Elliptical complex of 12 x 5 km emplaced in Precambrian migmatitic gneisses and consists of granite, quartz syenite, granite porphyry and rhyolitic volcanic rocks which contain benmoreite xenoliths.

Tin mineralization occurs in a stockwork of veins extending over 2.3 km² with grades of 0.3% Sn. The mineralization is confined to biotite granites and vein minerals include quartz, cassiterite, zinnwaldite and minor topaz.
The Mayo Darley pluton is an anorogenic complex of the Cameroon Line (CL). Mayo-Darley is composed of a differentiated alkali suite of rocks consisting of syenite, rhyolite, and granite which form the Mayo-Darley complex. The Mayo-Darley tin field is situated on the northeast border of one of the younger granites. It is an alkaline complex where syenite is of Upper Cretaceous—Eocene age (73 ± 6 Ma) and granite 55 ± 1 Ma. These, form the relief of mounts Guengue (10 km long by 3 km and of N-S orientation). From this tin field, a set of granitic intrusions of various sizes designate a ridge-oriented NE and extend for about 10 km. These intrusions are associated with tin mineralization (Yoli, Mayos) or tin/wolfram mineralization (Mayo-Darley). The main primary mineralization on the tin field is linked to quartz/- greisen veins found in different spots, covering an area of 6 km2 close to the contact between the granite/gneiss.

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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.

ⓘ Tin

Mineral List

8 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

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Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Albite

Formula: Na(AlSi₃O₈)

References:

Lavenir, Ndema Mbongué Jean; Fuh, Ndongfong Edson; Junior, Emmanuel Eseya Mengu (2023) Petrogenesis of the Mayo-Darley tin formations, anorogenic complex of the Cameroon Line: implication for tin deposit. Acta Geochimica, 42 (4). 704-725 doi:10.1007/s11631-023-00615-9

ⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase

Formula: (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si₂O₈]

References:

ⓘ 'Biotite'

Formula: K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂

References:

Koch, P. 1953. Notice Explicative sur la feuille Banyo. Carte Geologique de Reconnaissance a l'echelle du 1/500000. (E41) Territoire Cameroun, Paris.

Nguere, F.R. & Norman, D.I. 1985. Mayo-Darle tin deposit, west-central Cameroon (abstract). In: 13th Colloquium of African Geology. St. Andrews, Scotland. Occasional Publication, International Centre for Training and Exchange in the Geosciences, 3, 302-303.

Gazel, J., Lasserre, M., & Limasset, J. C. (1963). Ages absolus des massifs granitiques ultimes et de la minéralisation en étain du Cameroun central. Comptes rendus de l'Académie des Sciences, 256(13), 2875-2878.

Cantagrel, J. M., Jamond, C. & Lasserre, M. (1978). LE MAGMATISME ALCALIN DE LA LIGNE DU CAMEROUN AU TERTIAIRE INFERIEUR: DONNEES GEOCHRONOLOGIQUES K/AR. Bulletin de la Societe Geologique de France Compte Rendu Sommaire des Seances, 20, 300-303.

Lasserre, M. (1978). MISE AU POINT SUR LES GRANITOIDES DITS" ULTIMES" DU CAMEROUN: GISEMENT, PETROGRAPHIE ET GEOCHRONOLOGIE. Bulletin du Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres, Paris, 4, 143-159.

ⓘ Cassiterite

Formula: SnO₂

References:

Koch, P. 1953. Notice Explicative sur la feuille Banyo. Carte Geologique de Reconnaissance a l'echelle du 1/500000. (E41) Territoire Cameroun, Paris.

ⓘ 'Feldspar Group'

References:

ⓘ Hematite

Formula: Fe₂O₃

References:

ⓘ 'K Feldspar'

References:

Koch, P. 1953. Notice Explicative sur la feuille Banyo. Carte Geologique de Reconnaissance a l'echelle du 1/500000. (E41) Territoire Cameroun, Paris.

ⓘ Muscovite

Formula: KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Orthoclase

Formula: K(AlSi₃O₈)

References:

ⓘ 'Plagioclase'

Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈

References:

ⓘ Quartz

Formula: SiO₂

References:

Koch, P. 1953. Notice Explicative sur la feuille Banyo. Carte Geologique de Reconnaissance a l'echelle du 1/500000. (E41) Territoire Cameroun, Paris.

ⓘ Riebeckite

Formula: ◻Na₂(Fe²⁺₃Fe³⁺₂)Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂

References:

Koch, P. 1953. Notice Explicative sur la feuille Banyo. Carte Geologique de Reconnaissance a l'echelle du 1/500000. (E41) Territoire Cameroun, Paris.

ⓘ 'Sodic amphibole'

References:

Koch, P. 1953. Notice Explicative sur la feuille Banyo. Carte Geologique de Reconnaissance a l'echelle du 1/500000. (E41) Territoire Cameroun, Paris.

ⓘ Topaz

Formula: Al₂(SiO₄)(F,OH)₂

References:

Koch, P. 1953. Notice Explicative sur la feuille Banyo. Carte Geologique de Reconnaissance a l'echelle du 1/500000. (E41) Territoire Cameroun, Paris.

ⓘ 'Tourmaline'

Formula: AD₃G₆(T₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃X₃Z

References:

ⓘ 'Wolframite Group'

References:

ⓘ 'Zinnwaldite'

References:

Koch, P. 1953. Notice Explicative sur la feuille Banyo. Carte Geologique de Reconnaissance a l'echelle du 1/500000. (E41) Territoire Cameroun, Paris.

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Hematite	4.CB.05	Fe₂O₃
ⓘ	Quartz	4.DA.05	SiO₂
ⓘ	Cassiterite	4.DB.05	SnO₂
ⓘ	'Wolframite Group'	4.DB.30 va
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Topaz	9.AF.35	Al₂(SiO₄)(F,OH)₂
ⓘ	Riebeckite	9.DE.25	◻Na₂(Fe²⁺₃Fe³⁺₂)Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
ⓘ	Muscovite	9.EC.15	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
ⓘ	Orthoclase	9.FA.30	K(AlSi₃O₈)
ⓘ	Albite	9.FA.35	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
ⓘ	var. Oligoclase	9.FA.35	(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si₂O₈]
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Biotite'	-	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
ⓘ	'Feldspar Group'	-
ⓘ	'Tourmaline'	-	AD₃G₆(T₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃X₃Z
ⓘ	'Zinnwaldite'	-
ⓘ	'Plagioclase'	-	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
ⓘ	'K Feldspar'	-
ⓘ	'Sodic amphibole'	-

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
H	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
H	ⓘ Riebeckite	◻Na₂(Fe₃²⁺Fe₂³⁺)Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
H	ⓘ Topaz	Al₂(SiO₄)(F,OH)₂
H	ⓘ Zinnwaldite
Li	Lithium
Li	ⓘ Zinnwaldite
B	Boron
B	ⓘ Tourmaline	AD₃G₆(T₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃X₃Z
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
O	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
O	ⓘ Cassiterite	SnO₂
O	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
O	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
O	ⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase	(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si₂O₈]
O	ⓘ Orthoclase	K(AlSi₃O₈)
O	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Riebeckite	◻Na₂(Fe₃²⁺Fe₂³⁺)Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
O	ⓘ Topaz	Al₂(SiO₄)(F,OH)₂
O	ⓘ Tourmaline	AD₃G₆(T₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃X₃Z
O	ⓘ Zinnwaldite
O	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
F	Fluorine
F	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
F	ⓘ Topaz	Al₂(SiO₄)(F,OH)₂
F	ⓘ Zinnwaldite
Na	Sodium
Na	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
Na	ⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase	(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si₂O₈]
Na	ⓘ Riebeckite	◻Na₂(Fe₃²⁺Fe₂³⁺)Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
Na	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Mg	Magnesium
Mg	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
Al	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Al	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Al	ⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase	(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si₂O₈]
Al	ⓘ Orthoclase	K(AlSi₃O₈)
Al	ⓘ Topaz	Al₂(SiO₄)(F,OH)₂
Al	ⓘ Zinnwaldite
Al	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
Si	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Si	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase	(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si₂O₈]
Si	ⓘ Orthoclase	K(AlSi₃O₈)
Si	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
Si	ⓘ Riebeckite	◻Na₂(Fe₃²⁺Fe₂³⁺)Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Topaz	Al₂(SiO₄)(F,OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Zinnwaldite
Si	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
K	Potassium
K	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
K	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
K	ⓘ Orthoclase	K(AlSi₃O₈)
K	ⓘ Zinnwaldite
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase	(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si₂O₈]
Ca	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Ti	Titanium
Ti	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Fe	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
Fe	ⓘ Riebeckite	◻Na₂(Fe₃²⁺Fe₂³⁺)Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
Fe	ⓘ Zinnwaldite
Sn	Tin
Sn	ⓘ Cassiterite	SnO₂

Geochronology

Mineralization age: Paleogene : 63.3 ± 1.3 Ma to 49.5 ± 1 Ma

Important note: This table is based only on rock and mineral ages recorded on mindat.org for this locality and is not necessarily a complete representation of the geochronology, but does give an indication of possible mineralization events relevant to this locality. As more age information is added this table may expand in the future. A break in the table simply indicates a lack of data entered here, not necessarily a break in the geologic sequence. Grey background entries are from different, related, localities.

Geologic Time

Rocks, Minerals and Events

ⓘ K Feldspar	49.5 ± 1 Ma
ⓘ Biotite	56 ± 8 Ma

Paleocene

ⓘ Granite

63.3 ± 1.3 Ma

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent

Adamawa PlateauPlateau

African PlateTectonic Plate

Central African OrogenOrogenic Belt

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Koch, P. 1953. Notice Explicative sur la feuille Banyo. Carte Geologique de Reconnaissance a l'echelle du 1/500000. (E41) Territoire Cameroun, Paris.

Woolley, A. R. (2001) Alkaline Rocks and Carbonatites of the World, Part 3: Africa - Alkaline Rocks and Carbonatites of the World. The Geological Society of London.p.34

[1]Lavenir, Ndema Mbongué Jean; Fuh, Ndongfong Edson; Junior, Emmanuel Eseya Mengu (2023) Petrogenesis of the Mayo-Darley tin formations, anorogenic complex of the Cameroon Line: implication for tin deposit. Acta Geochimica, 42 (4). 704-725 doi:10.1007/s11631-023-00615-9

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Mayo Darle Complex, Mayo-Banyo, Adamawa Region, CamerooniRegional Level TypesMayo Darle ComplexDeposit Mayo-BanyoDepartment Adamawa RegionRegion CameroonCountry function showexplain() { $("#locexplain").toggle(); if (typeof movemap === "function") movemap(); }

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Commodity List

Mineral List

Rock Types Recorded

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Detailed Mineral List:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

List of minerals for each chemical element

Geochronology

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References

Mayo Darle Complex, Mayo-Banyo, Adamawa Region, Cameroon i
Regional Level Types
Mayo Darle Complex Deposit
Mayo-Banyo Department
Adamawa Region Region
Cameroon Country