Geochemical Characteristics of Dubele Lateritic Soils in the Moto Greenstone Belt (Northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo): Weathering Intensity, Ferruginous Lateritization and Mafic Provenance

Authors

  • Innocent Agama Badriyo Department of geology, Faculty of Science and technology, University of Goma, P.O.B. 204 Goma, DR Congo
  • Paulin Bamwambeye Isimbika Department of geology, Faculty of Science, University of Kisangani, P.O.B. 2012 Kisangani, DR Congo.
  • Placide Pioka La Pioka Department of geology, Faculty of Science and technology, University of Goma, P.O.B. 204 Goma, DR Congo
  • Nicaise Balise Tchuimegnie Ngongang Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O.B. 24157, Douala Cameroun.
  • Joseph Aguma Madrakele Department of geology, Faculty of Science, University of Kisangani, P.O.B. 2012 Kisangani, DR Congo.

Keywords:

Lateritic soils, Chemical weathering, Ferruginous laterite, Mafic provenance, High Arsenic content, Moto Greenstone Belt

Abstract

Lateritic soils developed on the Moto Greenstone Belt in the Dubele area (Watsa Territory, Haut-Uélé Province, northeastern DR Congo) were characterized geochemically to assess the weathering intensity, degree of lateritization, and parent-material affinity. Ten samples from the B horizon (~0.5 m depth) were analyzed using ED-XRF. The major element assemblage is dominated by SiO2, Fe2O3, and Al2O3, with marked depletion of alkalis and alkaline earths, reflecting intense leaching under humid tropical conditions. High CIA (mean 96.50), PIA (mean 95.26), and MIA values confirm the near-complete breakdown of the primary feldspar and ferromagnesian assemblages. The S/R ratios (0.91–1.62) and Fe2O3/Al2O3 ratios (mean 1.92) classify the materials as ferruginous laterites at the boundary with lateritic rocks, whereas the IOL values (58.18–71.99) place them at an intermediate stage of lateritic evolution. The Al2O3/TiO2 ratios (mean 8.83) and major-element discriminant functions point unambiguously to a mafic protolith, corroborated by elevated Cr, Ni, and V concentrations. Arsenic concentrations reach up to 2973 ppm, may probably originate from the supergene alteration of arsenopyrite and hydrothermal sulfide assemblages within the mineralized basement. These results provide the first geochemical dataset on lateritic soils and highlight the potential of lateritic geochemistry as an exploration tool within the auriferous Moto Greenstone Belt.

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2026-08-31

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