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Palynostratigraphy, biochronology and palaeobathymetry of a section of Awaizombe-1 well, eastern Niger Delta, Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 September 2022

Jacinta N. CHUKWUMA-ORJI Open the ORCID record for Jacinta N. CHUKWUMA-ORJI [Opens in a new window]
Jacinta N. CHUKWUMA-ORJI*
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria.
*
Corresponding author. E-mail: jacinta@futminna.edu.ng
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Abstract

Ditch cuttings (69 samples) from a section of Awaizombe-1well located in the Northern Depobelt of the eastern Niger Delta Basin were used for this study. The lithology of the studied interval 1373–1812 m (439 m thick) consists of fissile grey shale and mudstone units. The scid method of sample preparation for palynormorphs’ recovery was adopted. Analysis recorded a well-preserved and diverse assemblage of palynomorphs, rich in pollen, spores and dinoflagellate cysts (dinocysts). First and last occurrences of marker and age diagnostic species were used for palynostratigraphic interpretation. Four palynostratigraphic interval range zones were established: Psilatriporites sp.–Racemonocolpites hians Zone; early Oligocene (Rupelian age), Praedapollis africanus–Doualaidites laevigatus Zone; late Eocene (Priabonian age), middle Eocene (Lutetian and Bartonian ages), Doualaidites laevigatus–Praedapollis flexibilies Zone; and early Eocene (Ypresian age), Verrucatosporites usmensis–Retitricolpites ituensis Zone. The first downhole occurrence of D. laevigatus at the 1482 m marks the late Eocene/early Oligocene boundary. Established zones are useful for inter and intra basins correlation. Lithology and age of the studied section are suggestive of the lower Agbada Formation. Palaeoenvironmental interpretations using diagnostic species revealed two environments: brackish and inner neritic to upper bathyal (0–600 m) under relatively warm-water marine condition indicated by thermophilic dinocyst taxa, such as Lingulodinium machaerophorum, Polysphaeridium zoharyi and Homotryblium spp. The lithology and these types of environments are good sites for hydrocarbon generation.

Keywords

agepalaeoenvironmentpalynormorphspalynozone
Type
Spontaneous Article
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 114 , Special Issue 1-2: 3rd Palaeontological Virtual Congress , July 2023 , pp. 35 - 40
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Royal Society of Edinburgh

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References

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