Evidence of Gold Mineralization Using Geoelectrical Methods (ERT and IP) in Bindiba Village, East Cameroon: A Case Study

Located within the Adamaoua‐Yadé domain in Cameroon, the Lom volcano–sedimentary formation represents a central component of the Central African Pan‐African Belt, which emerged during the Pan‐African orogeny between 600 and 500 Ma. The complexity of tectonic processes in this area has resulted in geological structures favorable to the presence of gold mineralization. The dynamic geological environment, characterized by detrital deposits and intense tectonic phases, is illustrated by the deformed and metamorphosed metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks of the Lom Formation. The accumulation of precious minerals such as gold and diamonds is facilitated by optimal stratigraphic conditions, including basalt, tuffs, quartz‐bearing sediments, schists, and conglomerates. These economically significant resources are closely associated with regional faults and ENE‐WSW‐oriented shear zones, which promote the circulation of mineralizing hydrothermal fluids. A geophysical study was conducted in the village of Bindiba, a locality situated within this geological formation, not far from a semimechanized gold mining operation. The study is aimed at establishing and proposing a modeling of potential mineralized targets. The geophysical study combines the use of electric resistivity tomography (ERT) and induced polarization (IP). The acquisition includes 17 parallel electric tomography lines in a Schlumberger configuration. The acquired data allowed the production of 2D inversion models, which were then interpolated to generate block models and pseudo‐3D isosurface models of potential mineralizations. The correlation of geological information and pseudo‐3D isosurface models allowed the characterization of the existence of three polarizable bodies, marked by the presence of sulfides, with high chargeability values ( M ≥ 30 mV/V). One of these bodies, presenting a strong chargeability, correlated to a low resistivity (Rho < 900 Ωm), is observed in the center of the study area. This body presents its roof at an average depth of 17 m, with a lateral extension and a NE‐SW orientation consistent with the general orientation of the main tectonic lines of the region. The two other polarizable bodies were identified near the surface, both in the center and in the north with average depths of 8 and 15 m, respectively. They both present a fairly good correlation with high resistivity values (Rho ≥ 5500 Ωm), which could characterize probable silicification zones.