The Twin Bambili Maars (Bamenda Mountains, Cameroon Volcanic Line): Simulative Model of Formation

Abstract

The Bambili maars are twin contemporaneous maars embedded in trachytic rocks. The two maars are separated by a low lying inter-Maar dome whose inner walls dip towards the Southern Maar. The Bambili Northern Maar (BNM) contains water and its floor is found at an altitude lower than the Bambili Southern Maar (BSM) (50 m) which is swampy and drains into the BNM. Both maars have very steep vertical walls. Three different units are identified in the area. Unit 1 is 1 m thick sequence, characterize by the presence of matrix supported fine-grained fallouts (ash and lapilli size) with stratified diffused bedding planes. This unit is further subdivided into three different layers: L1, L2 and L3 from bottom to top with increasing sizes of particles respectively. This layer shows reverser grading and its grain sizes rarely exceed 2 cm and this unit shows no depositional structures. Unit 2 is an unstratified unit predominantly made up of tephra deposits. Within these deposits are found blocks of sizes ranging between 2 and 10 cm of different petrographic types. They include scoria, basalts, trachyte, and granite cognate. The last unit, Unit 3 is distinctly stratified characterized by well sorted, heterolithologic, graded bedding layers which are matrix supported. Base on the composition and grain sizes, this unit was subdivided into 7 horizons: h1 - h7. Within this unit, two sequences of deposits are distinguished: U1 and U2. Both sequences are characterized by alternation of lapilli and tuff beds. The clast comprises of juvenile materials, mudstone which are highly vesicular and altered rock fragments. Other products identified within the area are ferolithic volcanic bombs (5 - 20 cm), xenocrystals (2 - 4 cm) within finer deposits. They are elongated and show visible twinned planes. Explosion breccias are equally identified occurring as bolders. Along the inner walls of the maars are also found large basaltic and trachytic blocks which are remnants of pre-maar unit within maar deposits. The model proposed indicates the maars were emplaced simultaneously from adjacent vents followed by a succession of lava flows and pyroclastic ejections.