Pre-collisional Geodynamic Context of the Southern Margin of the Pan-African Fold Belt in Cameroon

We reassess the geodynamic context close to the Congo craton during the pre-collisional period of the Pan-African orogeny from whole-rock major and trace element compositions and isotopic data obtained in the westward extension of the Yaounde series (Boumnyebel area, Cameroon). The series consists of metasediments (micaschists, minor calc-silicate rocks and marbles) and meta-igneous rocks (hornblende gneisses, amphibolites, metagabbros, pyroxenites and talcschists) recrystallized under high-pressure conditions.Chemically, the micaschists correspond to shales and greywackes similar to the Yaounde high-grade gneisses. 87Sr/86Sr initial ratios (0.7084-0.7134), moderately negative eNd(620 Ma) values (-5.75 to -7.81), Nd model ages (1.66 < TDM < 1.74 Ga) and radiometric ages point to the conclusion that the Yaounde basin was filled with siliciclastic sediments derived from both reworked older continental crust (Palaeoproterozoic to Archaean in age) and Neoproterozoic juvenile volcanogenic material. This occurred in the same time span (625-1100 Ma) as the deposition of the Lower Dja, Yokadouma, Nola and Mintom series (Tonian-Cryogenian). Dolomitic marble associated with mafic/ultramafic rocks and characterized by high Cr (854-1371 ppm) and Ni (517-875 ppm) contents, are considered to result from chemical precipitation in relation with submarine magmatic activity.