CHAPTER ONE

BACKGROUND

1.1. General Introduction

The main purpose this course is to introduce students to field geologic, exploration, and mapping techniques. This field work is an over view other courses such as structural geology, metamorphic geology, igneous geology, geology of Cameroon, and mineralogy. It helps to increase the understanding of the above mentioned courses.

The study area consists of igneous, volcanoclastic, and metamorphic rocks in some areas. The fieldwork was carried out in Njombe-Penja so as to know the geology of the area, through geologic field mapping, and to confirm previous studies carried out in this area. In our area of focus were found many different types of rocks which were of metamorphic composition since the area of interest is a metamorphic environment. Also to note is the fact that rocks of igneous origin were identified in this locality and are said to have originated as a result of the episodes of eruptions from Mt. Cameroon. The said igneous rocks are volcanoclastic materials which are formed as a result of magma haven been poured out through the vent far into the atmosphere where it cooled and solidified rapidly and was deposited far away from the vent, forming volcanoclasts.

While in the field, the most appropriate and available method of studying metamorphic rocks was by the use of the necked eyes to examine, quantify and try to describe the rocks as seen in the outcrop. By doing so, structures that outcropped on the rocks such as folds, foliation, fractures, and faults, were identified and described as seen on the rocks. Describing the rocks could not had been effective without the aid of equipment such as a compass clinometer that gave readings of the dip, strike, trend and the plunge of structures as need arose. Also was the GPS that aided in locating our geographical position of study.

1.1.1.   Aims and Objectives

Objective

The main objective of this work is to carryout field geological mapping of Penja of the Ngondo complex, Littoral Region of Cameroon.

Specific Objectives

1. To identify and describe the rock types in the study area.
2. To describe the metamorphic conditions of the rock types in the study area.
3. To take and record structural data of outcrops at the area.
4. To prepare a sketch geology map of the area.
5. To analyze the field structural data using Stereo plots.