Introduction

I. Characterization of the western region

I.1 Geographically

I.2. On the geological level

II. Quarries encountered in western Cameroon according to their origins

II.1 Magmatic origin quarries

II.2 Sedimentary origin quarries

III. Mode of operation of quarries

III.1. Artisan mode

III.2. Industrial mode and extraction methods

IV. Impact of the exploitation of quarries in western Cameroon

IV.1. Social impacts

IV.2. Valuation and economic impacts

IV.3. Environmental impacts

V. Legal aspect: Mining Code

Conclusion
Introduction

The Western Region is rich in significant mining potential spread across eight
Departments. Quarries are places where construction materials are extracted using
manual methods and processes that are minimally mechanized, as is the case in the western region.
This is how industrially exploited careers are distinguished, hence the processes.
of modern and mechanized exploitation and artisanal exploitation quarries whose
The exploitation is done manually in an archaic way. However, these quarries have a
influence on society, the economy, on the environment.
 I. Characteristics of the Western Region of Cameroon

I.1. Geographically

The West Region of Cameroon (OU) is one of the ten regions of the country located at 5°30' N;

10°30'E. It covers an area of 13892 km2 with a population of 2.77 million.

of inhabitants, thus the density varies from 115 to 125 inhabitants per km2. Also called the cradle of

Bamiléké, Tikar, Bamoun, Mbo ethnic groups, so the most commonly encountered dialects are: Yemba, the
Medumba, the Ghomala, the Féfé, the Bamoun, the Mbo. It is subdivided into 8 departments.
notably the bamboutos (Mbouda), the Haut-nkam (Bafang), high plateau (Baham), kouing-nki
(Bandjoun), Menoua (Dschang), noun (Foumban), Ndé (Baganté) and Mifi (Bafoussam: chief-
place of the said region); and 40 municipalities. The terrain encountered is much more mountainous with

very steep slopes but we also note the presence of some plains (Noun and Tikar).
The climate is of the equatorial type, similar to that of Cameroon, with two main seasons: dry.
dry season (October to March) and a rainy season (March to November), the temperature varies from
11 to 30°C, thus an average temperature of 9 to 2°C. Its ecology is represented by three
biogeographical ecosystems: wooded tropical savanna, a meadow and shrublands
mountains.

Map of the Western Cameroon

I.2. On the geological level

The Western region of Cameroon is made up of two major units, the old basement.
ancient Precambrian granitic gneiss and volcanic formations, felsic to basaltic
were set up thanks to the numerous flaws that have cut the foundation during the
outpourings that have succeeded from the Cretaceous to the present day. The rock outcrops
mostly igneous, then sedimentary, with traces of metamorphic. And thus the region
is dominated by volcanic rocks (basalt, ignimbrite, phonolite), plutonic (granite)
syenite), sedimentary (clay sand), and metamorphic (gneiss). It should be noted that its rocks
Magmatic rocks originate from the volcanoes present on the volcanic line of Cameroon. The soils
fertile areas favored in part by the latest volcanic eruptions.

II. The different careers encountered in West Cameroon according to their origins

II.1. magmatic origin quarries

The western region is full of several quarries in almost all of its eight departments.
among which we can mention:

The career of Bamegoum: which is an industrial commercial career, this career

has been exploited since 2015. It is located in the department of Mifi, having a base
granite featuring basalt intrusions that covers the entire area. In
the granite appears altered with intrusions of basalts
prismatic colonnades.
The career of pété Bandjoun: it is located in the department of Nkoung-nki; it
has been exploited since 1958 and is presented in open sky under a volcanic base with
exploitation of basalt.
The open-pit basalt quarry located in Foréké-Dschandg in the department of
implementation carried out by the company Razel.
The open-pit basalt quarry of Toket located in the department of Mifi.
The Banganté quarry in the Ndé is situated on a granite base. It is being exploited.
by the company Cojefar.
The open-pit basalt quarry in Bana in the Haut-Nkam.
The pozzolana quarry in Noun at Foumbot is mined opencast.
II.2. sedimentary origin careers

Lac8 quarry in Dschang in the Menoua department

The sand quarry in Baté on the High Plateau
The sand quarry of Baleng in the Mifi
Sand quarry of Nepenet in the Mifi
II. Operation method of quarries in western Cameroon

Depending on the materials used in the work or the degree of mechanization, the
employed staff, quantities of materials produced, we have some types of quarries
industrial and especially artisanal types in the region, namely: the quarry of the KETCH company
located in the Lafé quarter in the Baleng quarter; the pozzolana quarry in Foumban in the
Noun department, the sand quarry of Baté finally the RAZEL quarry located in Foréké.
Dschang...

III.1. Industrial operating mode

In the quarries where industrial exploitation takes place, we have several machines.
of extraction and loading such as:

The stripping and site preparation equipment (bulldozer)

The drilling equipment (TAMROCK)

The extraction equipment (excavation shovel)

The loading equipment (wheel loader)

The transport equipment (Dumper truck)

According to the above, the steps of industrial exploitation are numerous and
coherent, they are among others:

Striping the soil: This involves the operations of destroying the vegetation cover and
the entire thickness of alteration that covers the rock. These works are carried out using the
The excavator and the excavated materials are transported by dump trucks.
towards a designated deposit point within the quarry. Photo 1 opposite
illustrate this step.
 Photo1: A part of the industrial quarrying site in Dschang

Forassions It involves drilling vertical holes about 10 cm in diameter in the

rock according to a well-defined spacing (the 'mesh'). In the case of the RAZEL quarry
CAM from Foréké-Dschang for example, an average of one hundred holes of a depth
holes between 10 m and 14 m deep and 10 cm in diameter are dug in
average twice a week according to a precise training plan.

Photo 2: Fossils in the Razel-Cam quarry

Mining: The drilling holes are filled with explosives. The successive explosion
roughly fragment the rock (< 800 mm) and bring it down. These explosives are
made up of different products including dynamite, nitrate, and detonators
electric. These are the elements, whose nature and power are adapted to
the operation and therefore arranged according to a very specific logic. At the bottom of the hole is placed
the detonator, at 6m we place the ammonium nitrate, then, in the center of the dynamite, we
connect electric detonators adjusted using micro-delays. At the top, one
compact the fill with the previously excavated earth. Using a trigger,
We proceed to mining. Mining letters allow for the fragmentation of a rock that is too
hard or too compact. We distinguish two types of mines: the large ones and the small ones.

minors. The principle in the first case is to generate a shock wave that fractures the
rock. This period is followed by the release of a significant amount of gas that will
to engulf in the cracks and bring down the rock by collapsing the fragments. This
the process is repeated in smaller increments on rock fragments that are too large until
the obtaining of smaller dimensions called rubble. The cutting and the lumping into blocks
are operations carried out using several chemical constituents and
mechanical materials. Inside each drilled hole with a depth varying between
12m and 14m are added with products according to a very precise combination. It is about
among other things: dynamite, ammonium nitrate, electric detonator, of
connector detonator, non-electric detonator, and earth for stuffing.
This is the case of the quarries of: Bamougoum in the Mifi, of Banganté exploited by the
Cojefar company in Ndé.
Scalping: it consists of sorting, the materials move on wide rails.
about 200 mm or the smallest pass through. Fine materials are often
improper for the noble uses of aggregates. Thus scalping eliminates them as in the example of
clays.
Crushing - Primary crushing: coarse materials are broken by a
direct mechanical action, for example the closing of two vertical jaws or the
projected violence on a metal screen. One generally seeks to obtain
materials ranging from 0 to 250 mm.
Primary screening: at the end of primary crushing, the materials are sent by
belt conveyors on a series of vibrating grids. The size of the holes in the
grilles allow for sorting materials. Those small enough to be
Commercialized items are put in stock, pre-stocking: optional, putting in stock
and the recovery of the others goes towards secondary crushing. The materials intended for a
Further processing allows for flexibility in the operation of the plant.
The primary part can thus function separately from the rest of the installation.
Secondary grinding: Here, the materials that are too large are broken by an action.
Often indirect mechanics using the attribution. Vertical cone grinders.
Roundabouts are common. We then seek to reduce the size of the largest to 50 mm.
Secondary screening: same principle as before, but materials that are too large
go back to the secondary crusher, the others go either to the tertiary crushing,
either towards marketable stocks. In tertiary grinding: we aim to obtain
materials less than 14 mm in diameter. Tertiary screening: Several screens in
 series finish separating the aggregates into increasingly fine 'cuts'. The photo here-
The below illustrates the screening stage.

III.2. Mode of artisanal exploitation

This mode of exploitation is done by: in the case of sand, the excavation of the slopes of the
hills of granite arenas in this case are obtained by excavating the slopes
the hills of different localities. It is indeed the most practiced form in the region of
Western Cameroon. This form of exploitation has often led to the disappearance of the peaks.
important place names in the region (Baté, Bamougoum, Bangou, Bandjoun). This
especially since it is a mixture of quartz, with traces of feldspar, iron, and magnesium.
Operators use a range of varied equipment for this purpose, which changes according to the mode.
of exploitation and specialization. In these careers, wheelbarrows are used for
transport the sand from the drains to the points of exposure. The shovels, for their part, are used
to stir, wash the mixture made of earth and sand, also to sort the sand from
drains in contact with water and finally for loading trucks. The mine bars and picks.
are meant to dig and lower the mixture into the drains. The pipes allow
to channel the water from the waterways to the sandpit. The forks observed in the
Sandboxes allow for keeping the pipes stationary and directing these pipes toward the parts.
from the sand pit to dig. Water is of paramount importance and a limiting factor in this
activity as it allows to clean the sand. The perforated hoes are used to collect the
sand while letting water flow.

The exploitation of sand through digging and screening In this case, the operators
They use quite a bit of equipment. It is specifically about the shovels that allow for scraping the
organic matter that covers the upper part and must perform the excavation. It serves
also to collect the sand and load it. The wheelbarrow that ensures the movement of the sands
as well as blocks that cannot be screened in the remote corners of the
career and the mixing towards the area where the sieve is located. The forks and picks are used to
dig the hill.
 Photo 3: Screening of materials extracted from the quarry in Baleng

However, we have the exploitation of basalt and granite exploited in an artisanal manner in
the careers in West Cameroon, which is more practiced and occupies moreover 75% of
quarries encountered in the region. This is how during the work in these quarries, one
observe the following equipment: The crowbar that allows reaching the depths of the
rock through the various cracks; The hammer once the pry bar is driven in
the rock face allows tapping to isolate the desired block or vein until the break.
fall of the block into the pit. The hammer which in turn allows to crush the rock into rubble
it gives the requested shapes and also facilitates transport to the exhibition area. The chisel
It is an instrument made of a round piece of iron and flat iron cut to small sizes. By contrast
The chisel allows for opening fissures in the rock with the help of the pry bar.
hammer. The machete that is used for clearing before stripping. The pickaxe, it is used to
digging the rock blocks in the quarries where the basalts are isolated from each other and
separated by the earth. The wheelbarrow at the same time as the buckets ensures the movement of the earth

towards the already exploited parts or to carry mud that comes out of the pits during the season
rains.

Speaking of the steps of artisanal exploitation, the basalts and the granites in the
careers we can have:

The stripping
Photo 4: cutting of the laterites on the rovers in the quarries of Toket in Bafoussam

The opening of the pit on the front of the rock block to be extracted is the step that consists of
to open a pit in the direction of the evolution of the quarry. This pit is of a
capital importance insofar as it is in this that the blocks will be housed by
call to the void and also it is in these pits that the operators position themselves to
better observe the cracks in the rock. It is still in these pits that takes place the
crushing of stones. We can observe the pit in the adjacent photo.

Photo 5: exploitation holes of basalts in the Toket quarries

The detachment of rock is part of the complex phases of extraction activity.

Here is where the operator must use all of their senses to identify the
fissures after a deep study of the structure of basalts. Thus with the help of the chisel and
With the crowbar, he isolates the basalt vein and propels it into the pit. He sends it
drill in the crack to create the passage for the crowbar, which is a little longer
and which allows him to tilt the basalt vein into the void. In case he experiences some
difficulties in fixing the chisel in the crack, he uses the hammer for this purpose.
 Crushing of basalt chips into rubble This step constitutes the final phase
of extractive activity as it concerns the sizing of the rock. It is about
the operation that involves giving the detached vein the required size that may be
transportable by the operator of the pit to the exhibition site. This is where the
massetes come into play for the fragmentation especially since it is almost difficult to
transport a whole vein from the extraction point to the loading point. As
for example in Toket's career in the Mifi
Transport of the rubble to the exhibition area after the crushing phase
Crushing and screening. Unlike many traditional quarries
artisans that abound in the Western region of Cameroon, a few develop
techniques that bring them closer to the so-called industrial careers. This
the technique consists of observing the steps described above and to crush by means of
mallets and hammers and to proceed with the sieving. For example, at the quarry of
Bandjoun is broken

VI. Impact of quarry exploitation in western Cameroon

VI.1. Social Impact

The exploitation of quarries plays an important role in that it

recruit men, women, and unemployed youth by helping them break free from the yoke
from poverty. Improve housing, maintain living standards during the economic crisis.
On the other hand, men, women, and children live unconsciously under the threat of a
possible landslide, collapses due to heavy exploitation of spaces
by young people in search of their daily bread. Thus, some careers are a place of
theater, of fraud, fights that some employees aim to use force to achieve
dominate the weak or they will seek to dictate their laws. Following the landslides in
In quarries, there are losses of human life, as was the case in 2014 and 2017.
in the Foto quarry in the Menoua department; where a death was reported (a father of
several children). 'Reviewed Geographical Space and Moroccan Society no 58, March 2022'.

VI.2. Economic impact and valuation

 Quarries fuel the construction of infrastructure, housing,
buildings, sports equipment and roads. But also funding from the budget of
municipalities (tax payments). They create wealth used in Construction Works
Public (BTP) nevertheless, this unit faces difficulties such as: poor governance,
the misery of the local population, the recovery of taxes on extraction due to the fact that the
operators operate in secrecy and do not register in the registry of the
Regional delegate of the ministry in charge of careers, access to the quarries is difficult.
especially during the rainy season given the level of deterioration of the roads

VI.3. Environmental Impact

We are not unaware that quarrying has a huge detrimental effect on the...
ecological point of view (upheaval of environments and species), of the relief (deformation of
affluent structure), as well as at the environmental level (local management of water flows,
energy transfer modification), as well as landscapes (sudden break in lines of
(enrichment). It should be noted that at the level of the operations managed by the head of Baleng,

The consequences of environmental degradation are more pronounced. Nearly entire sections of
the hills that connect to Lake Takouche have collapsed. A bit like at the cliff level of
Banefo in the municipality of Bafoussam second. For decades, this cliff has been the
site of degradation of an important aquifer. This means that the soils do not
are not fertile, hence the decline in harvests in the municipality of Baganté, we are witnessing at Sun

Destruction of the hills due to rock exploitation. In the municipality of Baté, no

only the quarry operators destroyed the local flora but they have almost damaged the
mountain slopes. From a climatic point of view, the data obtained in the field gives us
approximately 20106 tons of CO2 per year for a quarry related to fuel consumption
approximately 18954 for all the surveyed quarries and approximately 58056 tons of CO2
annual equivalent for a single career related to slaughtering, which is approximately 5225.04 tons
CO2 equivalent for all the quarries surveyed.

V. Legal aspect: mining code

The mining exploitation in Cameroon is governed by law No. 2016/17 of December 14.
2016 mining code, it governs: the recognition, the exploration, the exploitation,
detention, transport, transformation, and marketing of useful substances.
 According to Chapter 1 (common provisions for the exploitation of substances)
career), article 64, paragraph 1, are subject to the legal regime of careers: the sites of
construction and amendment materials for soil cultivation and other substances
analogues notably silica sand, gravel, pumice... as well as any other
mineral substance found in a natural state in the form of loose deposits. However, we ...
note that the safety distance of 500m provided in chapter 1 article 66 paragraph 2 is not
still not respected in certain industries of the said region, like in the case of Bamougoum...
Some landowners hosting a quarry operate it without authorization:
sand pit of the lake 8 in Dschang. According to Chapter 1 Article 69, paragraph 2, the owner of the
He is required to obtain authorization or an operating permit if he wishes to operate a...
quarry located on its land.
Conclusion

In short, we can say that the exploitation of quarries such as sand,

basalts, granites, and pozzolanas pose a major problem for the environment as they
it does not consist solely of gathering and especially of digging the slopes in the
region. Certainly, the supply careers, the construction of infrastructures such as buildings
and routes, they employ men as drivers of family development, financing of
municipal budgets fighting against unemployment. Furthermore, careers are a source
landslides with loss of human life, they sterilize the lands and install the
Ravines on the slopes promote soil erosion. They disturb the groundwater table. And
Economic and social stakes are significant to the point where it would be desirable not to prohibit.
the activity but to educate and raise awareness among the mining population about the consequences of
the exploitation of quarries on the biophysical and human environment.