Abstract
The Hama-Koussou Basin is one of the offset structures of the eastern end of the Benue Trough in Northern Cameroon. This sedimentary basin is an asymmetrical syncline whose axis is strongly shifted towards the East, filled predominantly with Cretaceous deposits, The basin has experienced at least three (3) phases of sedimentation during its geological history: two (2) fluvial phases with one at the top and the second at the bottom consisting of conglomerate, micro-conglomerate, and sandstone, sandwiching one fluvio-lacustrine phase consisting of fossiliferous claystones and marlstones with intercalations of siltstones and carbonate cemented fine sandstone. Numerous sedimentary structures including planar, oblique, and cross stratifications, convolute bedding, desiccation cracks, ripple marks and loadcast have been recorded. The mineral assemblage is dominated by quartz, plagioclase, mica and microcline, accompagnied by diagenetic phases (iron oxide, silica and carbonate). Clay minerals consist of kaolinite, illite and chlorite/smectite. Palynofloral analysis reveals various taxa indicative of a fluvio-lacustrine environment: These include Classopollis sp., Eucommiidites sp., Concavisporites sp., Cicatricosisporites sp, Araucariacites australis, Callialasporites dampieri, Callialasporites microvelatus. The occurrence of Callialasporites microvelatus confirms the Cretaceous age whereas age determination for all other samples was uncertain due to scarcity in palynomorphs. Low numbers of bisaccate, grass, and other angiosperm pollen grains may be indicative of a Cenozoic or younger age, although contamination by modern pollens cannot be excluded.The region experienced volcanism represented by explosive and effusive phases, recorded as sills and dykes. Plutonism is characterized by the establishment of intrusive granite. The East-West elongation observed in the HSB is the same in the Mayo-Oulo-Lere and Babouri Figuil basins and can be interpreted as the result of the same tectonic event linked to the opening of the Atlantic Ocean resulting in the formation of the Benue Trough and adjoins basins.
Highlights
The Hama-koussou sedimentary basin (HSB) is one of twelve (12) sedimentary basins in the northern part of Cameroon whose geological history seems to be related to that of the Benue Trough that spreads from Nigeria to Cameroon (Fig. 1a and b)
The current state of knowledge on the evolution of this basin is still introductory and this study seeks to contribute to the understanding of the general geological context and the litho bios-tratigraphy based on lith ofacies analysis and palynology, respectively
The main purpose of this paper is to report the 2D and 3D interpretative model of sedimentation according to the litho-biostratigraphic analyses of Cretaceous deposits in the Yola branch
Summary
The Hama-koussou sedimentary basin (HSB) is one of twelve (12) sedimentary basins in the northern part of Cameroon whose geological history seems to be related to that of the Benue Trough that spreads from Nigeria to Cameroon (Fig. 1a and b). Studies carried out in the Yola branch (Allix, 1983; Allix and Popoff, 1983; Benkhelil, 1986, 1988; Benkhelil et al, 1989; Bessong et al, 2011; Bessong, 2012; Ntsama, 2013; Ntsama et al, 2014; Bessong et al, 2015; Bessong et al, 2018) reveal that the formation of some of these basins is related to the opening of the Atlantic Ocean (Fig. 1b). The main purpose of this paper is to report the 2D and 3D interpretative model of sedimentation according to the litho-biostratigraphic analyses of Cretaceous deposits in the Yola branch. This study will be useful to (1) highlight the link between this basin and adjoins basins associated to the Benue Trough opening in several aspects, (2) improve the litho-bio-stratigraphic framework following the 2D and 3D models developed on the base of high resolution facies analysis according to proposed and (3) be used as a reference for correlation in furthers studies of the numerous basins considered to be analogues of contemporaneous formations linked to the Benue Trough
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