Trace fossils assemblage and depositional environment of Turonian calcareous sandstones in the southern Benue Trough, Nigeria

Abstract

A calcareous sandstone sequence that forms part of the Eze-Aku Formation (Reyment) features an assemblage of ichnofossils in a section exposed on a quarry face. The traces encountered include horizontal burrows, some of which are preserved as casts, lined with organic matter and belonging to the ichnogenera Gyrolithes, Pholeus and Arthrophycus. Three other types of trace fossils are described as horizontal crawling trails, flat impressions and cylindrical shafts without formal names. Gyrolithes are by far the dominant traces in this sequence. The degree of bioturbation is high in every horizon. Body fossils are very rare except for scattered occurrence of fragments of calcitic pelecypod shells. Ichnological and lithological considerations suggest that the sediments were deposited in an aerated shallow shelf environment which supported an assemblage of decapods, worms and other shallow water marine benthos. Deposition was generally below wave base under a continuous but relatively slow rate of sedimentation.