Scientific publications
Loudi Yap* (Corresponding author)
Other affiliations: Institute of Geodesy and Cartography · National Radiation Protection Agency of Cameroon
Depesquidoux Tchaptchet Tchato
Joseph Kamguia
Other affiliations: Institute of Geodesy and Cartography · National Radiation Protection Agency of Cameroon
Apollinaire Bouba
Other affiliations: University of Maroua
Open Journal of Geology
The existence of mafic bodies at mid crustal level beneath the Pan-African Central Cameroon Shear Zone is still a matter of debate. To provide additional constrains on this issue, the crust of the west region of Cameroon has been investigated using gravity data. Analyses of these data show N40-50°E oriented iso-anomal contours in the Bafoussam area, interpreted as the N40-50°E branch of the Central Cameroon Shear Zone. In addition, spectral analysis and 2.5D gravity modeling reveal intrusions of mafic bodies at depth between 3.2 and 14.2 km under N40-50°E aligned volcanic centers, namely Mt Bambouto and Mt Mbapit. The above observations suggest a structurally controlled emplacement of the mafic bodies. In the light of the recent geophysical data, the interaction between the NE-ward channel flow operating at the bottom of the lithosphere or the asthenosphere upwelling and the Cameroon Shear Zone could better explain the magma upwelling in the upper crust. This result is the novelty of the present work.
