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Alluvial gold particles microchemistry and induced polarization geophysical

surveys in Makouré area, Nyong group, Cameroon: Constrain of orogenic gold
prospectivity

Article in Arabian Journal of Geosciences · May 2023

DOI: 10.1007/s12517-023-11452-8

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Arabian Journal of Geosciences (2023) 16:359
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-023-11452-8

ORIGINAL PAPER

Alluvial gold particles microchemistry and induced polarization

geophysical surveys in Makouré area, Nyong group, Cameroon:
Constrain of orogenic gold prospectivity
Sepwouo Sawouo Alex Duclo Shanel1 · Kouankap Nono Gus Djibril2 · Evine Laure Njiosseu Tanko3 · Njikeu Olivier4 ·
Ngouem Paul Aubin1 · Kamguia Kamani Michele Sandra5 · Gukwa Shepard6 · Robillard Claude6 · Nzenti Jean Paul1

Received: 1 November 2022 / Accepted: 28 April 2023

© Saudi Society for Geosciences and Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023

Abstract
Makouré area belongs to the Nyong group and is located in the eastern vicinity of the Bidou polymetallic project. It is a
green field terrain. To investigate the gold prospectivity of the area, 72 stream sediment samples were collected from which
visible gold particles were picked and subjected to microchemical analysis; also, induced polarization geophysical surveys
were done on eight (08) E-W lines, for a total distance of 26 km, using a pole-dipole array with 100 m long receiver dipoles
and a station spacing of 50 m. Stream sediments in Makouré contain gold particles; the visible gold grains are subangular,
subrounded, and dendritic with complex outlines. BSE images and microchemistry revealed two types of gold particles in
Makouré area: the high-Ag gold particles showing Ag-depleted rim (Au: 77 to 98 wt%, Ag: 1.34 to 20.8 wt%) and the low-Ag
gold particles having no zonation (Au: 98.14 to 99.85 wt%, Ag: 1.97 to 3.2 wt%). Cu contents of all the samples are less than
2.5 wt%, and other elements such as Pt, Ni, and Cr are almost undetectable in all the studied grains. Their fineness varies from
787.4 to 986.6. The overall composition of various studied particles infers mesothermal orogenic gold deposits in Makouré.
The induced polarization geophysical surveys reveal two gold targets, namely, ME and MW, characterized by low resistivity
(less than 700 Ohm-m) and high chargeability (more than 30 Mv/V). The almost perfect overlapping of low resistivity and
high chargeability in the identified targets inferred a disseminated gold mineralization associated with sulfide and clay in
Makouré area. The ubiquity of ME and MW in various surveyed IP lines suggests that the mineralization is controlled by
structures trending N-S, subparallel to the regional shear zone affecting the Nyong group. To strengthen the reliability of ME
and MW prospects defined from geophysical data in Makouré, geochemical surveys and diamond drilling are recommended.

Keywords Makouré · Gold mineralization · Orogenic gold deposit · Chargeability · Resistivity · Disseminated
mineralization

Responsible Editor: Domenico M. Doronzo

4
* Kouankap Nono Gus Djibril Department of Earth Science, Faculty of Science, University
kouankap@yahoo.fr of Ngaoundéré, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
5
1 State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral
Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences,
Resources, School of Earth Sciences, China University
University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box. 3412, Yaoundé,
of Geoscience, Wuhan 430074, China
Cameroon
6
2 Geophysique GPR International Inc, 2545 Delorimier,
Department of Geology, Higher Teacher Training College,
Longueuil, QC J4K 3P7, Canada
University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bambili, Cameroon
3
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Dschang,
P.O. Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon

13
Vol.:(0123456789)
359 Page 2 of 13
Introduction
Modern gold exploration requests the identification of
deposit type at the early work stage; this contributes sig-
nificantly to choosing the appropriate exploration technics
during the advanced work program. Gold exploration in
green field areas commonly starts by searching for gold
particles in the stream sediments. The morphology and
chemical composition of those gold particles are func-
tions of their transport parameters and the conditions of
ore formation (Hérail et al. 1989; DiLabio 1991; Chapman
and Mortensen 2006; Chapman et al. 2000). Primary gold
particles are alloy of elements such as Au, Ag, Cu, Ni, Hg,
and Cr, and their respective contents in single grains can
help to constrain the gold deposit type (Chapman et al.
2017; Suh et al. 2003; Fuanya et al. 2019; Vishiti et al.
2015; Kouankap nono et al. 2021). Gold grain morphology
and composition are efficient tools for exploration (Town-
ley et al. 2003).
Makouré area is located in the eastern part of the Bidou
polymetallic project (Kamguia et al. 2021), which belongs
to the Nyong group (Congo craton) in Cameroon (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1  Geological map of SW Cameroon illustrating a the position of the SW Cameroon relative to the Congo craton in Africa and b the location
of study area (red square) and well-known iron ore deposits (map modified from Maurizot 1986)
13
Arab J Geosci (2023) 16:359
The area is characterized by the scarcity of rock exposures
due to thick soil profiles. Geophysical surveys are widely
used in a similar context to generate targets of inferred
blind deposits (Wei et al. 2000). Many world-class gold
deposits are structurally controlled (Suh 2008; Pitfield and
Campbell 1996; Blenkinsop et al. 1996). To locate the ore-
body, mineral explorations use various geophysical meth-
ods; the IP method is more reliable for gold exploration.
It can generate accurate maps of shallow and deep resis-
tivity/chargeability structures, potentially associated with
mineralization or alteration products. IP surveys consist
of several measurements as responses to an electrical cur-
rent injected into the ground using two electrodes (Seyyed
2022). Gold mineralized zones and gold deposits have been
discovered and delineated in many prospects around the
world using IP geophysical methods (Doyle 1986; Foster
1993; Moon et al. 2006; Dentith and Mudge 2014).
The microchemical data and the morphology of alluvial
gold particles, presented here, enable constraining the gold
deposit type. Herein, the induced polarization geophysical
survey data are also discussed to elucidate the prospectiv-
ity of the area and to locate the potential gold mineralized
(a)
(b)
Arab J Geosci (2023) 16:359
zones. This work will be the baseline for future research and
exploration works in the Makouré prospect.
Geological setting
Regional geology
The Nyong group (Fig. 1), to which belongs the study
area, comprises greenstone rocks, charnockites, TTG
(tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite), BIFs (banded iron
formations), and meta-igneous and metasedimentary forma-
tions (Lerouge et al. 2006; Ganno et al. 2015, 2017; Chom-
bong et al. 2017; Nga Essomba et al. 2020; Owona et al.
2021; Kwamou et al. 2021). Neoproterozoic syenitic plutons
occur in the south of Kribi area (Toteu et al. 1994; Nsifa
et al. 2013). The maximum depositional age of BIF has long
been identified at 2422 ± 50 Ma in Nyong group (U-Pb
zircon, Soh Tamehe et al. 2021; Djoukouo Soh et al. 2021).
But new data bracketed this age between 2100 and 2000 Ma
(Soh Tamehe et al. 2022). The Archaean to Paleoproterozoic
A B
Fig. 2  A Geological map of Makouré and surrounded areas (modified from Maurizot 1986). B The exposure map of Makouré prospect (from the
ongoing works)
Page 3 of 13 359
high-grade metasedimentary and meta-igneous rocks widely
spread within the Nyong group were deformed during the
Eburnean–Transamazonian orogeny (Alkmim and Marshak
1998; Owona et al. 2021a). They have recorded in some
places Pan-African tectono-metamorphic events (Penaye
et al. 1993; Toteu et al. 1994, 2006; Chombong et al. 2017;
Nzepang Tankwa et al. 2020; Owona et al. 2021a). Loose
and Schenk (2018), Bouyo Houketchang et al. (2019), and
Nga Essomba et al. (2020) demonstrated that in Nyong
group, a subduction zone was active during Paleoprote-
rozoic. SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating of eclogites yielded
a metamorphic age of 2093 ± 45 Ma (Loose and Schenk
2018).
Local geology
Makouré area is poorly studied; according to Maurizot
(1986), the study area is made up mainly of garnetiferous
amphibolitic gneisses and two micas, garnet, and stau-
rotide micaschists, both separated by a regional faults
(Fig. 2A). At the western vicinity of Makouré area,
13
359 Page 4 of 13
Kamguia et al. (2021) from soil and stream sediment
geochemistry report gold and related metal occurrences.
Kamguia et al. (2022) combined geochemistry with U–Pb
zircon dating to constrain the source and the tectonic set-
ting of the metasedimentary formations in Bidou I. In
Bidou and Makouré, the country rocks are mainly garnet
gneisses and micaschists; their respective U–Pb zircon
ages are 2065 ± 25 Ma and 2405 ± 24 Ma (Kamguia
et al. 2022). The recent works (Sepwouo et al. 2022) in
Makouré area have revealed other rock exposures such
as BIFs, amphibolites, and orthogneiss (Fig. 2B). Three
phases of deformation have been documented from Kribi
to Makouré areas (Kankeu et al. 2018). The study area
is affected by the main regional feature KCSZ (Kribi-
Campo shear zone) trending NNE-SSW and the related
secondary structures (Kankeu et al. 2018).
Gold occurrences in the Nyong group
Stream sediment geochemistry and alluvial gold particles’
microchemistry have been conducted in a few areas within
the Nyong group (Mimba et al. 2014; Soh et al. 2014;
Omang et al. 2015; Fuanya et al. 2019; Nforba et al. 2020;
Kamguia Woguia et al. 2021; Kouankap Nono et al. 2021).
Almost all the iron ore deposits documented within the
Nyong group (Fig. 1) are related to gold occurrences. Stream
sediment geochemistry in Ngovayang (Mimba et al. 2014),
Gouap (Soh et al. 2014), Tchangue (Nforba et al. 2020), and
Bidou (Kamguia Woguia et al. 2021) yielded significant gold
contents with the maximum up to 4050 ppm, 3272 ppm, 0.45
ppm, and 18.1 ppm, respectively. The microchemical signa-
ture of alluvial gold particles in Ngovayang (Omang et al.
2015), Ako’Azam (Fuanya et al. 2019), and Toko (Kouankap
Nono et al. 2021) areas suggested an orogenic style of min-
eralization having a link with basic to ultramafic rocks.
Methods
Gold grain sampling and microchemistry
Stream sediments were sampled randomly; a total of 72
samples were collected, among which 10 yielded visible
gold grains (Fig. 3A). Gravel-rich samples were taken at
the bottom of the stream bed, and the heavy fractions were
obtained by panning. Gold grains when visible with the
naked eye were hand-picked from the heavy fraction. The
morphology of selected alluvial gold grains was studied
by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging equipped
for the backscattered electron (BSE) and fitted with an
energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Gold grains were
13
Arab J Geosci (2023) 16:359
mounted in epoxy, polished, and analyzed using an elec-
tron microscope (EMPA) at the Wuhan Sample Solution
Analytical Technology Co., Ltd. The polished sections
of gold grains were carbon coated, and BSE photomicro-
graphs were performed in reflected light. The microchemi-
cal analyses were carried out by bombarding 2 to 3 spots
per gold grain with a focused electron beam and analyzing
the emitted X-rays, using JEOL JXA-8230 electron probe
microanalyzer. The machine operation technique used for
each gold grain is operated at an accelerating voltage of 20
kV, beam current of 20 nA, beam size of 5 μm, counting
times of 20 s, and background integration times of 10 s.
Induced polarization (IP) geophysical surveys
The IP geophysical survey is successful when there is map-
pable contrast between the physical properties of the host
material and those of the target. In the Makouré area, the
regional structure and the lithological contacts are roughly
oriented N-S; therefore, the IP lines were oriented E-W.
In the field, the work started by cutting those lines in a
very straight manner. Eight lines (IPL1 to IPL8) for a total
distance of 26 km were surveyed (Fig. 3B). A pole-dipole
array with 100 m long receiver dipoles was used with a
station spacing of 50 m. The resistivity measurements are
acquired by injecting high-voltage current into the ground
through two current electrodes (C1 and C2) and measuring
the resulting voltage difference at two potential electrodes
(P1 and P2). From the current (I) and voltage (V) values,
an apparent resistivity (ρa) value is calculated. To deter-
mine the subsurface resistivity, an inversion of the meas-
ured apparent resistivity values using a computer program
must be carried out (Loke and Barker 1996). Chargeability
focuses on the decaying potential difference as a func-
tion of time for portions of the earth where current flow
is maintained for a short time after the applied voltage is
cut off. The chargeability/resistivity data were collected
using an IRIS Instrument Syscal Pro receiver and a Wal-
cer TX-9000 (9k Watts) transmitter as a source (Fig. 4).
The voltage at the source was generally set between 1000
and 4000 V to generate currents in the ground that varied
between 1000 and 2000 mA except in the shear zone where
values lower than 500 mA were recorded. The potential
dipole length was set at 100 m, and the infinitely situated
current electrode was kept at a minimum distance of 2000
m. Brass electrodes were used for the potential electrodes,
while a combination of stainless steel and aluminum foil
was used for the current electrodes. The data were inverted
in an effort to derive a model of the subsurface that sat-
isfied both the measured resistivities and chargeabilities.
The Res2Dinv software and the smoothness-constrained
least-square inversion were used for data processing.
Arab J Geosci (2023) 16:359 Page 5 of 13 359

a b

Fig. 3  Maps of the study area showing A stream sediment sampling points over the hydrographic network and B IP lines over the geological map

Results dendritic. They also show irregular outlines. BDCT007 grain

Gold grain morphology
Visible gold particles in the Makouré area exhibit vary-
ing sizes and shapes; they are tiny (≤300 μm). The BSE
images (Fig. 5) of selected particles show varieties regarding
their morphology. Grains are subangular, subrounded, and
(Fig. 5A, B) has a bean shape with an average size of 300 μm
× 100 μm and shows a remarkable core-rim zonation. The
core is darker compared to the rim, which is brighter (lower
reflectance), irregular, and variable in thickness. Gold grain
samples BDCJ011 and BDCR027 (Fig. 5C, D) are dendritic,
showing few pits at the margins and irregular outlines, with
some evidence of folding. They have no evidence of zoning

13
359 Page 6 of 13 Arab J Geosci (2023) 16:359

Fig 4  Field photographs of the

Walcer TX-9000 (9k Watts)
transmitter (A, B) and IRIS
Instrument Syscal Pro receiver
(C, D)

A B

C D

Fig. 5  BSE images of selected

visible gold grains from A B
Makouré area. A Gold grain
from stream sediment sample
BDCT007. B Magnified part
of A showing Ag-depleted rim.
C, D Gold grains from stream
sediments samples BDCJ011
and BDCR027, respectively.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 observed
on various images are analyzed
spots

C D

13
Arab J Geosci (2023) 16:359 Page 7 of 13 359

and striation; some black patches are observed within the

grains, probably some mineral inclusions.

Gold grain microchemistry

The microchemical data of gold grains from Makouré stream

sediments are presented in Table 1. Only discrimination ele-
ments used to constrain gold deposit type were analyzed
using EMPA. Sample BDCT007 yielded 77 wt% of Au and
20.8 wt% of Ag at the core, with more than 98 wt% of Au at
the Ag-depleted rim (1.34 wt% Ag). Samples without zona-
tion yielded 98.14 to 99.85 wt% of Au, 1.97 to 3.2 wt% of
Ag, and 0 to 2.28 wt% of Cu. Other elements such as Pt, Ni,
and Cr are almost nil in all samples. The fineness of Mak-
ouré gold grains varies from 787.4 to 986.6. High-silver gold
has Ag above 8 wt% compared to low-silver gold which has
Ag content below 8 wt% (Wierchowiec 2002). Therefore,
in the Makouré area, two categories of gold were observed,
the high-Ag gold depleted rim and the low-Ag gold hav-
ing no zonation. The composition of the studied gold grains
plotted in ternary discrimination diagram Au-Ag-Cu*100
of (Townley et al. 2003) falls in the field of epithermal/
mesothermal orogenic gold deposit (Fig. 6). The fineness
values of gold grains are an important discrimination tool
which contributes to differentiate gold deposit types (Mor-
rison et al. 1991). Gold particles from mesothermal deposits
yield narrow range of fineness varying from 800 to 1000
(Morrison et al. 1991).
IP chargeability and resistivity
Resistivity and chargeability data collected on the field for
all lines were tabulated in pseudosections which were then
inverted numerically using RES2DINV program (Loke
and Barker 1996). The program transformed the pseudo-
sections into models of true resistivity and chargeability
sections shown in Fig. 7, in which pink color indicates
high-chargeability and high-resistivity zones, while the
blue color indicates low-chargeability and low-resistivity
zones. Resistivity values range between −300 and 38,500
Fig. 6  Ternary Au-Ag-Cu*100 (Townley et al. 2003) discrimination
plots for gold grains from Makouré
Ohm-m and chargeability from 02 to 80 Mv/V. Intermediate
to high chargeability indicates probable conductive/charge-
able zones. Two target zones (ME and MW) are observed
in almost all the profiles. The largest zone (MW) is located
in the western part of the lines and generally opened at the
surface and characterized by high chargeability (up to 80
Mv/V). The second zone (ME) is minor and located in the
eastern part of the lines. It is not opened at the surface, start-
ing at an approximate depth of −150 m, and it is made up of
moderate chargeability (35 Mv/V). Discontinuity features
(F) are well observed on profiles Line 5000 to Line 8000
(Fig. 7). F is materialized by sharp contact between very
high and very low chargeability or resistivity. These dis-
continuities (F) may be lithological contacts or fractures.
On profile Line 5000, F is related to high chargeability as
well, which is opened at the surface. This can be attributed
to banded iron formation discovered on the field during the
surveys.
Target zones ME in the eastern part of the profiles
seem consistent and more interesting for gold explora-
tion. Its chargeability does not reach the surface and is
less than 40 Mv/V, except on profile Line 7000 which is
more than 45 Mv/V and opened at the surface. ME is a
well-defined chargeability anomaly, opened at depth, and
surrounded by highly resistive rocks. Silicified cap rocks

Table 1  Makouré gold grain Au grains–spots Ag Cu Ni Cr Au Pt Total Fineness

microchemical data
BDCT007-1 1.338 0 0 0 98.638 0 99.976 986.62
BDCT007-2 20.891 0.231 0 0 77.598 0 98.72 787.88
BDCT007-3 20.827 0.222 0.004 0 77.151 0 98.204 787.43
BDCJ011-1 1.967 0.199 0 0 97.683 0 99.849 980.26
BDCJ011-2 2.168 0.27 0 0 95.926 0 98.364 977.90
BDCJ011-3 2.074 0.276 0 0 95.787 0 98.137 978.81
BDCR027-1 3.196 0 0 0 95.537 0 98.733 967.63
BDCR027-2 3.025 0 0.001 0 95.511 0 98.537 969.30
BDCR027-3 3.123 0 0 0 96.156 0 99.279 968.54

Values in bold are the sum of various elements content in the gold grains

13
359 Page 8 of 13 Arab J Geosci (2023) 16:359

LINE 1000 LINE 2000

MW ME MW ME

LINE 3000 LINE 4000

MW ME MW ME

LINE 5000 LINE 6000

F
MW F ME

F F

LINE 7000 LINE 8000

MW ME
MW ME

F F

Fig. 7  The 2D chargeability (IP) and resistivity section of surveyed lines in the study area. ME and MW represent eastern and western charge-
ability anomalies, respectively. F represents an inferred fault

13
Arab J Geosci (2023) 16:359
may be responsible for the high resistivity on top of the
chargeability anomalies. Target MW is the western edges
of various profiles. Its very high chargeability opened at
the surface may not constitute a good gold exploration
target. All the profiles end in the west on the regional fault
KCF (Kankeu et al. 2018); therefore, the very high charge-
ability of MW may be related to meteoric water and clay-
filled fractures. MW and ME show an overlap between
low resistivity/high chargeability and high resistivity/
low chargeability; this is common in disseminated gold
mineralization associated with sulfide and clay (Li and
Oldenburg 1994; Mitchtnson 2009; Pardo et al. 2012). The
ubiquity of ME and MW in various surveyed lines sug-
gests that the mineralization is structurally controlled and
follows the general N-S trend, subparallel to the regional
shear zone affecting the Nyong group (Kankeu et al. 2018;
Kouankap Nono et al. 2018).
Interpretation and discussion
Gold mineralization
The morphology of gold particles, sampled from stream
sediments, has been used by several authors to constrain
the distance between the sampling points and the primary
sources of gold particles (Knight et al. 1999a; Townley
et al. 2003; Nakagawa et al. 2005). In Makouré area,
the studied gold grains are dendritic, subangular to sub-
rounded shapes, and complex outlines. These parameters
indicate a close source for the Makouré gold grains. The
zonation observed in Fig. 5A, B is due to Ag depletion
(Colin et al. 1989; Groen et al. 1990; Suh and Lehmann
2003). When a gold particle is released from primary
Fig. 8  Chargeability fence
diagram of Makouré
Page 9 of 13 359
sources and gets into the stream channel, it becomes
unstable due to weathering conditions; therefore, the Ag-
depleted rim is formed around a preserved core (Hérail
et al. 1990). The supergene processes usually affect the
gold grains in their secondary deposits (soil and sedi-
ment), materialized by a zonation with the rim depleted
in Ag and rich in Au, while the Ag content of the core will
remain higher compared to the rim. The grains without
zonation (Fig. 5C, D) may have experienced a short period
of time in the alluvium.
Au, Cu, Ag, and Hg contents of gold grains are often
used to establish the type of gold deposits (Chapman et al.
2009; Huang et al. 2013). The Ag content of epithermal
gold mineralization is higher than that of mesothermal gold
mineralization (Chapman and Mortensen 2006; Kouankap
Nono et al. 2021). In the Makouré area, Ag content is high
and suggests a mesothermal-orogenic gold deposit type.
Similar deposits, attributed to Paleoproterozoic orogeny,
subject of the word class deposits, have been identified
in Brazil and West Africa (Hartman and Delgado 2001;
Caetano et al. 2021; Klein et al. 2002; Klein et al. 2015).
Several Paleoproterozoic to Archean greenstone belt in
West Africa hosts important orogenic gold deposits; their
mineralizations took place during the eburnean orogeny,
between ca. 2110 and 2060 Ma (Goldfarb et al. 2017; Mas-
urel et al. 2022). Modern exploration for giant gold depos-
its takes into account regional geological setting. There-
fore, the Nyong group which is the extension in Africa of
the Paleoproterozoic greenstone belt of Amazon and São-
Francisco cratons in Brazil may host the same mineraliza-
tions since they have similar geological patterns (Hartmann
and Delgado 2001; Klein et al. 2002 ; Klein et al. 2015;
Goldfarb et al. 2017; Caetano et al. 2021; Masurel et al.
2022).
13
359 Page 10 of 13 Arab J Geosci (2023) 16:359

ME

MW

Fig. 9  The 2D (x, y) level plan maps of chargeability at −25 m, −100 m, −170 m, and −250 m taken from the 3D inversion model. The dash
lines represent chargeability anomalies MW and ME

13
Arab J Geosci (2023) 16:359
Induced polarization model and implications
to gold exploration
For better visualization of auriferous targets, a fence model
and 2D (x, y) slice (plan) maps of chargeability were devel-
oped. The fence diagram (Fig. 8) was generated by re-grid-
ding the output from the 2D line inversion into a 3D cube
with a cell size of 5 m × 50 m × 1 m in the x, y, and z direc-
tions, respectively. Despite the imbalance in cell size dimen-
sion, it represents rather well the MW and ME structures
in a perspective view looking from the southeast. On the
fence diagram, the ME structure appears to be gently dipping
toward north. The 2D (x, y) plan maps of chargeability for
four levels (−25 m, −100 m, −170 m, and −250 m) presented
in Fig. 9 are generated from the 3D inversion model. The two
main chargeable zones identified (ME and MW) in vertical
sections are clearly expressed in plan maps in which they
form continuous N-S to NNE-SSW trend anomalies, consist-
ent with regional structures in the Nyong group. The charge-
ability values are higher in the southern part of the prospect,
independent of the various depths. ME anomalies form a
single continuous body; the chargeability remains weak, but
it is still the target with high priority. The MW anomalies are
just located to the east of the Bidou polymetallic prospect
(Kamguia et al. 2021). With depth, they form discontinuous
chargeability bodies having homogenous trends, which still
suggest that the mineralization is structurally controlled. The
MW opened at the surface yielded high values at −25 m
depth but shows moderate to low values at −100 m, and at
the high depth (−250 m), ME shows again high chargeability;
this fact can be related to prevalent clay at the surface and at
depth to mineralized sulfide-rich formations.
The geophysical signatures of low resistivity related to
high chargeability in disseminated sulfide mineralization are
attested in several studies (Arifin et al. 2019; Sidiq et al. 2021).
To strengthen the reliability of ME and MW prospects defined
from geophysical data in the Makouré area, geochemical surveys
and diamond drilling are recommended.
Conclusion
Stream sediment sampling, gold particle microchemical
analysis, and induced polarization geophysical surveys car-
ried out to constrain the prospectivity of the Makouré green
field area led to the following conclusions:
1. Stream sediments in the Makouré area contain gold
particles. The visible gold grains are subangular, sub-
rounded, and dendritic with complex outlines, which
indicate a close source for the Makouré gold grains.
2. BSE images and microchemistry revealed two types of
gold particles in the Makouré area: the high-Ag gold
Page 11 of 13 359
particles showing Ag-depleted rim and the low-Ag gold
particles without zonation. The overall composition of
various studied particles infers a mesothermal orogenic
gold deposit in the Makouré area.
3. The induced polarization geophysical surveys revealed
two gold targets (ME and MW) in the Makouré area,
characterized by low resistivity (less than 700 Ohm-
m) and high chargeability (more than 30 Mv/V). The
almost perfect overlapping between low resistivity and
high chargeability in the identified targets inferred a dis-
seminated gold mineralization associated with sulfide
and clay in the study area.
4. The ubiquity of ME and MW in various surveyed IP
lines suggests that the mineralization is controlled by
structures trending N-S, subparallel to the regional shear
zone affecting the Nyong group. To strengthen the reli-
ability of ME & MW prospects defined from geophysi-
cal data in the Makouré area, geochemical surveys and
diamond drilling are recommended.
Acknowledgements The works presented here are part of the PhD’s
thesis of the first author, working as a junior geologist in Geocam Gold
Sarl. The authors are grateful to Geophysics GPR international, a Cana-
dian-based company that monitored the surveys, and to the anonymous
reviewers for their constructive comments on this paper.
Funding The authors are thankful to Geocam Gold Sarl, a local min-
eral exploration company, who provided funds for geophysical surveys
in Makouré.
Declarations
Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no competing
interests.
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