Hydrogeophysical Characteristics of Pan-African Aquifer Specified Through an Alternative Approach Based on the Interpretation of Vertical Electrical Sounding Data in the Adamawa Region,Central Africa

This study was carried out in the Adamawa region, which connects Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Nigeria together. The main objective of this work is to assess the geophysical aspects of the local Pan-African hydraulic conductivity (K), using the vertical electrical sounding technique (VES) as an alternative approach to pumping test. This economical, less-time consuming, and easy-to-process alternative technique provides more accurate hydraulic conductivity values than the traditional pumping test technique. The K values obtained by the VES technique (ranging between 0.4 and 6.0 m/day) match those obtained by the pumping tests results. A thorough analysis of the transmissivity values reveals the existence of two aquifer trends in the region: Trend-1 with transmissivity values ranging from 34.22 to 39.27 m²/day with an average value of 35.44, and Trend-2, with transmissivity values of 7.87–34.44 m²/day with an average value of 16.56. Maps of transmissivity (T), resistivity (ρ), thickness (h), transverse resistance (TR), and hydraulic conductivity (K) of the Pan-African aquifer, derived from quantitative VES data interpretation, are established. These parameters are of paramount importance to the management of groundwater resources. They are important in the sense that geological contexts similar to that of Pan-African aquifer cut across Africa and South America. Therefore, this article will be valuable to regions worldwide that are geologically similar to the Adamawa Region.

     

Distribution of gold and silver and its relation with hypogene ore minerals in the Esperanza porphyry deposit,Antofagasta Region,Chile

Modes of occurrence of Au‐ and Ag‐bearing phases and their relation with associated hypogene ore minerals were examined with the objective to elucidate Au‐Ag distribution at the Esperanza porphyry deposit in the Eocene Centinela copper belt, using ore‐microscope modal analysis, semi‐quantitative analyses by automated mineralogy, electron probe microanalysis, and secondary ion mass spectrometer. The Esperanza hypogene mineralization is characterized by early‐stage chalcopyrite‐rich veinlets in the potassic alteration zone and later polymetallic stage with tennantite and galena in the chlorite‐sericitic alteration zone. Only the early‐stage chalcopyrite contains fine‐grained electrum (Au₆₈Ag₃₂ ‐ Au₈₁Ag₁₉) and hessite (Ag₂Te), and thus yields positive correlations in Cu vs. Au and Cu vs. Ag grades that are clearly recognized in the hypogene sulfide zone. The early‐stage chalcopyrite grains frequently exhibit polysynthetic twinning suggestive of inversion from intermediate solid solution. These features suggest that the fine‐grained electrum and hessite are products exsolved in the cooling process with the intermediate solid solution to chalcopyrite inversion. In contrast, tennantite and galena of the later‐stage mineralization contain no detectable Ag, and it is thus proposed that the early‐stage inverted chalcopyrite is the principal storage of economically important precious metals.     

Understanding the occurrences of fault and landslide in the region of West-Cameroon using remote sensing and GIS techniques

Natural Hazards - Remote sensing was used to visualize the West region with the purpose of investigating recent natural hazards observed in this area. Various approaches used based on...