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Regional Hydrogeochemical Mapping for Environmental Studies in the Mineralized Lom Basin, East Cameroon: A Pre-industrial Mining Survey

Published in Hydrology (Volume 5, Issue 2)
Received: 19 April 2017     Accepted: 27 April 2017     Published: 26 June 2017
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Abstract

The present study is the first appraisal of regional hydrogeochemical programme for environmental assessment of the mineralized Lom Basin in East Cameroon. Fifty-two streamwater samples were collected and analysed for major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+) and major anions (HCO3, F–, Cl, NO2, NO3, Br, PO43–, SO42–). Calcium and HCO3 were the dominant ions. The chemical facies for the surface water were CaHCO3 and NaHCO3 types indicating a fresh water source. Major ion geochemistry demonstrated the potential to discriminate between natural and anthropogenic origins. Calcium ion, Mg2+, Na+, K+and HCO3 had similar distribution trends reflecting weathering from the parent rocks. Sulphate distribution correlated with the occurrence of sulphide minerals associated with hydrothermal gold mineralization in the area while the distribution patterns of NO3and Cl reflected pollution from domestic activities within the municipality. Overall, the chemistry of stream water in the Lom Basin is mainly controlled by silicate weathering with only minor anthropogenic influence. This study forms an analogue for hydrogeochemical mapping in other mineralized terrains in Cameroon.

Published in Hydrology (Volume 5, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.hyd.20170502.11
Page(s) 15-31
Creative Commons

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.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Hydrogeochemical Survey, Major Ions, Provenance, Lom Basin, Cameroon

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    Mumbfu Ernestine Mimba, Takeshi Ohba, Salomon César Nguemhe Fils, Mengnjo Jude Wirmvem, Edith Etakah Bate Tibang, et al. (2017). Regional Hydrogeochemical Mapping for Environmental Studies in the Mineralized Lom Basin, East Cameroon: A Pre-industrial Mining Survey. Hydrology, 5(2), 15-31. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20170502.11

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    ACS Style

    Mumbfu Ernestine Mimba; Takeshi Ohba; Salomon César Nguemhe Fils; Mengnjo Jude Wirmvem; Edith Etakah Bate Tibang, et al. Regional Hydrogeochemical Mapping for Environmental Studies in the Mineralized Lom Basin, East Cameroon: A Pre-industrial Mining Survey. Hydrology. 2017, 5(2), 15-31. doi: 10.11648/j.hyd.20170502.11

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    AMA Style

    Mumbfu Ernestine Mimba, Takeshi Ohba, Salomon César Nguemhe Fils, Mengnjo Jude Wirmvem, Edith Etakah Bate Tibang, et al. Regional Hydrogeochemical Mapping for Environmental Studies in the Mineralized Lom Basin, East Cameroon: A Pre-industrial Mining Survey. Hydrology. 2017;5(2):15-31. doi: 10.11648/j.hyd.20170502.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.hyd.20170502.11,
      author = {Mumbfu Ernestine Mimba and Takeshi Ohba and Salomon César Nguemhe Fils and Mengnjo Jude Wirmvem and Edith Etakah Bate Tibang and Melvin Tamta Nforba and Festus Togwa Aka},
      title = {Regional Hydrogeochemical Mapping for Environmental Studies in the Mineralized Lom Basin, East Cameroon: A Pre-industrial Mining Survey},
      journal = {Hydrology},
      volume = {5},
      number = {2},
      pages = {15-31},
      doi = {10.11648/j.hyd.20170502.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20170502.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hyd.20170502.11},
      abstract = {The present study is the first appraisal of regional hydrogeochemical programme for environmental assessment of the mineralized Lom Basin in East Cameroon. Fifty-two streamwater samples were collected and analysed for major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+) and major anions (HCO3–, F–, Cl–, NO2–, NO3–, Br–, PO43–, SO42–). Calcium and HCO3– were the dominant ions. The chemical facies for the surface water were CaHCO3 and NaHCO3 types indicating a fresh water source. Major ion geochemistry demonstrated the potential to discriminate between natural and anthropogenic origins. Calcium ion, Mg2+, Na+, K+and HCO3– had similar distribution trends reflecting weathering from the parent rocks. Sulphate distribution correlated with the occurrence of sulphide minerals associated with hydrothermal gold mineralization in the area while the distribution patterns of NO3–and Cl– reflected pollution from domestic activities within the municipality. Overall, the chemistry of stream water in the Lom Basin is mainly controlled by silicate weathering with only minor anthropogenic influence. This study forms an analogue for hydrogeochemical mapping in other mineralized terrains in Cameroon.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Regional Hydrogeochemical Mapping for Environmental Studies in the Mineralized Lom Basin, East Cameroon: A Pre-industrial Mining Survey
    AU  - Mumbfu Ernestine Mimba
    AU  - Takeshi Ohba
    AU  - Salomon César Nguemhe Fils
    AU  - Mengnjo Jude Wirmvem
    AU  - Edith Etakah Bate Tibang
    AU  - Melvin Tamta Nforba
    AU  - Festus Togwa Aka
    Y1  - 2017/06/26
    PY  - 2017
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20170502.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.hyd.20170502.11
    T2  - Hydrology
    JF  - Hydrology
    JO  - Hydrology
    SP  - 15
    EP  - 31
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7617
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20170502.11
    AB  - The present study is the first appraisal of regional hydrogeochemical programme for environmental assessment of the mineralized Lom Basin in East Cameroon. Fifty-two streamwater samples were collected and analysed for major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+) and major anions (HCO3–, F–, Cl–, NO2–, NO3–, Br–, PO43–, SO42–). Calcium and HCO3– were the dominant ions. The chemical facies for the surface water were CaHCO3 and NaHCO3 types indicating a fresh water source. Major ion geochemistry demonstrated the potential to discriminate between natural and anthropogenic origins. Calcium ion, Mg2+, Na+, K+and HCO3– had similar distribution trends reflecting weathering from the parent rocks. Sulphate distribution correlated with the occurrence of sulphide minerals associated with hydrothermal gold mineralization in the area while the distribution patterns of NO3–and Cl– reflected pollution from domestic activities within the municipality. Overall, the chemistry of stream water in the Lom Basin is mainly controlled by silicate weathering with only minor anthropogenic influence. This study forms an analogue for hydrogeochemical mapping in other mineralized terrains in Cameroon.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, Tokai University, Hiratsuka, Japan

  • Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, Tokai University, Hiratsuka, Japan

  • Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IRGM), Yaounde, Cameroon

  • Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IRGM), Yaounde, Cameroon

  • Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IRGM), Yaounde, Cameroon

  • School of Geology and Mining Engineering, University of Ngaoundere, Ngaoundere, Cameroon

  • Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IRGM), Yaounde, Cameroon

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