This work presents a preliminary mineralogical characterization of Nb-Ta oxide minerals from alluvial placers located in the Ngoura area,eastern Cameroon.The heavy minerals are characteristic of short hydromechanical ...This work presents a preliminary mineralogical characterization of Nb-Ta oxide minerals from alluvial placers located in the Ngoura area,eastern Cameroon.The heavy minerals are characteristic of short hydromechanical transport and highlight the stability of Nb-Ta oxides during the weathering and transport.Nb-Ta mineralization in placer deposits from the Ngoura area may derive from local sedimentation.The assemblage of Nb-Ta oxides in the studied placers consists of tapiolite-(Fe)and tantalite-(Mn).Tapiolite-(Fe)exhibits high concentrations in Ta2O5(78.07-80.46 wt%)and FeO(12.18-13.66 wt%)and plots within a narrow range of Ta*(0.900-0.933)and Mn*(0.037-0.119),which correspond to the ranges typically observed in tapiolite-(Fe)worldwide.Tantalite-(Mn)shows Ta2O5 contents ranging from 62.17 to 69.45 wt%,Nb2O5 from 12.09 to 17.37 wt%,MnO from 7.63 to 12.49 wt%and FeO from 1.48 to 6.62 wt%.It is also characterized by a wider range of Mn<sup>*(0.538-0.891)and relatively homogeneous Ta/(Ta+Nb)(0.683-0.779)ratios.Texturally,the studied Nb-Ta minerals exhibit oscillatory zoning characterized by bright Ta-rich zones alternating with dark Nb-rich zones.This oscillatory zoning is progressive in some minerals and the alternating bands may appear regular to wavy with gradual transitions.Oscillatory zoning in Nb-Ta oxides from the Ngoura placers is considered to be a primary magmatic feature and is tentatively explained as a result of magmas mixing,rapid cooling or degassing/decompression of the igneous system.The geomorphology and the tropical humid climate of the eastern region offer suitable conditions for the deposition of alluvial placers.Therefore,niobium-tantalum minerals from the Ngoura placers must have been sourced from the weathering and erosion of alkaline granites and pegmatites widespread in the study area.展开更多
West Africa is considered a region of low seismicity. However, the monitoring of earthquake activity by local seismic arrays began very early (as early as 1914) in West Africa but seismic catalogs are very incomplete....West Africa is considered a region of low seismicity. However, the monitoring of earthquake activity by local seismic arrays began very early (as early as 1914) in West Africa but seismic catalogs are very incomplete. In 1991, Bertil studied the seismicity of West Africa based on networks of seismic stations in Ivory Coast and neighboring countries. The reference work of Ambraseys and Adams as well as the recent earthquakes given by the international data centres on the seismicity of West Africa were also used for the computations of earthquake hazard parameters. Different earthquake event data have been compiled and homogenised to moment magnitude (</span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">M</span><sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">w</span></sub></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">). The obtained catalog covers a period of over four centuries (1615-2021) and contains large historical events and recent complete observations. The complete catalog part has been subdivided into four complete subcatalogs with each a level of completeness. The minimum magnitude and the maximum observed magnitude are equal to 2.89 and 6.8 respectively for the whole catalog. The seismic code software developed by Kijko was used to calculate the earthquake hazard parameters. The results give a </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">b</span></i></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">value of 0.83 ± 0.08 for the whole period and preliminary seismic hazards curves are also plotted for re</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">turn periods 25, 50 and 100 years. This is a good and practical example</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> showing that this procedure can be used for seismic hazard assessment in West Africa.展开更多
文摘This work presents a preliminary mineralogical characterization of Nb-Ta oxide minerals from alluvial placers located in the Ngoura area,eastern Cameroon.The heavy minerals are characteristic of short hydromechanical transport and highlight the stability of Nb-Ta oxides during the weathering and transport.Nb-Ta mineralization in placer deposits from the Ngoura area may derive from local sedimentation.The assemblage of Nb-Ta oxides in the studied placers consists of tapiolite-(Fe)and tantalite-(Mn).Tapiolite-(Fe)exhibits high concentrations in Ta2O5(78.07-80.46 wt%)and FeO(12.18-13.66 wt%)and plots within a narrow range of Ta*(0.900-0.933)and Mn*(0.037-0.119),which correspond to the ranges typically observed in tapiolite-(Fe)worldwide.Tantalite-(Mn)shows Ta2O5 contents ranging from 62.17 to 69.45 wt%,Nb2O5 from 12.09 to 17.37 wt%,MnO from 7.63 to 12.49 wt%and FeO from 1.48 to 6.62 wt%.It is also characterized by a wider range of Mn<sup>*(0.538-0.891)and relatively homogeneous Ta/(Ta+Nb)(0.683-0.779)ratios.Texturally,the studied Nb-Ta minerals exhibit oscillatory zoning characterized by bright Ta-rich zones alternating with dark Nb-rich zones.This oscillatory zoning is progressive in some minerals and the alternating bands may appear regular to wavy with gradual transitions.Oscillatory zoning in Nb-Ta oxides from the Ngoura placers is considered to be a primary magmatic feature and is tentatively explained as a result of magmas mixing,rapid cooling or degassing/decompression of the igneous system.The geomorphology and the tropical humid climate of the eastern region offer suitable conditions for the deposition of alluvial placers.Therefore,niobium-tantalum minerals from the Ngoura placers must have been sourced from the weathering and erosion of alkaline granites and pegmatites widespread in the study area.
文摘West Africa is considered a region of low seismicity. However, the monitoring of earthquake activity by local seismic arrays began very early (as early as 1914) in West Africa but seismic catalogs are very incomplete. In 1991, Bertil studied the seismicity of West Africa based on networks of seismic stations in Ivory Coast and neighboring countries. The reference work of Ambraseys and Adams as well as the recent earthquakes given by the international data centres on the seismicity of West Africa were also used for the computations of earthquake hazard parameters. Different earthquake event data have been compiled and homogenised to moment magnitude (</span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">M</span><sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">w</span></sub></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">). The obtained catalog covers a period of over four centuries (1615-2021) and contains large historical events and recent complete observations. The complete catalog part has been subdivided into four complete subcatalogs with each a level of completeness. The minimum magnitude and the maximum observed magnitude are equal to 2.89 and 6.8 respectively for the whole catalog. The seismic code software developed by Kijko was used to calculate the earthquake hazard parameters. The results give a </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">b</span></i></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">value of 0.83 ± 0.08 for the whole period and preliminary seismic hazards curves are also plotted for re</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">turn periods 25, 50 and 100 years. This is a good and practical example</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> showing that this procedure can be used for seismic hazard assessment in West Africa.
