Structural Interpretation of Lineament from Nlonako Area and Surroundings: Contribution to Pan-African Tectonic Reconstruction

Abstract

The Nlonako anorogenic complex (NAC) is located in the south western part of the Cameroon Line and is superposed on the N50E section of the central Cameroon shear zone. It is suggested to be a ring complex of 10 km diameter which was emplaced as sill intrusive body during the Tertiary. In order to do characterize the Nlonako complex shape and characterize the tectonic history in the study area and surrounding, spatial technology (Landsat 8 ETM+ and SRTM images) were used for geological mapping and structural reconstruction based on lineament analysis.
 Data extracted from Landsat 8 ETM and SRTM images show a sub-circular shape for the NAC and the superposition of field and petrographic data from our previous research works confirm the fact that the NAC is a ring or annular complex slightly elongated NNE-SSW, thus it is known as the Nlonako ring complex (NRC). Map of lineament synthesis and the SRTM image of the study area display NE-SW, NW-SE and N-S trend structures. (1) The dominant NE-SW trend mostly displayed by the NRC and its basement rock is parallel to (i) the main metamorphic foliation trend and (ii) to the central Cameroon shear zone regional fault, corresponds to the trending of the regional foliation, structures and the Ngondo pluton elongated shape. (2) The secondary N-S direction may correspond to the late deformational phase in the area because, the N-S-related structures transposing NE-SW structures towards a meridional direction in the NRC basement rock. (3) The NW-SE trend corresponds to the direction of NW-SE fault cross cutting the NRC.
 Field data and synthetic lineament map enable to identify: (1) a Compressive deformational phase D1 whose main markers are NNW-SSE to NW-SE S1 foliation; (2) an early left-lateral deformational phase D2 characterized by anticlockwise rotation of clasts and NE-SW sinistral transposition of early structures; (3) a NE-SW right-lateral deformational phase D3 marked by clockwise rotation and dextral transposition of preexisting structures as well as the NE-SW S3 foliation and (4) a late left-lateral deformational phase D4 marked by the N-S transposition of NE-SW dextral D3-related structures by late sinistral shear movement. This suggests a more complex tectonic history for the Pan-African Belt in Cameroon showing at least three shear phases, that is a right-lateral phase, sandwich by two left-lateral phases.

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“…The D2 phase was reactivated into a dextral shear at the D3 phase during late Pan‐African evolution (Ngako et al., 1991; Tchameni et al., 2006). The essentially brittle D4 phase is controlled by strike‐slip tectonics and is associated with the dextral movement of the CCSZ (Soba, 1991; Agathe et al., 2020; Ganwa et al., 2011; Toteu et al., 2004). According to these authors, it is responsible for the development of secondary faults, joints and veins that are found mainly in the Lom series and that characterize this series.…”