A geoelectrical survey using the electrical resistivity method was carried out in some villages in the western region of Cameroon to investigate the sub-surface layers and evaluate the characteristics of aquifers. The direct current electrical resistivity method was utilized for the present study. Applying the Schlumberger array, a total of twenty four (24) Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) were conducted. Quantitative and qualitative interpretations of data were carried out to determine the nature and thickness of the aquifer zone combined with existing litho-logs aided correlation of geoelectric sections to litho-logs. Four to five geoelectric layers were delineated from the survey area. The first layer which is the topsoil has resistivity values ranging from 6 -949 Ωm and the thickness is between 0.2 -4.2 m. The second layer which is made up of clay and laterite has resistivity values ranging between 9 -1862 Ωm and thickness range from 1.0 -16.4 m. The third and fourth geoelectric layers are made up of clay and granite/basalts with thickness varying from 2.2 -39.5 m which corresponds to an aquifer horizon. Resistivity values of the aquifer ranges from 10 to 70,506 Ωm. The resistivity map drawn from these measurements shows the presence of a low resistivity zone which indicates the reflection in the direction of ground water from northeast to southwest with the recharge concentrated to the south of the study area. This study has revealed for this area, an average depth of the aquifer of 32 m with the average thickness of the aquifer being 22 m. The geoelectric sections of some VES stations demarcated corroborate very well with the geological description of the area.
A new gravity survey of the Mount Cameroon area has enabled the definition of four major gravimetric domains, which coincide with the recognized structural units. In order to determine the nature of superficial and deep structures in this mountainous zone, new gravity data have been processed. These new gravity data was integrated to existing gravity data to propose the new complete Bouguer anomaly map of the region, and then to show major characteristics of the Bouguer gravity of this area. The interpretation of gravity patterns (bouguer maps) in terms of geological data, shows that the Mount Cameroon zone belongs to a wide positive anomaly; these anomalies display complex gravity domains, which seem to be similar to that due to major structural units in the region and volcanic activity of the mountain. In the mountain active zone in particular (between 2000 and 3800 m of altitude), the new anomaly map shows high gravity anomalies (from 11 to 60 mgal), coupled with low gravity at some stations (in the summit, 4060 m) where gravity anomaly is about -30 mgal. The steep WNW-ESE gravity gradients observed on the gravity maps mark the transition between positive in the south and negative anomalies.
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