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

Mumbfu Ernestine Mimba; Takeshi Ohba; Salomon César Nguemhe Fils; Mengnjo Jude Wirmvem; Edith Etakah Bate Tibang; Melvin Tamta Nforba; Festus Togwa Aka

doi:doi:10.11648/j.hyd.20170502.11

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

Mumbfu Ernestine Mimba, Takeshi Ohba, Salomon César Nguemhe Fils, Mengnjo Jude Wirmvem, Edith Etakah Bate Tibang, Melvin Tamta Nforba, Festus Togwa Aka

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^–, PO₄^3–, SO₄^2–). 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.}

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

References

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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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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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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

Mumbfu Ernestine Mimba

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

Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, Tokai University, Hiratsuka, Japan
Salomon César Nguemhe Fils

Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IRGM), Yaounde, Cameroon
Mengnjo Jude Wirmvem

Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IRGM), Yaounde, Cameroon
Edith Etakah Bate Tibang

Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IRGM), Yaounde, Cameroon
Melvin Tamta Nforba

School of Geology and Mining Engineering, University of Ngaoundere, Ngaoundere, Cameroon
Festus Togwa Aka

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