Potential Source for the Alluvial Gold Deposit in the Kapoeta Area, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan

dc.contributor.authorBali, Francis Khamis Alex
dc.contributor.co-supervisorWoldai, Tsehaie
dc.contributor.supervisorKinnaird, Judith A.
dc.date.accessioned2024-10-25T09:51:33Z
dc.date.available2024-10-25T09:51:33Z
dc.date.issued2023-10
dc.descriptionA dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, to the Faculty of Science, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, .
dc.description.abstractThis study concentrates on the integrated approach of applying geochemical, and remote sensing data combined with field investigation to understand the source of the alluvial gold deposit in the Kapoeta area. The use of an integrated technique approach proves effective in mapping and outlining areas of potential gold mineralisation in Kapoeta. Kapoeta has been known for its endowment of gold deposits for quite some time. Landsat-8 (OLI) and SRTM-DEM satellite images were employed during this study to map lithological units and highlight areas of hydrothermal alteration and structural trends in Kapoeta to understand the potential source for the widely distributed alluvial gold in the area. The several image-processing techniques employed were effective in mapping the lithological units and outlining the major structural trends in the area. Mapping the hydrothermal alteration zones was challenging because of the overburden that masks most parts of the Neoproterozoic juvenile metavolcano-sedimentary sequences. Secondly, the vegetation cover is another factor affecting the mapping of the lithological units around the Didinga Hills and Dongotona mountains. Structural mapping identified four main trends N-S, NNW-SSE, NW-SE, and NE-SW. The image interpretation, together with geochemical occurrence and anomaly map showing Cu, Co, Ni, and Cr, shows that N-S and NNW-SSE are the potential controls on mineralisation in the area. The whole-rock geochemical data plotted on the TAS discrimination diagrams shows that the rocks analysed are dominantly tholeiitic with minor calc-alkaline units. Trace elements normalised to the primitive mantle show low concentrations of Zr, Hf, Nb and Ta. The REE normalised chondrite values indicates general enrichment of LREE elements relative to HREE with a negative Eu anomaly. On the tectonic discrimination diagrams, the results indicate that the rocks of Greater Kapoeta belong in a marine environment related to a spreading centre, oceanic island, oceanic ridges, and floor. The distribution of Cu, Co, Cr and Ni and their high concentration suggest that these elements are the potential pathfinders for gold in the area. The study concludes the following: Based on the remote sensing, field observations and geochemical data indicates that the gold mineralisation of Kapoeta is orogenic in nature with a strong element of epigenetic characteristics, however, a syngenetic origin cannot be ruled out. The host lithologies may vary from quartz veins to schists, amphibolites, quartzo-feldspathic gneisses, and ultramafics and the marbles related to the N-S, NNS-W-SSE and NW-SE trending shear zones that limit the greenstone belt.
dc.description.submitterMM2024
dc.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.identifier0000-0003-0830-1601
dc.identifier.citationBali, Francis Khamis Alex. (2023). Potential Source for the Alluvial Gold Deposit in the Kapoeta Area, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan. [Master's dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/41961
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/41961
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherUniversity of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
dc.rights©2023 University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
dc.rights.holderUniversity of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
dc.schoolSchool of Geosciences
dc.subjectLithological mapping
dc.subjectStructural mapping
dc.subjectRemote sensing
dc.subjectLandsat 7 ETM+/SRTM
dc.subjectLandsat 8 data
dc.subjectAlluvial gold mineralisation
dc.subjectSouth Sudan
dc.subjectUCTD
dc.subject.otherSDG-15: Life on land
dc.titlePotential Source for the Alluvial Gold Deposit in the Kapoeta Area, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan
dc.typeDissertation
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