Mineralogy and geochemistry of Neoproterozoic siliceous manganese formations from Ntui-Betamba (Cameroon Pan-African Fold Belt): implications for mineral exploration

The siliceous manganese formations from Ntui-Betamba area have been studied with the aim to constrain their mineralogy, geochemistry, and genesis. Neoproterozoic manganese-bearing rocks at Ntui-Betamba include garnet-galaxite-bearing quartzite and galaxite-bearing quartzite that-besides a characteristic quartz, spessartine-garnet, and galaxite (MnAl2O4) assemblage-comprises also graphite and rutile. Galaxite crystals show chemical zoning from core to rim due to the change in composition from galaxite to cryptomelane. Bulk rock geochemistry reveals that the studied rocks are characterized by high SiO2 content (52.83 wt%). They are enriched in Fe2O3 and Al2O3 and display Mn/Fe ratio of 1.2. MnO concentrations are high in galaxite-bearing quartzite (16 wt%), and moderate (8.03 wt%) in garnet-galaxite-bearing quartzite. The transition trace metal (Co, Cu, and Ni) contents are lower, with Co and Cu markedly depleted relative to Ni, and variable contents of Zn. The REE pattern of garnet-galaxite-bearing quartzite shows Ce-positive anomaly similar to the hydrogenous sediment, but differs from the later with strong Eu-negative anomaly and the lack of weak positive anomaly in Yb, whereas the galaxite-bearing quartzite is characterized by the lack of Ce anomaly and the weak Eu-negative anomaly. Both rocks show HREE content close to that of hydrothermal sediment and exhibit flat HREE trend. The high contents of silica, iron, and aluminum, together with the Co/Zn ratios (similar to 0.3) and the contrasting behavior of REE, suggest that the studied manganese-bearing rocks are of sedimentary origin probably derived from a mixed hydrothermal-hydrogenous source. The high content of Mn-bearing minerals in these rocks represents indicators of concealed or buried mineralization and could be used as exploration guide.