Geoelectrical Inversion Study of Limestone Attributes at Mayo Boki Area (Northern Cameroon)

Abstract

A geoelectrical survey using the electrical resistivity method was carried out in the Mayo Boki (Northern Cameroon), to investigate the subsurface layering and evaluation of the limestone characteristics. In addition to geological data collection, three vertical electrical soundings and one electrical resistivity profile were measured. Joint interpretation of the DC data allows us to obtain reliable 1D models of the resistivity distribution. The interpretation of the field data was carried out using the RES2DINV software, which converts the apparent resistivity as a function of electrode spacing to the true resistivity as a function of depth in two dimensions. The results obtained from the electrical resistivity survey showed that: 1) A limestone layer was put in evidence at a depth of 4 m and the thickness varies from 13 m to 44 m; 2) The limestone layer resistivity is ranged from 125 to 2410 ohm.m; 3) An area of probable limestone deposit with interesting thicknesses have been identified. These facts are useful for future mining exploration as drilling map definition and operations. The geologic section of a nearby location termed resistivity profile was delineated and its total depth was found to be 57 m, which corroborates the lithologs of the boreholes from the area. The correlation of geological data and the geoelectric section has led to envisage pursuing exploration activities. Based on the limestone layer characteristics extracted from this DC investigation, the exploration drilling operations have to be initiated in order to define the limestone resource over the area of study, which will certainly enables to built the exploitation project prefeasibility document.