Palynostratigraphy, palaeoclimates and palaeodepositional environments of the Miocene aged Agbada Formation in the Niger Delta, Nigeria
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Date
2014
Authors
Bankole, S.I
Schrank, E
Osterloff, P.L
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of African Earth Sciences
Abstract
A diverse assemblage of palynomorphs dominated by terrestrially derived pollen and spores is reported
from three wells penetrating the Miocene Agbada Formation. The pteridophyte and bryophyte spores
which form the background assemblages in the three wells are good indicators of humid tropical climates
which might have prevailed in the Niger Delta during the Miocene. The abundance and variations of climate-sensitive
taxa including mangrove affiliated pollen and spore types Acrostichumsporites, Psilatricolporites
crassus, Zonocostites ramonae and Graminidites annulatus representing the savannah vegetation
cover indicate a complex interplay between periods of wetter and drier climates.
Marine-derived dinoflagellate cysts and foraminiferal test linings are significantly present in the three
wells. Taxa indicating freshwater contributions including Botryococcus spp., Chomotriletes minor, Ovoidites
parvus and Pediastrum spp. are also represented numerically across the three wells.
The presence of age diagnostic palynomorphs such as Crassoretitriletes vanraadshooveni, Retibrevitricolporites
obodoensis, Tuberculodinium vancampoae, Zonocostites ramonae and Tuberculodinium vancampoae
recovered in the three sections studied suggest a Miocene age for the investigated Agbada
Formation. The proposed age is supported by the ranges of key palynomorphs in contemporaneous basins
in Africa, northern South America and other parts of the World.
Description
Keywords
Palynology , Spores , Pollen , Dinoflagellate cysts , Agbada Formation , Miocene
Citation
Bankole, S. I., Schrank, E., & Osterloff, P. L. (2014). Palynostratigraphy, palaeoclimates and palaeodepositional environments of the Miocene aged Agbada Formation in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 95, 41-62.