone is related to the bedrock geology. The sandstones were also analysed for 21 associated elements using an X-ray fluorescence analyzer. Most of the samples showed moderate concentrations of CaO, Fe2O3, MgO, TiO2, K2O, Zr, Sr, Nb, Cr and V. Matrix of Pearson’s correlation shows positive correlation between the following; U/Zn; U/Sc, V, Cr; U/Ti; Zn/Nb, Ba, TiO2; Zn/Zr, V/Zn, Rb, Cr, Ba. These reflect the geology of the study area and also suggest the presence of heavy mineral phases like zircon, monazite, rutile.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Institute of Geological and Mining Research, Yaounde, Cameroon

  • Department of Geology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon

  • Department of Geology, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon

  • Institute of Geological and Mining Research, Yaounde, Cameroon

  • Institute of Geological and Mining Research, Yaounde, Cameroon

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