Petrography, Geochemistry, and Lithium Exploration Potential of Pan-African Granitoids from Pamsi Area (Northern Cameroon Domain)
-
https://doi.org/10.14419/p29jqd76
Received date: February 19, 2026
Accepted date: April 17, 2026
Published date: April 21, 2026
-
Petrology; Geochemistry; Lithium Exploration; Pan-African Fold Belt; North Cameroon Domain; Pamsi -
Abstract
This study presents an integrated petrographic and geochemical investigation of granitoid and metamorphic rocks from the Pamsi locality in the North Cameroon Domain of the Pan-African Fold Belt. Field observations, microscopic analysis, and whole-rock geochemistry reveal five main lithological units: amphibole-biotite granite, leucogranite, granodiorite, orthogneiss, and amphibolite. These rocks form a calc-alkaline suite ranging from syeno-diorite to granite, classified as I-type, sub-alkaline, potassic to hyperpotassic, and predominantly peraluminous to metaluminous. Geochemical signatures include strong LREE enrichment, negative Eu anomalies in most samples, and multi-element patterns showing negative Ta-Nb, Sr, and Ti anomalies with positive Th, Zr, and U anomalies, characteristic of differentiated magmas from mixed crustal-mantle sources. Tectonic discrimination diagrams indicate volcanic arc to syn-collisional settings consistent with Pan-African orogenesis. Pathfinder element analyses reveal preliminary indications of lithium exploration potential, with samples N11 and N51 showing notable cesium enrichment (8.80–11.30 ppm) and elevated Cs/Rb ratios. Based on established geochemical correlations—and pending direct lithium measurements—estimated lithium contents of 200–800 ppm are proposed as preliminary targets for further investigation. These results highlight the Pamsi area as a promising prospect for lithium mineralization associated with evolved pegmatitic systems, warranting systematic follow-up studies.
-
References
- Kavanagh, L., Keohane, J., Garcia Cabellos, G., Lloyd, A., Cleary, J. (2018). Global Lithium Sources-Industrial Use and Future in the Electric Vehi-cle Industry: A Review. Resources, 7(3), 57. DOI: 10.3390/resources7030057.
- Kesler, S. E., Gruber, P. W., Medina, P. A., Keoleian, G. A., Everson, M. P., Wallington, T.J. (2012). Global lithium resources: Relative importance of pegmatite, brine, and other deposits. Ore Geology Reviews, 48, 55-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2012.05.006.
- Bradley, D. C., McCauley, A. D., Stillings, L. M. (2017). Mineral-deposit model for lithium-cesium-tantalum pegmatites. U.S. Geological Survey Sci-entific Investigations Report 2010-5070-O, 48 p. https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20105070O.
- Toteu, S. F., Penaye J., Poudjom D. Y., (2004). Geodynamic evolution of the Pan-African belt in central Africa with special reference to Cameroon. Canadian Jounal of Earth Sciences, 41, 73-85. https://doi.org/10.1139/e03-079.
- Penaye, J., Kröner A., Toteu, S. F., Van Schmus, W. R., Tchakounte, J., Doumnang, J. C., (2006). Evolution of the Mayo Kebbi region as reveled by zircon dating: an early (ca. 740 Ma) Pan-African magmatic arc in southwestern Chad. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 44, 530-542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2005.11.018.
- Ngako, V., Jegouzo, P., Nzenti, J. P., (1992). Champ de raccourcissement et de cratonisation du Nord-Cameroun du paléozoïque supérieur au palé-ozoïque moyen. Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences, Paris, 315, 457-463.
- Toteu, S. F., (1990). Geochemical characterization of the main petrographical and structural units of northern Cameroon: implications for Pan-African evolution. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 10, 615-624. https://doi.org/10.1016/0899-5362(90)90028-D.
- Penaye, J., (1988). Pétrologie et structure des ensembles métamorphiques au Sud-est de Poli (Nord Cameroun) : Rôles respectifs du socle protéro-zoïque inférieur et de l´accrétion crustale panafricaine. Thèse de Doctorat, Université de Nancy I, France, 196 p.
- Dawaï, D., Bouchez, J. L., Paquette, J. L., & Tchameni, R. (2013). The Pan-African quartz-syenite of Guider (north-Cameroon): Magnetic fabric and U-Pb dating of a late-orogenic emplacement. Precambrian Research, 236, 132-144. DOI: 10.1016/j.precamres.2013.07.008.
- Happi Djofna, C. R., Bouyo, M. H., Dawai, D., Tchameni, R., Kouedjou, L., Tchunte Fosso, M. P., Fotso Kengne, H.B. (2022). Contribution to the Petrogenesis of Pan-African Granitoids from East Pitoa in the Northern Cameroon Domain of the Central African Fold Belt: Implications for Their Sources and Geological Setting. Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics, 10(3), 112-125.
- Bello, B., Ganwa, A. A., Naimou, S., Simeni, W. A. N., Amadou, D. K., Yingyang, W. R., Haskandi, K. J. (2023). Structural Study of the Precam-brian Basement of Kaele (Far North Cameroon): Contribution of Remote Sensing (Application of Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS Images) and Field Data. Jour-nal of Geosciences and Geomatics, 11(1), 1-10. DOI: 10.12691/jgg-11-1-1.
- Toteu, S. F., Michard, A., Bertrand, J. M., Rocci, G., (1987). U-Pb dating of Precambrian rocks from northern Cameroon, orogenic evolution and chronology of the Pan-African belt of central Africa. Precambrian Research, 37, 71-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/0301-9268(87)90040-4.
- Ngako, V., Jegouzo, P., Nzenti, J. P., (1991). Le Cisaillement Centre Camerounais. Rôle structural et géodynamique dans l´orogenèse panafricaine. Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences, Paris, 313, 457-463.
- Nzenti, J. P., Ngako, V., Kombou, R., Penaye, J., Bassahak J., Njel, U. O., (1992). Structures régionales de la chaîne panafricaine au Nord-Cameroun. Comptes Rendu de l’Académie des Sciences de Paris, Tome 611, 115-119.
- Toteu, S. F, Yongue, F. R., Penaye J., Tchakounte, J., Ciriaque, S. A., Mouangue, Van Schmus, W. R., Deloule E., Stendal, H., (2006). U–Pb dating of plutonic rocks involved in the nappe tectonic in southern Cameroon: consequence for the Pan-African orogenic evolution of the central African fold belt. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 44. 479-493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2005.11.015.
- Bouyo, H. M., Toteu, S. F., Deloule, E., Penaye, J., Van Schmus, W. R., (2009). U-Pb and Sm-Nd dating of high-pressure granulites from Tcholliré and Banyo regions: Evidence for a Pan-African granulite facies metamorphism in north-central Cameroon. Jounal of African Earth Science, 54, 144-154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2009.03.013.
- Werner, C. D., (1987). Saxonian granulitee: A contribution to the geological diagnosis of origine rocks in high-metam orphic complexes. Gerlands Beitraege zur Geophisik, 96, 271-290.
- Cox, K. G., Bell, J. D., Pankust, R. J., (1979). The interpretation of igneous rocks. George Allen & Unwin. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3373-1.
- Wilson, M., (1989). Igneous Petrogenesis. London: Unwin Hyman, London, 466p. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6788-4.
- Le Maitre, R. W., (1989). A Classification of Igneous Rocks and Glossary of Terms. Recommendations of the IUGS Commission on the Systematics of Igneous Rocks. Oxford: Blackwell. 193p.
- Maniar, P. D., Piccoli, P. M., (1989). Tectonic Discrimination of Granitoids. The Geological Society of America, 101, 635-643. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1989)101<0635:TDOG>2.3.CO;2.
- Frost, B. R., Barnes, C. G., Collins, W. J., Arculus, R. J., Ellis, D. J., Frost, C. D., (2001). A geochemical classification for granitic rocks. Journal of Petrology, 42, 2033-2048. https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/42.11.2033.
- Irvine, T. N., Barragar, W. R. A., (1971). A guide to the chemical classification of the common volcanic rocks. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 8, 523-548. https://doi.org/10.1139/e71-055.
- Chappell, B. W., White, A. J. R., (1992). I- and S-Type Granites in the Lachlan Fold Belt. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sci-ences, 83, 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1130/SPE272-p1.
- Harker, (1909). The natural history of igneous rocks. Methuen, London. https://doi.org/10.2307/1777000.
- Mc Donough, W. F., Sun, S. S. (1995). The composition of the Earth. Chemical Geology, 120, 223-253. https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2541(94)00140-4.
- Bouyo, H. M., Penaye, J., Njel, U. O., Moussango, I. A. P., Sep, N. J. P., Nyama, A. B., Wassouo, W. J., Abate, E. J. M., Yaya, F., Mahamat, A., Hao, Y., Fei, W., (2016). Geoochrological, Geochemical and Mineralogical Contraints of Emplacement Depth of TTG suite from the Sinassi Batho-lith in the Central African Fold Belt (CAFB) of Northern Cameroon: Implications for Tectonomagmatic Evolution. Journal of African Earth Science, 116, 9-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2015.12.005.
- Rollinson, H. R. (1993). Using Geochemical Data: Evaluation, Presentation, Interpretation. Longman Scientific & Technical, 352 p.
- Zaraisky, G., Aksyuk, A., Devyatova, V., Udoratina, O., Chevychelov, V., (2009). The Zr/Hf ratio as a fractionation indicator of rare-metal granites. Petrology, 17(1), 25-45. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0869591109010020.
- Zhu, D., Mo, X., Wang, L., Zhao, Z., Niu, Y., Zhou, C., Yang, Y., (2009). Petrogenesis of highly fractionated I-type granites in the Zayu area of eastern Gangdese, Tibet: Constraints from zircon U-Pb geochronology, geochemistry and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes. Science in China, Series D: Earth Sci-ences, 52(9), 1223-1239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-009-0132-x.
- Davidson, J. P., McMillan, N. J., Moorbath, S., Worner, G., Harmon, R. S., Lopez-Escobar, L., (1990). The Nevados de Payachata volcanic region (18°S/69°W, N) II. Evidence for widespread crustal involvement in Andean magmatism. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 105, 412-432. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00286829.
- Nomo, N. E., Tchameni, R., Vanderhaeghe, O., Barbey, P., Fosso, T. P. M., Wambo, T. J. D., Lemdjou, B. Y., Saha, A. N., (2015). Petrography and Geochemistry of the Mbip granitic massif, SW Tcholiré (Central North Cameroon): Petrogenetic and geodynamic implication. International Jour-nal of Geosciences, 6, 761-775. https://doi.org/10.4236/ijg.2015.67062.
- Amadou, D. K., Naimou, S., Ntoumbé, M., Amaya, A. A. D., Bello, B., Haskandi, K. J., Awé, W. S., Ngounouno, I., (2021). Petrographic and geo-chemical study of Doua granitoids (Adamawa-Yadé domain, center Cameroon): Petrogenesis and geodynamic implication. International Journal of Advenced Geosciences, 9 (2), 99-109. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijag.v9i2.31702.
- Bau, M., 1991. Rare-earth element mobility during hyrothermal and metamorphic fluid-rock interaction and significance of the oxidation sate of euro-pium. Chemical Geology, 93 (3-4), 219-230. https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2541(91)90115-8.
- Peycru, P., Dupin, J. M., Fogelgesang, J. F., Van, D. R. C., Cariou, F., Perrier, C., Augère, B., (2008). Géologie, Tout-En-Un. BCPST. Dunod, Par-is, 641 p.
- Heinhorst, J., Lehmann B., Seltmann, S., (1996). New geological data on granitic rocks of central Kazakhstan. In Granite-related ore deposits of cen-tral Kazakhstan and adjacent areas (eds. V. Shatov, R. Selmann, A. Kremenetssky, B. Lehmann, V. Popov, and P. Ermolov). Glagol publishing House, St. Petersburg.
- Zoheir, B. A., Mehanna, A. M., Qaoud, N. N., (2008). Geochemistry and geothermobarometry of the Um Eleiga Neoproterozoic island arc intrusive complex, SE Egypt: genesis of a potential gold-hosting intrusion. Applied Earth Sciences: IMM Transactions section B, 117(3), 89-111. https://doi.org/10.1179/174327508X375620.
- Robin, G., (2010). Ignous rock and processes: A pratical guide. Wiley-Blackwell, Eedition print 2010, 428p.
- Taylor, S. R., McLennan, S. M., (1985). The continental cust: its composition and evolution. Blackwell, 312p.
- Rudnick, R. L., Fountain, D. M., (1995). Nature and composition of the Continental-Crust a Lower Crust perspective. Revue of Geophysics, 33(3), 267-309. https://doi.org/10.1029/95RG01302
- Scoates, J. S., Frost, C. D., Mitchell, J. N., Lindsley, D. H., Frost, B. R., (1996). Residual liquid origin for a monzonite intrusion in a mid-Proterozoic anorthosite complex: The Sybille intrusion, Laramie anorthosite complex, Wyoming. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 108, 1357-1371. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1996)108<1357:RLOFAM>2.3.CO;2.
- Anderson, I. C., Frost, C. D., Frost, B. R., (2003). Petrogenesis of the Red Mountain pluton, Laramie anorthosite complex, Wyoming: implications for the origin of A-type granites. In: Medaris, L. G. Jr, Byers, C. W., Mickelson, D. M. & Shanks, W. C. (eds). Proterozoic geology: selected papers from an international symposium, Precambrian Research, 124, 243-267. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-9268(03)00088-3.
- Pearce, J. A., Harris, N. B. W., Tindle, A. G. (1984). Trace element discrimination diagrams for the tectonic interpretation of granitic rocks. Journal of Petrology, 25(4), 956-983. https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/25.4.956.
- Djouka-Fonkwé, M. L., Schulz, B., Schüssler U., Tchouankoué, J. P., Nzolang, C., 2008. Geochemistry of the Bafoussam Pan-African I- and S-type granitoids in western Cameroon. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 50, 148-167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2007.09.015.
- Yaya, F., Mero Y., Tchameni, R., Wassouo, W. J., Amadou, D. K., Penaye, J., Mahamat, A., Nomo, N. E. (2022). Peraluminous granitoids within the Hangloa area, Adamawa-Yadé Domain, Cameroon: Petrogenesis and tectonic implication. Acta Geochimica, pp. 1-17.
- Abdelsalam, M. G., Liégeois, J. P., Stern, R.J. (2002). The Saharan Metacraton. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 34(3-4), 119-136. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0899-5362(02)00013-1.
- Rudnick, R. L., and Gao, S. (2003). Composition of the continental crust. Treatise on Geochemistry, 3, 1-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-08-043751-6/03016-4.
- Cerny, P., Blevin, P. L., Cuney, M., Breaks, F. W. (2005). Granite-related ore deposits. Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Volume, 337-370. https://doi.org/10.5382/AV100.12.
- Linnen, R. L., Van Lichtervelde, M., Cerny, P. (2012). Granitic pegmatites as sources of strategic metals. Elements, 8(4), 275-280.
- London, D. (2008). Pegmatites. The Canadian Mineralogist, Special Publication 10, 347 p. https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.8.4.275.
- Tischendorf, G., Förster, H. J., Gottesmann, B., Rieder, M. (1997). On Li-bearing micas: estimating Li from electron microprobe analyses and an im-proved diagram for graphical representation. Mineralogical Magazine, 61(409), 809-834. https://doi.org/10.1180/minmag.1997.061.409.05.
- Bowell, R. J., Lagos, L., De los Hoyos, C. R., Declercq, J. (2020). Classification and characteristics of natural lithium resources. Elements, 16(4), 259-264. https://doi.org/10.2138/gselements.16.4.259.
- Ballouard, C., Poujol, M., Boulvais, P., Branquet, Y., Tartèse, R., Vigneresse, J. L. (2016). Nb-Ta fractionation in peraluminous granites: A marker of the magmatic-hydrothermal transition. Geology, 44(3), 231-234. https://doi.org/10.1130/G37475.1.
-
Downloads
-
How to Cite
Kepnamou, A. D., Seguem, N., Alexandre , G. A. ., Luther , N. F. W. ., Mama, N. ., & Josue , H. K. . (2026). Petrography, Geochemistry, and Lithium Exploration Potential of Pan-African Granitoids from Pamsi Area (Northern Cameroon Domain). International Journal of Advanced Geosciences, 14(1), 43-54. https://doi.org/10.14419/p29jqd76
