Sedimentary geology of part of the southern Benue trough
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Date
1986
Authors
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Publisher
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria
Abstract
Ebonyi Formation (new name), the Eze A1- Formation, the Awgu Formation (all pre-Santonian)
and the Enugu Formation (post-Santonian) totaling about 5,000m thick, were studied. The pre-
Santonian deposits are arkosie wacke sandstones and shales with abundant illite, smectite/ illite
and chlorite. Illite and chlorite increase with depth of burial with corresponding decrease in
smectite and smectite/illite. A depth of burial of approximately 3,500m - 4,000m is suggested for
the Abakaliki Shale.
he post-Sautonian elastics are quartz arenite with higher ZTR,-maturity index while the shales
have abundant kaolinite. The carbonates studied are chlorozoan oolitic grainstones, wackestonepackstone
and mudstone-wackestone referrable to facies belts 6-8 of Wilson (1975). Pyroclastic
extrusives contributed both to the smectite development and sandstone (diagenesis).
Cross-beddings, paleochannels, interference ripple marks and evaporite aminite suggest lower
Clow regime of denositi of the azimuth direction of the cross-beds provides evidence for west
and southwest paleocurrent dime tien s that were variable during the Coniacian. There was a
corresponding stable pa l euslope throughout the pre-Coniacian and the post-Santonian time. A
paleohigh (the Cameroun Basement Complex and the Oban massif) persisted east of the southern
Benue throughout the period of deposition and steadily supplied detritus to the sub-basin. The
environments of deposition range from restricted shallow marine (Abakaliki Shale) at the base
through transitional (Ebonyi Formation), shallow marine (Eze Aku and Awgu Formations) and
fluvial to paralic (Enugu Formation) at the top.Warm, humid tropical climate and probably
locally short-lived arid conditions characterised the sub-basin during the Cretaceous
Description
475p
Keywords
Sediments, Pre-sautonian, Post-autonian, Sub-basin, Cross-beddings