Heterogeneity in the Mantle Source of basaltic lavas from Adamawa Plateau-

Cameroon.

Patrick Merlin Wagsong Njombie a,d,*, Nicaise Blaise Ngongang Tchuimegnie a,d, Stephen F.
Foley b, Tene Joelle c, François Xavier Onana Mebara c,e , Robert Temdjim c,
a
Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Douala, P.O.Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon
b
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems,
Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia
c
Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaounde I, P.O.Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
d
Geosciences, Natural Resources and Environment Laboratory, Postgraduate School for Pure and applied
Sciences, University of Douala, P.O. Box 8550, Douala, Cameroon
e
Institute for Geological and Mining Research (IRGM), Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation
(MINERESI), P.O.Box 4110, Yaounde, Cameroon

*
presenter /main author
E-mail address: njombiewpm@yahoo.fr

Phone Number:+237 696319535

Abstract:

The origin of the volcanism of the Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL) and its mantle sources are
remains debated. Basaltic lavas from the Adamawa Volcanic Massif (AVM) the eastern branch
of the CVL are considered to constrained the mantle sources. The maar of Youkou and its
environs hold a key position in the understanding of the source lithology of basaltic lavas in the
AVM. In this study, discriminant functional analysis using major and trace element patterns of
experimental basaltic melts are explored to decipher the mantle source of basalts in the AVM.
This can greatly impact the understanding of magmatic processes, which can help gain insight
into mantle heterogeneity and crustal material recycling in this sector of the CVL. The lavas
are mainly basanites, basalts, hawaiites. The minerals are olivine, clinopyroxenes, plagioclases,
Fe-Ti oxides, and accessory amphibole and apatite. The lavas present high Mg#, Cr, and Ni
contents and low Nb and Zr contents. The trace element patterns suggest a magma source with
OIB-like mantle signatures. The rocks originated from a low degree of partial melting at high
pressures of different mantle source. The geochemical features in studied samples indicate that
most peridotite melts can be distinguished from pyroxenite melts by the chemical markers. The
variation in composition of the lavas suggests possible subsequent enrichment processes. Some
distinct magmatic processes such as metasomatic events could affected the composition of the
mantle source.

Keywords : Cameroon Volcanic Line, Adamawa Volcanic Massif, Basaltic lavas, peridotite,
pyroxenite, Mantle sources.

Biography:

Dr. Njombie Wagsong Patrick Merlin obtained his BSc (Geology) from the University of Yaoundé 1 and
his PhD (Earth Sciences) from the University of Yaoundé 1. He is previously worked for the Ministry of
High Education. His PhD research was based on petrology and the sub-rift mantle processes of the Conti-
nental Lithospheric Mantle beneath the Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL). He currently lectures petrology,
geochemistry and volcanology at the University of Douala. His area of interest is mineralogy, experimen-
tal petrology, isotopic chemistry, physical volcanology. He has published various papers in peer reviewed
journals.

Presenting author details

Full name: Njombie Wagsong Patrick Merlin
Contact number: + 237 696319535
Session name/ number:
Category: (Oral presentation)