Abstract
The Benin and Western Nigeria Offshore Basins, which are parts of an extensive basin called the Dahomey (Benin) Embayment, were formed during the Early Cretaceous under similar tectonic conditions and continental sedimentary environments. Based mainly on available lithological, biostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental data, this paper summarizes the stratigraphic succession of theses basins and attempts a comparison of these stratigraphic nomenclatures. The bulk of data shows that sedimentation begins with terrestrial at the base, passes through shallow marine, deep marine (with restrictive bottom circulation) and ends with open deep marine conditions. The stratigraphy of the Offshore Benin Basin was established later and considering lithological and paleontological similarities with formations of various southern Nigeria basins, the stratigraphic chart adopted for this basin was a mixed variant of various Southern Nigerian basins nomenclatures. For the first time, a correlation of stratigraphic charts of each basins and a schematic cross section showing their lithostratigraphic units, especially the Cretaceous-Paleocene interval which is petroliferous, are proposed. The study shows that the nomenclature adopted in Benin Republic must be revised by using type section/locality names for some particular Formations and widely accepted Formations names of Nigeria for the others. This will permit to avoid confusions as it is presently the case for the name “Afowo Formation” representing a Cretaceous sequence in Nigeria and which is use in Benin Republic to distinguish some sediments of Miocene age. Moreover, a High Resolution Biostratigraphy summary (including micropaleontology, nannopaleontology and palynology distributions) relating to each offshore basin is needed for sequences correlations and entire harmonization of the stratigraphic nomenclature of these offshore basins.
Highlights
Stratigraphy of Western Nigeria Offshore BasinThe stratigraphy of the eastern Dahomey basin has been studied and discussed by various authors [1] [11] [13] [14] [20]
The Dahomey (Benin) Embayment is part of a system of West African peri-cratonic basin [1]-[4], covering much of the continental margin of the Gulf of Guinea, extending from Volta-delta in Ghana on the West to the Okitipupa Ridge in Nigeria on the East (Figure 1)
The present study examines the stratigraphic succession of Benin and Western Nigeria Offshore Basins and attempts to compare these stratigraphic nomenclatures
Summary
The stratigraphy of the eastern Dahomey basin has been studied and discussed by various authors [1] [11] [13] [14] [20]. This formation uncomformably overlies the basement rocks and consists of a basal conglomerates overlain by coarse to medium grained loose sands, sandstones and grits containing kaolinitic clays. In Southwestern Nigeria, Afowo Formation is the main petroliferous Formation It overlies the Ise formation and consists of coarse to medium grained sandstones with thick intercalations of shales, siltstones and pyritised clay. It is imperative to precise that palynological studies of [23] and [22], related respectively to Tertiary and Cretaceous sediments, provide significant additional information in the understanding of Western Nigeria offshore basin stratigraphy The results of these studies ( Palynomorph assemblages and identified biozones) will be useful for sediments age and linked depositional environments appraisal in Benin part
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