Non-anthropogenic earth mounds, defined as mima-like mounds in this study, have recently been observed in non-carbonate watersheds along the Sudano-Sahelian belt in the Chad Basin. In the Diamare piedmont (northern Cameroon) they are particularly well developed within stream networks. In less eroded areas, they occur as whaleback, flattened morphologies, or even as buried features. All these shapes are composed of clay-rich sediment associated with high proportions of secondary carbonate nodules and Fe-Mn micro-nodules. Their soil structure is prismatic to massive and vertical cracks are observed locally. Grain-size distributions emphasize the clay-rich nature of the sediment, with average clay contents of 32% ± 12.8% (n=186), which is significantly higher than the clay content in the adjacent sediments in the landscape (mean=10% ± 4%, n=21). Moreover, high proportions of smectite characterize the soil, with average contents of 34 ± 7% (n=25). At the micro-scale, the groundmass has a cross-striated b-fabric, with embedded smooth subangular quartz and feldspar grains of the silt-size fraction. All the characteristics point to altered vertic properties in the clay-rich sediment composing the mima-like mounds. Mima-like mounds are thus interpreted as degraded Vertisols. Compared to presentday Vertisols occurring in the piedmont, mima-like mounds are located upstream. It is thus proposed that the Vertisol areas were more extensive during a former and wetter period than the present-day. Subsequent changing climatic conditions increased erosion, revealing the gilgai micro-relief by preferential erosion in microlows rather than in micro-highs. Mima-like mounds of the Chad Basin might thus result from pedogenesis combined with later erosion. These local processes can be inherited from regional climatic variations during the Late Pleistocene-Holocene and likely be related to the African Humid Period.

Urban agriculture is crucial to local populations, but the risk of it contaminating water has rarely been documented. The aim of this study was to assess pesticide contamination of surface waters from the Méfou watershed (Yaoundé, Cameroon) by 32 selected herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides (mainly polar) according to their local application, using both grab sampling and polar organic compounds integrative samplers (POCIS). Three sampling campaigns were conducted in the March/April and October/November 2015 and June/July 2016 rainy seasons in urban and peri-urban areas. The majority of the targeted compounds were detected. The quantification frequencies of eight pesticides were more than 20% with both POCIS and grab sampling, and that of diuron and atrazine reached 100%. Spatial differences in contamination were evidenced with higher contamination in urban than peri-urban rivers. In particular, diuron was identified as an urban contaminant of concern because its concentrations frequently exceeded the European water quality guideline of 0.200 μg/L in freshwater and may thus represent an ecological risk due to a risk quotient > 1 for algae observed in 94% of grab samples. This study raises concerns about the impacts of urban agriculture on the quality of water resources and to a larger extent on the health of the inhabitants of cities in developing countries. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

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A B S T R A C TSignificant amounts of pedogenic Ca-carbonate nodules have been observed in the Far North Region of Cameroon in the carbonate-free watershed of the Mayo Tsanaga, thus a priori not favourable for carbonate nodules accumulations. These nodules are associated with a Clay-Rich Parent Material (CRPM), covering either a granitic (upstream) or a greenstone bedrock (downstream). In this peculiar context, the amount of pedogenic carbonate nodules represents large quantities of Ca and C. Therefore, determining the Ca sources for pedogenic carbonate nodules is a key point regarding the mechanisms leading to carbonate nodule precipitation and their role in the biogeochemical cycle of Ca. Three sites, two on granite and one on greenstone, were studied by combining Sr et Nd isotope systematics in order to assess the Ca sources of carbonate nodules and the origin of the CRPM associated with nodules.Carbonate nodules have a distinct Sr isotopic composition in each profile, pointing to the contribution of a local source for Ca. Sr isotopic compositions of plagioclases and carbonate nodules display a concomitant variation in each profile, indicating that plagioclases acted as a Sr, and thus Ca, source for the carbonate nodules. Nevertheless, carbonate nodules have a higher Sr isotopic signature than plagioclases, implying the contribution of another more radiogenic Sr source. Sr and Nd isotope data from the CRPM show that it is a mixture of weathered bedrock compounds and Saharan dust. This result highlights two other potential Sr and Ca sources: biotite and Saharan dust. Calculations of their respective contributions demonstrate that in situ weathering significantly adds to the Ca source of nodules. This result contrasts with many other studies from similar settings that highlight the importance of allochthonous -marine, aeolian -inputs. This conclusion points out that a substantial part of Ca is transferred from the local bedrock to the carbonate nodules. This mechanism seems to have been possible as peculiar edaphic conditions preserved the primary Ca sources, making in situ weathering a significant process for providing Ca.Chemical Geology xxx (xxxx) xxx-xxx 0009-2541/

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