The Benue Division, located in the North region of Cameroon, is a semi-arid to arid environment that has been subjected to severe floods in 2012 and 2022. Despite the recrudescence of such hazards, suitable flood management strategies are still to be implemented. This study aims at the realization of a suitable flood risk map of the study area. Hence, remote sensing and geopotential field data were processed using GIS (Geographic Information System), Python and Google Earth Engine (GEE) softwares. 11 (eleven) flood-conditioning factors, such as elevation, slope, drainage density (DD), curvature, rainfall, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), topographic wetness index (TWI), distance to rivers (DR), soil, land use land cover (LULC), and geophysical line density (GLD), were integrated based on both Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Random Forest (RF) techniques. A Sentinel-1 layer of the flood period 2022 was used to train our RF model and test both models. Besides, a Landsat-7 flood layer of 2012 was also used as independent test optical layer. Hence, The AUC scores of the multitemporal envelope of both models revealed that the RF model is the more reliable with a value of 0.97 against 0.71 for the AHP model. The flood risk map indicates very low, low, moderate and high classes, covering 44.85%, 39.91%, 5.67%, and 9.57% consecutively; the most flood-risky localities being Bamake, Garoua, and Lagdo. The findings of this study could reinforce flood management policies through the implementation of sustainable land-use planning and improvement of climate resilience.
Embankments constructed over highly compressible soft coastal clays frequently encounter severe stability challenges due to low shear strength and excessive settlement, particularly in high-rainfall regions such as Teknaf, Bangladesh. This study presents an integrated computational framework that couples Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations in Plaxis2D with Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to conduct a systematic parametric investigation and statistical optimization of geotextile-reinforced embankments. Seventy-two numerical simulations were executed by varying embankment height (2-5m), slope angle (14°-45°), and the number of geotextile reinforcement layers (0-5), based on realistic soft coastal clay parameters. The numerical models were validated against the Limit Equilibrium Method, demonstrating strong agreement with discrepancies ranging from 1.0% to 6.8%. The results indicate that geotextile inclusion substantially enhances the safety factor, particularly for higher and steeper configurations, with marginal performance gains decreasing beyond three reinforcement layers. Furthermore, the developed second-order RSM model demonstrated good predictive capability (R2 = 0.9332) and captured important parameter interactions and geometric effects within the studied design space. Within the Teknaf coastal clay conditions considered, the integrated FEM-RSM framework provides predictive relationships and design-oriented insights that may support more cost-effective embankment configurations over soft coastal deposits.
Landslides pose a major hazard to human life, livelihoods, and infrastructure in the Himalayan region of Nepal. There is a general understanding regarding the intensification of landslides due to environmental dynamics and human activities. This study develops a landslide susceptibility map for Bhojpur District, Nepal, using a Random Forest classifier, and conducts a population exposure analysis to identify human vulnerability to potential landslides. Eight critical factors such as elevation, slope, aspect, land cover, distance from roads, distance from streams, distance from rivers, and sediment transport index were incorporated for landslide analysis. These factors, together with a landslide inventory, were used to develop the Random Forest (RF) model. The class imbalance inherent in such studies was addressed through inverse-frequency class weighting, and model performance was evaluated using spatial block cross-validation, ensuring independent evaluation and reducing bias due to spatial autocorrelation. The RF model achieved a pooled Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC-AUC)of 0.798, an Average Precision (AP) score of 0.378 (3.6 times the random baseline), a Balanced Accuracy of 0.669, and an optimal-threshold F1-score of 0.424. The resulting susceptibility map indicates that 93.40% of the district falls within the Very Low Risk category, whereas only 0.61% is classified as High or Very High-Risk. Population exposure analysis based on 2026 projections shows that 140,244 residents (96.99%) occupy Very Low-Risk areas, while only 176 residents (0.12%) live in in High or Very High-Risk zones. This approach offers a spatially reliable method for landslide risk management and risk exposure assessment in resource-limited areas in the Himalayas.
Land use/land cover (LULC) changes are critical determinants of water resource sustainability and food security in savannah landscapes. Understanding LULC change dynamics is crucial for sustainable land management and policy-making. This study evaluated the historical and future LULC change dynamics in the Kampe Omi Dam Basin (KODB), Nigeria. Historical LULC were analysed for 2002, 2014, and 2024 using Landsat imagery processed on Google Earth Engine and classified with a random forest algorithm, achieving high accuracies (overall accuracy: 96.67–98.39%; kappa: 0.95–0.97). Future LULC patterns were projected for 2034, 2044, and 2054 using a multilayer perceptron and Markov chain modelling framework. Cropland expanded by approximately 320 km² between 2002 and 2024 and is projected to occupy more than 82% of the basin by 2054, primarily at the expense of vegetation and transient bare land. Transition probability analysis identified strong conversion pathways from vegetation and bare land to cropland, whereas water bodies exhibited high, long-term stability. Distance to settlements and proximity to streams appear to be the most influential drivers of land conversion, underscoring the dominance of accessibility and water availability over topographic constraints. Future projections indicate continued agricultural intensification under business-as-usual conditions, raising concerns about ecosystem resilience, soil conservation, and watershed sustainability. These findings highlight the need for integrated watershed management that protects the remaining vegetation, guides agricultural expansion, and safeguards water resources through sustainable land-use planning. This study provides spatially explicit evidence to support watershed management and climate adaptation in the KODB and comparable savannah catchments across sub-Saharan Africa.
Aerosols are increasingly recognized as a significant modulator of tropical cyclone (TC) dynamics. Yet, their stage-dependent roles during the pre-landfall (PLF), landfall (LF), and post-landfall (PoLF) stages remain poorly understood, particularly over India. Three high-impact landfalling TCs over the east coast of India, i.e., Hudhud (2014), Titli (2018), and Fani (2019), using the WRF-Chem model with Doppler Weather Radar (DWR’s) radar reflectivity data assimilation are considered in this study. Results suggest exceptional performance of the model in terms of TC intensity and rainfall estimates up to a lead time of 72 h. It is evident that dust, sea salt (SS), and sulphate (SA) play major roles in regulating TC characteristics during different stages. Robust instability and well-organized features are noted for each TC during PLF and LF, except for Hudhud, which suddenly collapsed during the LF and PoLF. This unique feature in Hudhud is attributed to weak radial inflow and outflow, along with weak moisture convergence (MFC) during PoLF, in contrast to other TCs. Results also suggest a systematic, stage-dependent shift in the dominant aerosol regime: SS co-varies with TC intensity and rainfall during PLF and may participate in feedback between strong winds, sea-salt production, and cloud microphysics, with strong updrafts amplifying marine aerosol content, latent heat release, and rainfall intensity. During LF, intense rainfall suppresses aerosol-microphysics feedbacks. In PoLF, there is generally a massive surge in dust and SA within the TC environment due to overwhelming land interactions. In this stage, unique influences are noted for each TC. For Hudhud, dust is a major factor, whereas for Titli and Fani, it is SS due to variations in landfall tracks. Lead-lag correlation analysis further demonstrates that SS precede rainfall and intensity enhancement during PLF, whereas enhanced dust and SA are associated with subsequent weakening, though this co-occurs with land interaction and reduced moisture supply during LF and PoLF.
Natural hydrogen generated by serpentinization of ultramafic rocks has attracted increasing attention as a potential clean energy resource. Recent studies of hydrogen-rich hydrothermal systems beneath deep seafloors, including the Kunlun hydrothermal field in the western Pacific, have suggested that some seafloor depressions and sedimentary conduits may represent explosive hydrogen-release structures associated with large subseafloor hydrogen reservoirs. Here we evaluate the physical and geological feasibility of such interpretations using first-principles thermodynamic, kinetic, hydrological, and geological constraints. Hydrogen generation by serpentinization is thermodynamically favorable over a broad range of crustal conditions and may occur widely wherever water interacts with mantle peridotites. However, hydrogen generation alone does not imply hydrogen accumulation. Molecular hydrogen is highly mobile in aqueous systems and is strongly affected by diffusion, fluid leakage, dilution, and limited oxidant availability under deep-seafloor conditions. Effective long-term preservation additionally requires thick, compacted, low-permeability sedimentary seals, conditions generally absent in many deep-ocean hydrothermal environments characterized by thin, porous, water-rich sediments. Quantitative evaluation indicates that the simultaneous physical and geological conditions required for large explosive hydrogen reservoirs beneath deep seafloors are highly restrictive and are not satisfied in typical soft-sediment hydrothermal settings. Nevertheless, hydrogen accumulation may occur in geological settings where serpentinized mantle is overlain by thick compacted low-permeability sedimentary successions capable of functioning as effective seals. Potential examples include sedimented passive margins, continent–ocean transition domains, and the Bohai–Yellow Sea system, where long-term burial of Yellow River-derived sediments may provide favorable preservation conditions. These results highlight the fundamental distinction between hydrogen generation and hydrogen preservation in subseafloor natural hydrogen systems.
Mineral trapping—the fixation of injected CO2 as carbonate minerals—is a key mechanism for ensuring the long-term safety of geological CO2 storage. The rate of mineral trapping is influenced by the physical properties of the host rock (such as permeability, porosity, and grain size) as well as its chemical properties (including chemical and mineral composition). This paper focuses on the influence of the latter, specifically how alteration-induced changes in mineral composition affect the mineral trapping potential of Green Tuff, a tuffaceous rock formation widely distributed across Japan. We conducted CO2–water–rock reaction experiments on three Green Tuff samples with contrasting alteration mineralogy: one retaining substantial primary augite and plagioclase alongside a minor chlorite-bearing alteration assemblage (SK), one essentially unaltered rhyolitic sample (IO), and one dominated by secondary zeolite and clay with no preserved primary silicate (FT). Over a 14-day reaction period, SK fixed 11.1 g-CO2/kg-rock, IO fixed 3.1 g-CO2/kg-rock, and FT showed no measurable net carbon fixation. These results demonstrate that hydrothermal alteration substantially reduces mineral trapping potential largely independent of bulk Ca + Mg content, and that this reduction persists even where alteration is expected to increase specific surface area. These findings are expected to provide valuable insights for reservoir selection.
This study presents an integrated geochemical analysis of Mesozoic dolerites from two key areas in Mali–Kéniéba and the Taoudeni Basin–within the framework of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP). By applying a single set of trace-element ratios to the published Kéniéba and Taoudeni datasets, it constrains their mantle sources and melting conditions within the West African Craton. The dolerites from both areas are subalkaline tholeiites derived from an enriched, within-plate mantle source with negligible crustal contamination. The Kéniéba suite is more primitive, with La/Nb ≥ 1.47, low TiO₂ (0.76–1.30 wt%) and a narrow (Gd/Yb)N range (1.48–1.62); the Taoudeni suite is more evolved and more variable ((Gd/Yb)N = 1.37–1.98), its compositional range enclosing that of Kéniéba. The two suites thus differ in dispersion rather than in central composition, reflecting a variable range of melting conditions–variable degrees of melting and/or a variable residual-garnet contribution. Placed within the province-wide CAMP classification, neither suite belongs to a single group: the Kéniéba suite is transitional between the Prevalent and Tiourjdal fields, whereas the Taoudeni suite spreads across both. The comparison shows that the two Malian suites share a common enriched, within-plate source that does not require a deep-plume contribution, and constrains how coeval CAMP magmatism varies across the West African Craton.
Classical porosity–depth relationships, beginning with Athy’s exponential law, remain widely used in basin modeling because they provide a simple equilibrium description of mechanical compaction. Their limitation is not their usefulness, but their instantaneous character: porosity is treated as a direct function of depth and therefore lacks an explicit dependence on geological time, relaxation kinetics, temperature, permeability evolution, and pore-pressure feedback. Here we present the Athy–Fernando formulation as a time-dependent constitutive extension of Athy’s equilibrium concept. The model treats porosity as a history-dependent state variable that relaxes toward an equilibrium porosity defined either by depth or by effective stress. The relaxation time may depend on temperature through an Arrhenius-type relation, while porosity controls permeability through a porosity–permeability law. Coupling the constitutive equation to fluid mass conservation and Darcy flow yields a compact compaction-driven source term for excess pore-pressure evolution. A sequence of reproducible one-dimensional numerical tests demonstrates: (i) recovery of the classical Athy trend as the equilibrium limit; (ii) thermal control of the relaxation time; (iii) porosity–permeability coupling; (iv) compaction-driven overpressure generation; (v) the competition between compaction source and hydraulic drainage; (vi) effective-stress feedback; (vii) burial-rate control of disequilibrium compaction; and (viii) robustness with respect to the relaxation time. The resulting framework does not replace classical Athy compaction; it embeds it as a limiting equilibrium state while extending its applicability to transient, thermally controlled, and hydraulically coupled sedimentary systems.
Natural graphite is a chemically inert, non-toxic mineral with exceptional thermal and electrical properties, making it critical for electronics, steelmaking, and lithium-ion batteries. Brazil hosts significant flake, vein, and amorphous graphite deposits and is a top-four producer of graphite. This study examines gangue mineral inclusions in graphite from the Bahia-Minas Graphite Province (BMGP), Brazil’s main graphite-producing region. Graphite occurs within paragneiss and schist of the Jequitinhonha Complex and Macaúbas Group, formed under medium- to high-grade metamorphism. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and in-lens secondary electron imaging, we characterize mineral assemblages and microtextural relationships between graphite and gangue phases to better understand the mineralogy and morphology of gangue mineral impurities, which may cause issues with mineral processing at a later stage. Fourteen samples reveal graphite-bearing rocks with gneissose and mylonitic textures. Kaolinite and quartz dominate gangue minerals within graphite cleavages and interstitial zones, alongside K-feldspar, jarosite, tourmaline, and sillimanite. Sillimanite and biotite confirm amphibolite-facies metamorphism, while kaolinite, smectite, and jarosite indicate retrograde alteration and low-temperature fluid infiltration. Jarosite reflects post-peak oxidation of iron sulfides under acidic conditions, marking supergene weathering or hydrothermal overprinting. In-lens SEM imaging shows stacked graphite flakes intercalated with gangue minerals. Quartz and K-feldspar exhibit mechanically entrapped morphologies, whereas kaolinite appears intergrown, suggesting early diagenetic incorporation or retrograde origin. These observations align with impurity classification models and underscore graphite’s structural sensitivity to processing. Linking gangue morphology and graphite texture informs beneficiation strategies to preserve graphite integrity and refines mineral systems models for BMGP and analogous terranes.
Talc has been recently classified as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2 A) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Some attention regarding mineralogy and geochemistry has focused on powder-based consumer talc products, but industrial talc products have received less attention. This study is the first detailed mineralogical and geochemical investigation on a population (n = 20) of talc crayons. Talc is the dominant material in the crayons with minor amounts of talc fibers occurring. Minor amounts of wonesite are detected by powder X-ray diffraction and identification is supported by bulk Na concentrations and electron microscopy data. Bulk chemical data shows FeOTOT occurs at concentrations of 0.465–0.548 wt% and positively correlates with MgO content, indicating octahedral substitution. Trace metals of environmental health concern do occur but at concentrations lower than upper continental crust. The detailed characterization of this talc product serves as an example for this newly recognized type 2 A carcinogen. This investigation provides materials context for health studies, and product sourcing approaches.
Lava flows are common in Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. In the Iraqi Western Desert (IWD), which neighbours them, no lava flows occur. The IWD and its extension in Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia is almost a flat area, densely dissected by long and shallow valleys, depressions, and lineaments. The IWD is covered by the carbonates of the Ratga Formation of the Eocene age, with thick residual soil and alluvial accumulations in the large valleys and depressions. However, in Jordan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia, the Eocene rocks are covered, locally, by lava flows, including many volcanic cones of Quaternary age. The flows, like “Harrat Ash Sham”, which extends from Syria to Jordan and Saudi Arabia, cover considerable areas. One of the main aims of the current work is to discuss why no lava flows occur in the IWD. However, in the IWD, vast areas are covered by fragments of chert and silicified limestone, which have a very dark brown colour of desert varnish. Those rock fragments show a dark colour in aerial photographs and satellite images. Therefore, some topographic maps of Iraq at a scale of 1:100000 show accumulations of volcanic rocks. We surveyed the borders of Syria and Jordan to check the presence of volcanic rocks, as shown on the topographic maps. We checked all those accumulations in the field using a field lens and HCl, and no volcanic rocks were found; all are either chert or silicified limestone fragments colored by desert varnish.
This study examines the distribution, concentration mechanisms and original provenance of critical and strategic raw materials (C/SRMs) in sediments from three Apenninic rivers of Emilia-Romagna (Nure, Taro and Scoltenna), which drain mixed sedimentary–ophiolitic catchments. Although ophiolitic rocks represent only 1–4% of basin areas, they exert a strong geochemical influence on sediment composition. Grain-size-resolved analyses (sand, fine sand, mud), combined with XRF, ICP-MS measurements and multivariate statistics, reveal that sediment chemistry is primarily controlled by lithological inputs and hydraulic sorting rather than by in-channel alteration. Carbonate fragments dominate coarse fractions, diluting most heavy trace elements, whereas muds concentrate phyllosilicates and display higher weathering indices. Mafic–ultramafic signatures are strongest in the Nure and Taro basins, where Cr, Ni and Mg show significant enrichments linked to detrital spinels, serpentine and chlorite. Downstream increases in Cr and Ni reflecting hydraulic concentration of dense minerals rather than chemical processes. In contrast, chalcophile elements associated with VMS (Volcanogenic Masses Sulphides) mineralization such Cu and Zn show limited enrichment due to rapid sulphide weathering. Lithophile elements such as Li and B display catchment-scale anomalies unrelated to hydraulic upgrading, with B likely sourced from datolite within ophiolitic units. Overall, the rivers faithfully record upstream lithologies, but they do not function as efficient concentrating systems for most C/SRMs such as Ni, Cr, Zn, Cu, B. Their economic potential is therefore selective and largely restricted to coarse ultramafic detritus, whereas the grain-size-resolved geochemical approach remains a powerful reconnaissance tool for identifying mineralised units in mixed geological terrains.
Natural hazards cause significant damage each year in many regions. Among the natural hazards affecting numerous regions—including Salas Babajani County in western Iran—landslides pose a significant threat. Owing to its environmental and tectonic conditions, Salas Babajani County is particularly prone to slope failure. Therefore, this study aims to delineate landslide-susceptibility zones within the county. The analysis employed the Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) model, Relative Weighting Factor method, and SAR interferometry. First, overall landslide-prone areas were mapped; then, special attention was given to areas exhibiting vertical displacement resulting from the 2017 Ezgeleh earthquake. The susceptibility assessment indicates that 25% of Salas Babajani County, primarily its northern sector, falls into high and very high vulnerability classes, with 26 villages (14% of total settlements) located within these high-risk zones. Interferometric analysis of the 2017 seismic event shows vertical displacements between +358mm and –613mm across the study area, with the greatest movements in its northern parts. The integration of datasets revealed that northern Salas Babajani County—where high environmental susceptibility coincides with vertical displacement exceeding 400mm—represents a critical compound hazard zone requiring urgent mitigation. The susceptibility model demonstrated strong predictive capability, with 92.3% of recorded landslides falling within high and very high susceptibility classes. Taken together, the results demonstrate that northern Salas Babajani County, characterized by both unfavorable environmental parameters and pronounced vertical displacement, is highly susceptible to landslides. This integrated approach provides a transferable methodological framework for landslide hazard assessment in other tectonically active mountainous regions worldwide.
The main aim of this paper is to examine the petrogenetic processes controlling the distribution of gold and platinum group elements (Au-PGEs). Au-PGE contents were measured using NiS fire assay combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The peridotites consist of olivine, pyroxene, spinel, and serpentine, displaying porphyroclastic texture that indicates mantle deformation. High concentrations of Ni, Cr, Cu, V, and Co coupled with low rare earth element (REE) abundances, are consistent with an upper mantle origin. Most lherzolites from the Adamawa Plateau (Tello, Addi, Mazele) show IPGEs (Os, Ir, Ru) enrichment relative to PPGEs (Pd, Pt, Rh), low Al2O3 (<2 wt%), and Au < 1 ppb, which is consistent with their origin as low-degree partial melting residues of fertile continental mantle. In contrast, Darang lherzolites exhibit distinct signatures: negative LOI values, high Al2O3 (up to 7.54 wt%), low MgO (∼35 wt%), Cr# approaching 1, IPGE/PPGE < 1, low ΣPGEs (∼2.43 ppb), and elevated Au (up to 42.50 ppb). These differences indicate variable melting degrees and localized metasomatic overprinting. Partial melting appears to control the gross abundance of PGEs, whereas hydrothermal alteration is responsible for the redistribution and local remobilization of gold, particularly at the Darang site. The Adamawa Plateau thus records the heterogeneous lithospheric mantle beneath the Cameroon Volcanic Line. Moreover, this study demonstrates that combined petrographic and geochemical investigations of continental peridotites can provide a deeper, process-based understanding of Au and PGE behavior during mantle petrogenesis.
This study presents a pre-reclamation geochemical assessment of a 67-acre abandoned coal mine site in the upper Hurricane Creek watershed, eastern Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. Reclamation is planned for Fall 2024 under the USDOI/DOL Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program. Over a two-year period (June 2022–May 2024), monthly surface water (SW1–SW10) and quarterly sediment samples (SS1-SS10) were collected from the same ten monitoring stations to evaluate spatial and seasonal contaminant dynamics. Upstream sites (SW1–SW6) exhibited circumneutral pH (7.0–8.3), high conductivity (600–1800 µS/cm), and elevated sulfate concentrations (100–1200mg/L), with evidence of seasonal dilution during winter months. In contrast, retention pond sites (SW8–SW10) displayed persistent acidity (pH 3.0–3.5) and elevated trace metal concentrations. Site SW7, hydrologically disconnected from acid mine drainage sources, showed lower conductivity and higher pH values. Inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry analysis revealed elevated aluminum, manganese, nickel, and iron concentrations at SW8–SW10, regularly exceeding drinking water standards with peak concentrations of >4, 29, 0.2, and 2mg/L, respectively.Sediment particle size analysis classified sediments collected at SS1–SS6 and SS8 as sand-dominated, whereas SS7, SS9, and SS10 were silt-dominated. Microwave nitric acid digestion (EPA 3051A) indicated highest total iron concentrations at SS10. Metal extractability exhibited grain-size dependence, with sand-dominated sediments showing higher extractable iron, manganese, and nickel, while silt-sized sediments showed higher extractable aluminum, due to mineralogical controls.These findings highlight chronic acid mine drainage impacts at SS8–SS10 and provide baseline geochemical data to inform targeted remediation and post-reclamation monitoring under the AMLER Program.
The demand for mineral resources has led to excavation at deeper levels, which can cause seismic events that may result in rockburst damage. Rockburst damage poses a danger in mining and underground excavation. Because of this danger, rockburst has attracted research to study various aspects of rockburst, including its nature of occurrence, assessment of damages, and suggestions for mitigation measures. Studies encompass reviews, field and laboratory experiments, and numerical modeling. Kiirunavaara mining, at depths below 1km, is experiencing seismic events and rockburst damages, leading to field tests to evaluate rock support performance under dynamic loading. The rock supports installed are shotcrete and swellex rock bolt. The field test was supported by numerical modeling that coupled LS-DYNA and UDEC. The LS-DYNA used to simulate dynamic loading while the UDEC used to simulate rock mass and rock supports. The results of both were compared and used to evaluate the performance of rock supports i.e shotcrete and swellex rock bolts. Both numerical modeling and field test results showed similar trends in velocity at the wall, damage inside the rock mass, and the effectiveness of rock supports. The rock supports were robust enough to withstand the damages, with only a few minor cracks in the shotcrete surface. This proves that numerical modeling can be used to evaluate rock support performance
The eastern region of Cameroon, rich in gold resources, remains underexplored due to the geological complexity of the Pan–African basement and the scarcity of outcrops. This study aims to identify the structures controlling gold mineralization in the Batouri district by integrating gravity analyses, field observations, structural mapping, and petrographic studies. Terrestrial gravity data and the global EGM2008 model were used to detect density contrasts at different scales, allowing the identification of faults, shear zones, and intrusive bodies potentially controlling mineralization. Field investigations revealed biotite granite outcrops that are cut by fractured and altered quartz veins, together with swampy areas conducive to the accumulation of alluvial gold. Petrographic analyses show a predominance of quartz and feldspars, consistent with the occurrence of primary gold mineralization. The synthetic structural map highlighted three main lineament trends (N77–90°E, N30–60°E, and N105–120°E), providing a precise framework for designing targeted exploration grids. The integration of gravity, structural, and petrographic data reduces uncertainties in deposit localization, optimizes exploration campaigns, and guides prospecting towards the most favorable areas. These findings provide a solid basis for future detailed investigations, contributing to a better understanding of lithostructural controls on gold in a complex geodynamic context and supporting economically viable gold exploration projects.
The Ngaoundal area faces a growing shortage of drinking water due to limited knowledge and management of existing aquifers. This study evaluates the hydrogeological potential of Ngaoundal using an integrated approach combining geoelectrical methods and remote sensing. A total of 51 vertical electrical soundings (VES) were conducted, identifying ten distinct curve types (Q, HK, KH, H, KQ, QH, HKH, K, KQH, and QHK) classified according to depth and resistivity. Apparent resistivity maps and VES analyses indicate lateritic soils at the surface, sandy-clayey soils at intermediate depths, and fractured or intact granitic bedrock at depth. Four 2D resistivity pseudo-sections reveal low (ρ < 350 Ω·m), medium (350 ≤ ρ ≤ 1800 Ω·m), and high resistivity (ρ ≥ 1800 Ω·m) zones, corresponding to weathered materials, fractured granites, and intact bedrock, respectively. Derived hydraulic parameters show hydraulic conductivity of 1.18–3.8 m/day, porosity of 21.34–29.18%, longitudinal conductance (S) of 0.029–0.030 Ω⁻¹ , and transmissivity of 11.85–22.27 m²/day. Lineament mapping highlights a fracture network oriented mainly N045°E–N060°E and secondarily N020°E–N045°E, influencing aquifer distribution. Two aquifer types were identified: weathered (overlying) and fractured (bedrock) aquifers. Integration of geophysical, hydraulic, and structural data allowed the delineation of hydrogeological potential zones: the southern sector is highly favorable, the central sector moderately favorable, and the northern sector poorly favorable for groundwater exploitation. This integrated methodology provides a robust framework for sustainable water resource management and the strategic planning of water supply infrastructure in crystalline terrain regions.
A formation evaluation was carried out on Cenomanian–Eocene sandstone reservoirs in three offshore exploration wells (N1, N2, N3) of the Douala Sub-Basin, Cameroon. A fully reproducible Python-based workflow was designed to assess reservoir quality, applying transparent Jupyter routines for electrofacies classification, shale-volume correction, and petrophysical property estimation (ϕ, ϕe, Sw, k). The workflow integrates GR–RHOB–NPHI–Rt pattern recognition, multi-log cross-plots, and shaly-sand saturation models to differentiate fluids and quantify net pay, while maintaining a complete digital audit trail that allows rapid reprocessing when new data become available. Results show that reservoir quality and fluid content vary significantly across wells and intervals. Several units exhibit good to very good porosity and permeability yet fail pay criteria due to high water saturation. The only interval meeting all cutoffs is A3 in Well N2, which demonstrates favorable petrophysical characteristics (ϕe ≈ 10.5 %, Sw ≈ 59 %, k ≈ 686 mD), establishing it as the principal pay zone. Reservoir heterogeneity is strongly facies controlled: blocky to cylindrical motifs interpreted as channel/bar sands exhibit high net:gross, strong resistivity separation, and movable hydrocarbons, whereas serrated heterolithic intervals contain elevated shale content and capillary-bound water that reduce effective reservoir performance. Cross-well electrofacies mapping highlights consistent trends across the margin, showing that depositional architecture, shale distribution, and facies-dependent diagenesis dictate reservoir behavior. These insights refine net-pay prediction, help avoid misclassification of water-wet intervals, guide perforation strategies, and identify where advanced logs or testing can reduce uncertainty in future well decisions across the Douala/Kribi Campo margin.
