Isaac Scientific Publishing

Geosciences Research

Palynomorphs of the First Down-Hole Shale Occurrence in Three Contiguous Basins in Nigeria: Implication on the K-Pg Boundary

Download PDF (1721.8 KB) PP. 151 - 160 Pub. Date: August 18, 2017

DOI: 10.22606/gr.2017.23001

Author(s)

  • Peter S. Ola*
    Department of Applied Geology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704 Akure, Nigeria
  • Blessing Adeoti*

    Department of Applied Geology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704 Akure, Nigeria

Abstract

Attempt was made to retrieve palynomorph and calcareous nannofossil from samples retrieved from first down-hole shale occurrence in three contiguous basins (Anambra, Bida and Benin Basins) in Nigeria with a view to determining their ages, paleoecology and the K-Pg boundary. A total of one hundred and sixteen species were recovered from all the samples. The occurrence of Echitriporites trianguliformis in the Anambra basin suggests ages of Campanian to Maastrichtian, while the common occurrence of Retitricolporites sp which is Paleocene to Eocene in samples from Anambra and Bida Basins confirms age relation. This modern palm (Retitricolporites sp) and fungal spores as well as the absence of algae spores and nannofossil suggest swamp environment of deposition and a hot tropical to subtropical climate. Its absence in the Benin basin suggests a little deviation in the age of deposition. An observed spike in the occurrence of Cyathidites sp and Laevigatosporites sp in the Okeluse samples suggest K-Pg boundary.

Keywords

K-Pg boundary, Nigeria, palynormorphys, Cyathidites sp, Laevigatosporites sp.

References

[1] Akande, S.O., Erdtmann, B.D., 1998. Metamorphism (thermal maturation) in Cretaceous sediments of the southern Benue Trough and Anambra Basin, Nigeria. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin. 82,1191-1206.

[2] Atta-Peters, D., Salami, M.B., 2004. Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary pollen grains from offshore Tano Basin, southwestern Ghana. Revista Espanola de Micropaleontologia. 36, 451-465

[3] Bercovici, D., 2003. The generation of plate tectonics from mantle convection. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 205, 107-121.

[4] Bercovici, D., Ricard, Y., Richards, M.A., 2000. The relation between mantle dynamics and plate tectonics: a primer. In: Richards, M., Gordon, R., van der Hilst, R. (Eds.), the history and dynamics of global plate motions, geophysical monograph, American Geophysical Union, 121, 1-46.

[5] Bercovici, A., Vajda V., Pearson, D. A., Villanueva-Amadoz, U., Kline D., 2012. Palynostratigraphy of John’s Nose, a new Cretaceous- Paleogene boundary in southwestern North Dakota, USA. Palynology, 36, 36-47.

[6] Brownfield, M.E. and Charpentier, R.R. (2006) Geology and Total Petroleum Systems of the West-Central Coastal Province (7203), West Africa. U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 2207-C, pp. 52

[7] Fleming, R. F., Nichols D J. 1988. The "Tschudy effect": fernspore abundance anomaly at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary. Palynology. 12, 238

[8] Germeraad, J.H., Hopping, C. A., Muller, J. 1968. Palynology of tertiary sediments from tropical areas. Review Paleobotany and Palynology. 6, 189-348.

[9] King, L.C., 1950. Outline and distribution of Gondwanaland. Geological Magazine 87, 353-359.

[10] Kogbe, C.A., Ajakaiye, D.E., Matheis, G., 1981.Confirmation of rift structure along the middle – Niger Valley. Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences 1, 127-131.

[11] Ladipo, K.O., 1988. Paleogeography, sedimentation and tectonics of the upper Cretaceous Anambra Basin, Southeastern Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences. 7,815-821

[12] Jaramillo, C. A., Milton, R., and Vladimir, T., 2011. A palynological zonation for the Cenozoic of the Llanos and Llanos Foothills of Colombia, Palynology, 35, 46- 84

[13] Jardine, S., Magloire, L., 1965. Palynologie et stratigraphie du Cretace des Bassins du Senegal et de Cote d’Ivoire. Mem. Bur. Rech. Geology Min. 32, 187-245.

[14] Lawal, O., Moullade, M., 1986. Palynological biostratigraphy of the Cretaceous sediments in the Upper Benue Basin, N.E. Nigeria. Rev. Micropaleontol., 29, 61-83.

[15] Mebradu, S., 1982. The age of the Ugbogui/Ofumwegbe shales: preliminary report. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 38, 337-344

[16] Nichols, D.J.,Fleming, R.F., 1990. Plant microfossil record of the terminal Cretaceous event in the western United States and Canada. In: Shapton, V.L., Ward, P.B. (Eds.), Global catastrophes in earth history: an interdisciplinary conference on impacts, volcanism, and mass mortality. Geological Society of America Special Paper. 247, 445–455.

[17] Obaje N.G., 2009. Geology and Mineral Resources of Nigeria, Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, pp 69-72

[18] Ojo, S.B., Ajakaiye, D.E., 1976. Preliminary interpretation of gravity measurements in the Middle Niger Basin area, Nigeria. In C.A. Kogbe (ed.) Geology of Nigeria. pp. 295 - 307.

[19] Ogala, J.E., Ola-Buraimo A.O., Akaegbobi I.M., 2009. Palynological and palaeoenvironmental study of the Middle-Upper Maastrichtian Mamu Coal Facies in Anambra Basin, Nigeria: In World Applied Sciences Journal 7, 1566-1575.

[20] Phipps, D., Playford, G., 1984. Laboratory techniques for extraction of palynomorphs from sediments. Papers, Department of Geology, University of Queensland, 11, 1-23.

[21] Slimani, H., Louwye, S., Toufiq, A., 2010. Dinoflagellate cysts from the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary at Ouled Haddou, southeastern Rif, Morocco: Biostratigraphy, Paleoenvironments and Paleobiogeography 34, 90-124

[22] Sowunmi M, A., 1981. Late Quaternary environmental changes in Nigeria. Pollen et spores. 23,125-148.

[23] Sweet A. R., Braman D. R., 1992. The K-T boundary and the contiguous strata in western Canada: Interactions between paleoenvironments and palynological assemblages, Cretaceous Research, 13, 31-79

[24] Tschudy R. H., Pillmore C. L., Orth C. J., Gilmore J. S., Knight J. D., 1984. Disruption of the terrestrial plant ecosystem at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary, Western Interior. Science, 225, 1030-1032

[25] Vajda V., Bercovici A., 2012. Pollen and spore stratigraphy of the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass-extinction interval in the Southern Hemisphere. Journal of Stratigraphy, 36(2), 153-164

[26] Van der Hammen, T., 1956. A palynological systematic nomenclature. Boletin Geologico, 5, 63-101

[27] Van hoeken-Klinkengerg P.M.J., 1964. A palynological investiagation of some Upper Cretaceous sediments in Nigeria. Pollen et Spore, 6, 209-231.