Palynostratigraphy of Lemna Road Transect of Benin Formation, Calabar Flank, Nigeria

Abstract

Three lithosections  of Benin Formation located along Lemna – Parlimentary Road Transect in Calabar, consisting  of  clay, gray shale intercalated with peat, mudstone , medium to coarse grained sandstones and pebbly sandstones were studied stratigraphically with a view to discern its depositional environment and age using pollen and spores.  Twelve (12) samples were collected from these lithosections and they yieled the following notable palynological taxa: Psilastephanocolporites laevigatus, Retricolporites irregularis, Zonocostite ramonae, Pachydermites diedeorixi, Echiperiporites estelae, Psilatricolporite crassus, Psilatricolporites sp, Retibrevitricolporites obodoensis, Ctenolophonidites costatus and Brevicolporites guinetii for the pollen. Spores (ferns and fungi) include Laevigatosporites discordatus, Acrostichum aureum, Verrucatosporites alienus, Polypoddiaceoisporites retirugatus, Magnastriatites howardi, Fusiformisporites sp and fungi spores. These results show that   these sedimentary units are of Early –Miocene to Late –Miocene age. The environment of deposition is alluvial/ fluvial and coastal settings characterized by freshwater swamp / rain forest and mangrove forest. This result infer environment of warm, humid and high rainfall climate of tropical vegetation.