Geoelectric Structure of the Crust along the Mbere Trough (South Adamawa) from Audio-Magnetotelluric Data

The South Adamawa trough represents a major structure associated to the tectonic activity in the Adamawa region. The Mbere and the Djerem troughs represent the eastern and the western parts of the South Adamawa trough respectively. The audio-magnetotelluric (AMT) method is used to study the Mbere trough and to bring out tectonic features that affect the basement of this region during the Cretaceous. From analysis and interpretation of AMT data, based on pseudo-section and geoelectric section, two geologic models are constructed across the trough at Belel and Nyambaka. Those models bring more information on the sediments thickness and the borders faults of the trough compared to previous studies. The results shows that the Mbere trough is dissymmetric, and bounded on its northern side by an intra-gneissic fault and on its southern side by two faults with at least one considered as a faulted contact between the granitic and gneissic rocks. The sediments filling of the trough are consist mainly of conglomerates on which lay sandstones. The thickness of these sediments is about 2060 m at Belel and decreases to about 1800 m at Nyambaka, with a low sandstones thickness, which does not exceed 360 m. The basement consists of granite in the South of the trough and gneiss in the North, with resistivity more than 10,000 Ω.m. The Moho is located between 25 and 35 km in the South Adamawa region.