Abstract
A comprehensive palynological (Dinoflagellate Cyst) study of 35 ditch cutting samples recovered from Late Albian to Turonian succession penetrated by Famo-1 well in the Gongola sub Basin, Upper Benue Trough, North East, Nigeria, generated biostratigraphically important dinoflagellate cyst species. Intervals (8300 ft. – 8330 ft.) in the lower part of the studied section were barren of dinoflagellate cysts. Interpretation of the first and last (FAD and LAD) appearance datum of the recovered dinoflagellate cyst assemblages allowed the erection of four informal dinoflagellate cyst assemblage biozones. The biozones in stratigraphically ascending order and their ages are as follows: Late Albian-Cenomanian (Biozone I & II), Turonian (Biozone III) and undiagnostic (Biozone IV). The ages of these zones based on stratigraphic positions and series of first occurrences of key species are from Late Albian-Turonian. An inner neritic palaeoenvironment was delineated based on the dominance of Peridinacean cysts over Gonyaulacacean cysts. Keywords: Turonian, Cenomanian, Biozone, palaeoenvironment
Highlights
Famo-1 well is one of the well drilled by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) to a depth of about 3000m in 1999 which encountered some 33 billion standard cubic feet of gas and little oil
The Upper Benue Trough is sub-divided into three basins: the east-west trending Yola Basin (Yola Arm), the north-south trending Gongola Basin Gongola arm (It links the Benue Trough with the Bornu (Chad) Basin forming part of the West African Rift System) and the northeast-southwest trending Lau Basin (Main Arm) Guiraud, (1990); Dike, (2002)
There has been few thorough dinoflagellate studies for the Gongola sub Basin, Upper Benue Trough, North East Nigeria, when compared to the numerous research that have been done in the other basins in Nigeria, most especially the Niger Delta and Anambra Basins
Summary
The available materials for this study are: Thirty-five ditch cutting samples from interval ranging from 6980 ft. – 8330 ft. Transmitted light Microscopes (Olympus binocular microscope) and Sony digital camera (14.1Mega Pixels). Palynological Preparation: 35 samples were processed using standard palynological preparation for recovering acid insoluble organic- walled microfossils from sediments of Wood et al, (1996). The sieve-washed residues were oxidized for 30 minutes in 70 % HNO3 and 5 minutes in schulze solution to render the fossils translucent for transmitted light microscopy. The oxidized residues were rinsed in 2 % KOH solution to neutralize the acid. Using a 125 μm brass sieve, the residue was carefully sieved in an ultrasonic machine for a maximum of 5 minutes to improve palynomorphs recovery. The Palynological slides were examined using a transmitted light Binocular microscope. Photomicrographs of the palynomorphs were taken with the aid of Sony digital camera (14.1 mega pixels) (Plate I). The recovered palynomorphs species were identified with the aid of relevant publications such as Thusu and Van Der (1985); Abubakar et al, (1989); Moustafa and Lashin (2012); Uwins and Batten (1985) and web-based albums
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
