Examination and Classification of Biostratigraphy of Paleoenvironmental Interpretation and Hydrocarbon Prospects in Northern Anambra Basin, Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Biostratigraphy uses fossils to establish relative ages of rock and correlate successions of sedimentary rocks within and between depositional basins. Hence, this study examined and classified biostratigraphy of paleoenvironmental interpretation and hydrocarbon prospects in Northern Anambra Basin, Eastern Nigeria using appropriate standard methods. Data obtained point to a continental environment form of deposition for this area of the basin. The Eucommiidites sp., Nyssapollenites triangulus, Tricolporopollenites subtilis, Rotverrusporites granularis, Execipollenites cf., made up the first zonewhilePsilatricolporitesprolatus, Florentinia laciniata seghiris, Cingularisporites ornatus, Cicatricosisporites cf. orbiculatus, Lycopodiacidites asperatus, Mycrhystridium sp, Longapertites discordis,. Leptolepidites major, Retitriporites sp., and Triporites sp. were the palynoflora of the second assemblage zone while the third assemblage zone were made up of Cleistopshaeridium cf. Echitriporites trianguliformis, Stephanocolporate zonorate and some megaspores. The observable barren zones were barren in marine fossils (foraminifera and dinoflagellates), but rich in seed cuticles and megaspores, which are important markers of continental deposition. The three biostratigraphic assemblage zones identified differed from those found in the deeper and more fossiliferous southern Onitsha sub-marine basement feature and the Benin flank regions of the larger Anambra Basin.

Keywords

• Biostratigraphy;
• palynomorphs;
• northern Anambra Basin;
• Ajali Formation;
• Mamu Formation