- (Business in Cameroon) – Sonamines has opened the selection process for a consultant to conduct a high-precision geophysical study over two 100-hectare blocks in the Sikoum limestone deposit.
- The study follows preliminary exploration confirming limestone presence but requiring refined data for future industrial exploitation.
- Results will produce detailed 2D and 3D geological models to guide resource estimation and drilling plans.
Cameroon’s state-owned mining company Sonamines has launched a selection process to recruit a specialized consultant to carry out a detailed geophysical survey on the Sikoum limestone deposit in the Littoral region.
The company said the consultant will conduct a precision study on two 100-hectare blocks identified during earlier reconnaissance work under the Sikoum research permit. The initiative is part of Sonamines’ strategy to enhance the value of the country’s mineral potential and prepare for industrial exploitation.
The Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development (Minmidt) granted Sonamines the Sikoum exploration permit on June 27, 2023. Since then, the company has carried out preliminary exploration, including core sampling, trenching, and a preliminary geophysical survey conducted in February 2023 over a 40-hectare area.
Initial results confirmed the presence of limestone formations but lacked sufficient correlation with existing data, making a higher-resolution geophysical survey necessary to refine subsurface imaging.
A reconnaissance campaign conducted from March 5 to 15, 2025, helped identify a 6-square-kilometer area of interest. Within this zone, Sonamines will focus on two 100-hectare blocks for the precision geophysical phase. The study aims to better understand deposit geometry, evaluate spatial continuity, and estimate the theoretical volume of reserves.
According to the terms of reference, the selected consultant will collect and process electrical data, produce 2D and 3D geological maps, and develop detailed lithological models. The consultant will also recommend optimal locations for future core drilling.
Sonamines said the results will provide a solid scientific foundation for planning the next stage of industrial exploitation of the Sikoum limestone deposit.
This article was initially published in French by Amina Malloum
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
