International Journal of Geophysics

The version three of Earth Magnetic Anomaly Grid (EMAG2-v3) used in this work is aimed at establishing the spatial relationships between tectonic structures and gold and associated mineralization in the Pangar-Djérem area, central and southern Cameroon. Various processing and transformation of image data such as the reduction to the equator, horizontal gradient, generalized derivative, and pseudogravity allowed the identification and delineation of numerous faults related to Syn-D1, Syn-D2, and Syn-D3 deformations. The main orientations, W-E, SW-NE, and SE-NW, obtained from these faults define the intensity of the Pan-African and Eburnian tectonics in the Cameroonian basement. Correlations between mapped faults and mineral occurrences define a structural control of gold mineralization in the study area. Furthermore, the spatial relationships between these faults and the igneous/metasedimentary rocks demonstrate that the Eburnian and Pan-African orogenies favoured the circulation of gold-enriched fluids along faults and shear zones. Gold mineralization in the Pangar-Djérem zone is of the vein type (primary gold), resulting from the intrusion of type I granites and the circulation of enriched fluids in a brittle to ductile shear context. The pseudogravity anomalies associated with the sedimentary deposits/rocks and the SW-NE structures of the Sanaga and Bétaré-Oya Faults define an environment of detrital sedimentary deposits, consisting of metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks, and justify the existence of gold-bearing quartz veins.

We assessed earthquake source parameters compiled from previous studies and international databases. In addition, moment tensor inversion is made from the broadband seismic data of two earthquakes that occurred in the region in 2017 and 2018 with magnitudes Mw 5.0 and 5.1, respectively. As a result, the two events’ reliable source parameters are retrieved. We found that earthquakes are distributed in the rift floor, at margins and adjacent plateaus. Because the majority of earthquakes occur on the rift floor, deformation is most likely caused by strain accumulation transferred from border faults to magmatic segments along the rift floor. Predominantly normal faulting is observed, but some strike-slip events are also observed. Normal faulting mechanisms are consistent with major plate divergence, whereas the strike-slip components observed in the region might be associated with the counterclockwise rotation of the Danakil microplate, and the mechanism would indicate an oblique-slip deformation between the Nubian plate and the Danakil microplate. However, the focal mechanism obtained from the moment tensor inversion for the Mw 5.1 event indicates dominant normal faulting accompanied by a minor strike-slip component at the western margin of Afar, whereas the Mw 5.0 event has a significant strike-slip component at the central part of MER. The majority of focal depths of earthquakes are found within the upper crust, including the 2017 (Mw 5.0) event with a focal depth of 9.7 km that was computed using moment tensor inversion. A significant number of earthquakes are also found within the lower crust, including the 2018 (Mw 5.1) event with a focal depth of 20.2 km. However, earthquakes with focal depths within the upper mantle are also found in the compiled international database, which may not be consistent with the previously published works in the region. The observed focal depth may suggest a widespread deformation throughout the upper and lower crusts, implying that magmatic intrusions and faulting play a central role in facilitating the seismicity of the main Ethiopian rift (MER). The current investigation will provide further information on the earthquake source parameters and seismogenic depth of earthquake occurrence in the MER.

In this paper, we presented the effect of moderate geomagnetic storms on the TEC variation at the Koudougou station (Geo Lat 12° 15 N; Geo Long: -2° 20 E) in Burkina Faso (Africa) during the descending phase of solar cycle 24. For this purpose, four moderate geomagnetic storms without storm sudden commencement (SSC) or sudden impulse (SI) that occurred on May 13, 2015 (Dst: -76 nT), June 08, 2015 (Dst: -73 nT), September 11, 2015 (Dst: -80 nT), and May 08-09, 2016 (Dst: -88nT), were considered. These moderate storms were found to be associated with transients induced by fast solar winds. At the Koudougou station, TEC variation shows a positive response to the different moderate geomagnetic storms studied, with increases of order of 2-21 TECU around 1300-1500 UT except for September 11, 2015, TEC variation which shows sometimes negative responses at a few hours (mainly at night). TEC increases observed are a function of geomagnetic parameter (magnitude and polarity) variation. Storm-induced electric field and neutral winds are the main drivers of TEC changes observed during the selected geomagnetic storms. In addition, it was found that the TEC peak on storm day behaves differently compared to the days before and after the storm depending on whether Dst is positive or negative before southward inversion. Indeed, a TEC small peak relative to the days before and after the storm is observed when Dst is negative before southward inversion, and a larger peak occurs in the opposite case. The reasons for these differences are not investigated in this paper.

In recent years, dozen low-intensity earthquakes occurred in southern Garut, West Java Indonesia; two of them were reported destructive. However, those shallow earthquake clusters are hardly associated with well-known active faults in the area. Hence, we conducted 3D gravity combined with 2D magnetotellurics (MT) inversions to study the subsurface. Gravity and MT modeling confirm a basin with around 5 km depth consisting of two subbasins separated by a NE-SW trending local-high ridge. The local high coincides with the magmatic intrusion in geothermal fields and aligns with a series of volcanic bodies’ lineament observed on the surface. We interpret this structural high as a preexisting fault that serves as a magma pathway in the tectonomagmatic interaction. Shallow low-magnitude seismicity in the southern Garut area tends to occur in the resistive bodies. We interpret that heat from the cooling magmatic intrusion may decrease the effective fault-normal stress of the rocks, leading to a decrease in fault failure resistance and may initiate rupture. The resistivity structure around the initial rupture may affect whether or not the nucleation will end up as a large-magnitude earthquake. Furthermore, the unconsolidated young volcanic cover in this area could amplify ground shaking when earthquake occurs that might lead to more extensive damage.

With the properties of laterites being related to the nature of the rock from which they are derived, twenty vertical electrical surveys and twenty boreholes for geotechnical tests, distributed in two units (plutonic and green belt zones) of the Ntem complex located at the northern limit of the Congo Craton, were implemented to study the formation process of the laterites of this geological structure. The inversion of the geoelectrical data in the plutonic area resulted in three lateritic layers with resistivities of 1090 Ω·m, 1302 Ω·m, and 1122 Ω·m, with induration and leaching indices of 28.9% and 72.56%. In the green belt zone, three lateritic layers were also identified with resistivities of 1080 Ω·m, 943 Ω·m, and 1158 Ω·m, with induration and leaching indices of 28.8% and 72.55%. The similarities of the geomechanical parameters (induration and lixiviation indices) show that these soils experienced similar weathering patterns during the same geological period, confirmed by CBR values, corresponding to PF3 platforms that can be used in road works. However, the average resistivity values in the different geological units (1171.77 Ω·m and 1061.16 Ω·m in plutonic and green belt areas) reflect the observed differences in resistivity values of the bedrock alterations (3413.51 Ω·m and 1569.32 Ω·m in plutonic and green belt areas), showing that these laterites are derived from different bedrock weathering. In addition, the average permeability values obtained in the plutonic zone ( cm/s) and in the green belt zone ( cm/s) confirm this difference. The reduction in the difference between the resistivities of the laterites compared to the difference observed in the bedrock of the two units highlights the leaching process over a long geological period.

This research work is aimed at studying different rock types and the effect of their mineral contents on an active 434 MHz RFID card’s radio signal attenuation. This research was done at the ONKALO nuclear waste storage facility using radio frequency identification (RFID) equipment. First, the studied area and research plan, including the used system and equipment, are explained. After this, the researched areas of rock types and their effects on radio signals are presented. This work focused mainly on occupational safety, but it also investigated whether it would be possible to use RFID technology in producing mines as well, especially in the boundary layer of the ore body. This research can help the design of communication frequencies for autonomous devices.