Potential Source Rocks of Ngaye Clayed Deposit (Northern Cameroon)

The aim of this paper is to identify the parent rocks of Ngaye clay deposit. To this end, mineralogical and geochemical analysis has been done, on the lithological formation found around the deposit and on the samples of clay deposit. The mineralogical analysis have been done by X-ray diffraction, specific treatments ethylene glycol, the hydrazine test and heating between 550C and 600C have confirmed the mineralogy of clay materials. For the geochemical analysis major, trace and rare earth elements have been analyzed. The rocks consist of granits, gneisses, amphibolites and quartzites. The metamorphic rock is mainly composed of amphibole, plagioclase and quartz. On its part, granits are constituted by plagioclase, feldspar, biotite and garnet. Mineralogical results of clays samples showed that it made by kaolinite, feldspar, quartz and muscovite. Positive correlation between major elements and barium in the clay sample compared to rocks suggested that gneisses could be the source rocks of these clay materials. The high contents of REE in clay compared to rocks contents, shows that there would have been an upgrading of REE during the supergene alteration of parent rocks. CIA values showed that the lithological formation have undergone moderate chemical alteration. This is in accordance with mineralogical procession of clay deposit, and the climate of the region.