GEOLOGY OF NDI-OFFIA AND ITS ENVIRONS IN IZZI LOCAL GOVERNMENT

AREA OF EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

BY

NWODO GRACE NWUKA

2015030173295

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINING

FACULTY OF APPLIED NATURAL SCIENCES

ENUGU STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (ESUT), ENUGU

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (B.Sc.) DEGREE IN GEOLOGY AND MINING

NOVEMBER, 2019

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 DEDICATION

This work is dedicated to Almighty God, the giver of life and all true knowledge, wisdom and

understanding, whose grace alone sustained me through this work, and to all pronounced

geologists.

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 CERTIFICATION

This is to certify that this Project paper on “Geology of Ndi-offia and its Environs in IZZI

Local Government Ebonyi State, Nigeria”, was carried out by NWODO GRACE NWUKA

with registration number 2015030173295 under the supervision of DR. D. C 0Z0K0 Department

of Geology and Mining, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, Enugu State University of Science

and Technology, ESUT, Enugu State.

__________________ ____________________

DR. D. C. OZOKO Date

Project Supervisor

__________________ ____________________

Prof. C. C Ezeh Date

Head of Department

__________________ ____________________

External Examiner Date

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 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My profound gratitude goes to God Almighty, who sustained me in the pursuit of this award,

may his name alone be glorify (Amen).

I am most grateful to my guidance, Mr. and Mrs Christopher Onu for giving me the opportunity

to be who I am today. I am also grateful to my siblings, namely Mrs Chinenye, Mr Chimezie, Mr

Joseph, Mr Emeka, Nonso, Ebuka and Emmanuel, for their support both financially, in prayer

and equally their encouragement. I pray that God’s promises for the children of Jacob in Obadiah

1.17 be fulfilled in their life in Jesus name (Amen).

I am equally grateful to Mr and Mrs S. I. C, for their financial support and encouragement so far,

I pray that God’s blessings will never cease in their life.

I wish to thank my project supervisor Dr. D. C. Ozoko and his assistant Mrs. Chinyere Onyeabor

for their effort towards the supervision of my project. They stood as parents to me. I also

appreciate the unlimited access I had to their priceless idea and guides.

The efforts of all my lecturers in the Department of geology and Mining are highly appreciated

ranking from the head of Department Prof. C.C. Ezeh, Mr. R.A.N. Nwatalari, Mr. P.E. Okoye,

Mr. Austin Okonkwo, Mr. Ejioffor Ezike, Mr Dimanyi, Mr Sunny Akinola, Mr Nnamani, Mr

Aganigbo and all the non-academic staff of the department. I acknowledge Mrs Ugwu Agela I.

from the University of Nsukka, department of geology, who guided me through the laboratory

procedures of the petrographic analysis of the rock. Maryjane, Emmanuel, Pastor Paul Ekwueme,

Gods will Okechukwu,(DLCF Families) to mention but few, for their patient, understanding, and

kind gesture demonstrated before and during the preparation I say may God Almighty bless you

all in Jesus name, Amen.

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5
 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1.1 map of Ebonyi state indicating the study area 1

Figure 1.2 Accessibility map of the study area 2

Figure 1.3Topography map of the study area 4

Figure 1.4 Drainage map of the study area 5

Figure 1.5 Vegetation map of Nigeria showing the study area 6

Figure 3.1 Map of Nigeria showing Benue Trough 13

Figure 3.2 Subdivision of Benue Trough 14

Figure 3.3 Generalised geologic map of southern Nigeria 21

Figure 3.4 Stratigraphy of Benue Trough and the Anambra Basin 22

Figure 3.5 outcrop map of the study area 24

Figure 3.6 Geologic map of the study area 33

Figure 4.1 Specimen 1 44

Figure 4.2 Specimen 2 44

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 LIST OF TABLE

Table 3. 1. Lithostratigraphic units and their lithofacies 25

Table 5.1 Showing results for Specimen 1 and 2 45

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 LIST OF PLATE

Plate: 3.1: Picture showing brown shale intercalated by mudstone 26

Plate 3.2: Picture showing less fissile and intercalated sandstone and laterite 27

Plate 3.3: Typical section of the basal brown Shale unit 28

Plate 3.4: Fractures observed within the basal brown shale lithologic unit 29

Plate 3.5: A typical sectional representative of the light to dark grey shale unit 30

Plate 3.6: A recovered Gastropod fossil in the study area 31

Plate 3.7: Recovered pelecypod (Bivalve) fossil from study area 31

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One

1.1 Background of Study 1

1.2 Location and accessibility 2

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study 3

1.4 Geomorphology 3

1.5 Drainage System 4

1.6 Climate and Vegetation 5

1.7 Methodology 7

1.8 Field mapping procedures 7

Chapter two

2.1 Literature review 9

Chapter Three

3.1 geologic setting 12

3.1.1 Location and Sub division of Benue Trough 13

3.1.2 Tectonism 15

3.1.3 Stratigraphic Setting 16

3.2 Local Stratigraphy of the Study Area 23

3.3 Fossil Discussion 32

Chapter Four

4.1 Petroography 34

4.2 Laboratory Methods 35

4.3 Method of Investigation 37

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4.3.1 Macroscopic Character 37

4.3.2 Microscopic Characteristics 38

4.3.3 Separation of Component 39

4.3.4 Chemical Analysis 40

4.3.5 Archaeological Analysis 41

4.3.6 Petrography Analsis 42

4.3.7 Data Access and acquisition 42

4.3.8 Laboratory Analysis 43

CHAPTER FIVE

Result and interpretation

CHAPTER SIX

Summary and Conclusion

Reference

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 ABSTRACT

A detailed geologic mapping was carried out in Ndi-Offia and its environs on a map scale of 1:

25,000. The study area lies between latitudes 6° 21' 0" N to 6° 26' 0" N of the Equator and 8° 11'

0" E to 8° 16' 0" E of the Greenwich meridian. Two major geologic units were delineated which

were the basal brown shale unit and an overlying younger light to dark grey shale unit. The

overlying shales shows more fissility than the underlying one. Other lithologies that occur along

this shale are mudstone and siltstone. Beds and structures whose attitude were measured here

were striking and trending predominantly in the NE to SW direction with some yielding dip

readings of about 220 . Two fresh samples were collected from the field and used for petrographic

analysis to further identify is mineral composition. The samples yielded quartz (34.6%), feldspar

(9%) and rock fragments (4.3%). The proportion of monocrystalline quartz is 20.3% of the total

quartz content whereas that of polycrystalline quartz is 14.3%. Under the plane and cross polar

light of the petrographic microscope, the samples were found to be of angular to subangular

shape, moderately sorted, and very coarse grained. The samples also exhibited pikiolitic structure

a pointer to possible volcanic activity and tectonism as this was further supported by the

presence of an iron ore cementing agent. A careful integration of geology, palaentology and

petrography of the study area lead to an inference of its paleo environment of deposition to be of

shallow marine origin, the sediments were also concluded not to have travelled too far from their

original province of formation owing to their angularity and sorting, along with the sediments

being found to still retain its feldspathic minerals. The volcanism brought about different kinds

of minerals occurring together with the pre-existing ones while the tectonic activity leads to the

fracturing and jointing of some units within the study area. . The area is rich in fossil contents

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like gastropods, pelycypods and bivalves of which some were recovered from outcrops within

the study location.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

A geological investigation of Ndi Offia in Izzi Local Government area of Ebonyi state

southeastern Nigeria, done on a map scale of 1:25000, showed its litho-facies as weathered, light

grey shale, mudstone, and siltstone. Two main litho-stratigraphic units namely, brown shale (unit

A) and light grey shale (unit B). The brown color of the shale (Unit A) suggests high content of

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ferric oxide due to intense weathering and low (temperature) metamorphism caused by

volcanism in the area.

Figure 1.1: Map of Ebonyi state indicating the Study area (modified after Obasi A.I. et al

2013)

LOCATION AND ACCESSEBILITY

Figure 1.2: Accessibility map of the study area

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The study area (Ndi-Offia) is located in the South-eastern part of Nigeria in Izzi Local

Government Area of Ebonyi State. It is about 45km away from Abakaliki town in the southern

part of Ebonyi State. The study area has an area extent of about 81km2. It lies within latitudes 60

21’ 0” and 60 26’ 0” N and longitudes 80 11’ 0” E and 80 16’ 0” E which covers the whole of

Ndi-Offia in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The best exposures in the mapped

area are found along the river channels. The study area is accessible from Enugu through the

Enugu-Abakaliki expressway, the Abakaliki-Onuebonyi-Ogoja road and Onuebonyi-Ndi-Offia

road. Outcrops and exposures in the study area are also accessible through minor foot paths

unnamed.

1.2 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aim and objective of this study is to attempt a detailed geologic mapping of the study area,

by carefully identifying the lithofacies presents in the area, sample collections, creation of a

detailed geologic map of the area and an attempt to reconstruct the paleo environment of

deposition of the area after some paleo ecological laboratory analysis and interpretation.

1.3 GEOMORPHOLOGY

The study area has a predominant flat topography as only slight undulations were observed with

maximum elevation above sea level as recorded by the GPS never exceeding 100m while the

lowest elevation was about 50m. Fracturing and weathering were common topographic features

observed.

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 Figure 1.3: Map showing topography of study area

1.4 DRAINAGE SYSTEM

The drainage pattern of the study area is partly dendritic and partly radial in some areas as

observed, while its relative direction of flow is in the NE and SW directions. There is evidence

of surface flow than underground flow due to the low porosity and permeability of the shale in

the area. This drainage pattern is controlled by the nature of the lithologies and their

morphogenesis.

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 Figure 1.4: Drainage map of the study area

1.5 CLIMATE AND VEGETATION

Field observations show that the study area has a constant rainfall during the rainy season from

April -September and little or no rain during the dry season from October-March of about 21°C-

26°C. The average annual rainfall is about 1750mm- 2880mm with a monthly peak period. The

area is part of the rainforest vegetation of Nigeria with numerous species of trees, creepers and

climbers. The rainy season is always accompanied by heavy wind which blew majorly in the SE

direction of the area. The study area is densely vegetated. However, along streams, rivers or

swampy areas, the vegetation is very dense and evergreen. This is a typical of Rainforest

vegetation.

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Figure 1.5: Vegetation map of Nigeria showing the study area (modified after World Climatic et

al, 2012)

1.6 METHODOLOGY

The method employed in this study was purely detailed field geologic mapping that lasted for

about one month, integrating Desktop studies, Reconnaissance mapping, field mapping, sample

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collection, Petrographic laboratory analysis and finally, interpretation and conclusions were

made.

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

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2.1 INTRODUCTION

From the archives of the Nigerian Geologic Survey Agency (NGSA) as compiled from air and

ground geologic surveys by the then SHELL-BP in 1957, the study area was grouped as part of

the Asu River Group of Albian to Pre Albian age. This was further confirmed and accepted by

the works of some renounced geoscientist as Rement 1965, Kogbe 1972, and recent works of the

NGSA 2007, Obaje 2009, Ukaegbu and Akpabio 2009, Nwajide 2013, Obasi A.I. et al 2013,

kelechi 2017 and many other authors has no controversy as regards the grouping. Ukaegbu and

Akpabio 2009 stated that the stratigraphy of the study area consists of Asu River Group and Eze-

Aku Formation deposited in alternating transgressive and regressive phases. The Asu River

Group, consisting of shale, sandstone, and limestone, is the older lithostratigraphic unit in the

area and was deposited during Albian transgressive phase.

According to Reyment (1965), the Albian sediments were moderately folded in many places with

the fold axes trending NE-SW, this is also concordant with the works of Obaje 2009 in Geology

and Mineral Resources of Nigeria.

Murat (1972) was of the view that the Eze-Aku Shale shows deposits of marine condition in a

tectonically controlled basin (the Abakiliki Trough). He believed that sandstone deposits mark a

period of regression, while the shale deposits indicate a period of transgression. On the basis of

the predominance of shale from Aba-Omege towards Abakiliki, Nwachukwu (1975) concluded

that deep-sea conditions terminated at Aba-Omege from where a shallow marine condition

commenced. He also believed that a distant metamorphic basement had contributed to the

sediments in the Eze-Aku Shale because he found metamorphic minerals in the sandstone units,

in addition to conclusions he drew from heavy mineral analysis.

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The Eze-Aku Formation was deposited in the Turonian transgressive phase but in a shallow

marine environment. The lithologies include shale, sandstones, and calcerous sandstones. The

fossils in this Formation include vascocerastids, pelecypods, gastropods, echinoids, fish teeth,

decapod, and plant fragments (Reyment, 1965).

The area is also marked by two significant angular unconformities; one interformational between

the Asu River Group and Ezeaku Formation, and the other intraformational within the Ezeaku

Formation. Mineral assemblages, poor to moderate sorting and angular to subrounded shapes of

the minerals suggest a possible model in which sedimentary materials of northeast Afikpo basin

were derived from proximal basement granites probably the Oban Massif and deposited in

shallow to deep marine environments under fluctuating energy levels, with two major breaks in

deposition in the Cenomanian and Turonian times (Ukaegbu and Akpabio 2009).

Obasi et al in 2013 did some extensive works in the area and fouud two main lithostratigraphic

units: brown shales and dark-grey shales. The brown colour of shales they suggested was owing

to high content of ferric oxide due to intense weathering and low metamorphism caused by

volcanism in the area, while the dark colour of other shale suggests deposition in anoxic or

reducing environment. Its dark-grey colour and the presence of bivalves suggest deposition in a

low energy, marine environment. The abundance of illite which increases with depth indicates

deeply buried shale not less than 3,500 m below surface. They also identified the presence of

shelly limestone which indicates shallow, warm, silt-free and clean marine environment.

Sedimentary structures like fissility and laminations, also suggest deposition in low energy

marine setting. Pyroclastic rocks mapped in the area have been interpreted as volcanic tuffs and

agglomerates interstratified with the shales.

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The thickness of the sediments varies from one point to another (Kogbe, 1976). Agumanu in

1989 made observative remarks of saline seepages, lead-zinc mineralization, basic intrusions and

pyroclastics. These sediments were deformed during the Santonian tectonic phase producing

numerous gentle folds. The anticlines of these folds are transected by northwesterly and

northerly trending tensional faults and fractures (Olade, 1976). The folds, coupled with the

identification of the igneous rocks such as Andesites in the Abakaliki area led some workers to

propose a compressional (subduction) rather than an extensional tectonic setting for the area

(Farrington, 1952; Burke et al., 1971; Benkhelil, 1986).

Nwajide 2013 attempted to define the boundaries of the southern Benue trough, of which the Asu

River group belongs to, he stated the area is demarcated in the north by the arbitrary line taken

from south of Gboko to Otukpo, and southwards along the geological boundary between the

Awgu Formation and the Nkporo Group, He drew the origin of the Benue Trough as a

tectonosedimentary. Benkhelil, 1989 stated “the Abakaliki Basin” or “the Abakaliki – Benue

Trough” is still a part of the series of pull-apart basins constituting the whole Benue Trough,

In line with the converging and diverging views of these numerous authors, this work is very

relevant as it strikes to further confirm or disagree with some deductions already reached and

drawn.

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 CHAPTER THREE

REGIONAL GEOLOGY

3.1 GEOLOGICAL SETTING

The mapping area falls under the Benue Trough (southern Benue Trough), The Benue Trough of

Nigeria is the most important of all the Cretaceous Sedimentary Basin of Nigeria. The trough has

been viewed as an elongated rift approximately 1000km long and about 50-150km of its widest

parts tending NE-SW, developed as a purely rift structure in the Pan-African mobile belt and

overlaying the Pre-Cambrian shield of the West African Mobile Belt. Studies published by

Benkheli (1982,1986,1989), Benkheli and Robineau (1983), Guiraud (1990), Guiraud et al

(1986), Allix and Popoff (1983), Marin et al (1986) and Popoff et al (1986) have shown the

structure to be a set of pull-apart sub-basin or grabens generated by sinistral displacement along

a pre-existing zone of NE/SW trending of transcurrent fault. Transcurrent movements were

therefore the principal factor in the formation and subsequent evaluation of the Benue Trough. It

orientation must have been determined by Northwest-Southwest trending shear zones of late

Pan-African age re-activated during the breakup of the Goundwana. Its shape and general

structure were therefore determined and controlled by pre-existing ductile/brittle shear zones

periodically reactivated in response to regional tectonism.

The Trough is an elongated partly fault-bounded depression occupied by up to 6,000m of marine

and fluvial-deltaic sediments that have been compressionally folded into a non-organic shield

environment (Wright, 1976). The northern limit of the trough is the southern boundary of the

Chad Basin, which is in turn separated from the Trough by an anticlinal feature called the

DumbulwaBage Highs) while the southern limit of the Trough is the Northern boundary of the

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Niger-Delta. Marine and fluviodeltaic Sediments infill the centre Benue Trough ranging from

late Aptian to Paleocene in age (Adegoke, et al, 1978)

There has been systematic variation in the depositional environment within the Trough over time

such that, continental lacustrine or fluviatile sediments occur at the base through various

transgressive and regressive beds to immature continental sandstone at the top.

FIG 3.1: Map of Nogeria showing Benue Trough (Burke, 1971)

3.1.1 Location and Subdivision of the Benue Trough

The Benue Trough runs through the NE-SW central parts of Nigeria from the Niger-Delta in the

SW right to the Borno in the NE of Nigeria Fig 3.1 above. The Benue Trough is conventionally

subdivided into a “Lower Benue Trough”, “Abakaliki Trough” (“Benue Valley” respective of

Whiteman (1982). Although no outline can be drawn to demarcate the individual Sub-divided

portions. Some localities (Towns or Settlement) which constitutes the major depo-centre of the

different portions has been well documented by Petters, (1982), Nwajide, (1990). The depo-

centres of Southern Benue Trough comprises mainly of the areas around Nkalagu and Abakaliki,

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while those of Anambra Basin centers are Enugu, Awgu and Okigwe. The central Benue Trough

comprises of areas around Markurdi through Yandev, Lafia, Obi, Jangwa to Wukari. In the

Northern Benue Trough, the depo-centres comprises of areas around Tula, Jessu, Dukul,

Numanha and Lamja (in the Yola Arm Trough) and Pindiga, Gombe, Nafada (in the Gangola

Arm of the Trough). The Geology of the study Area falls within parts of the cretaceous
FIG 3.2: Subdivisions of Benue Trough (Burke, 1971)
sediments of Eze-Aku Formation in Southern Benue Trough.

3.1.2 Tectonism

The tectonic history of the Southern Benue Trough, southeastern Nigeria dates back to the

Albian. This resulted in the development of the Benue Trough which stretched in a NE-SW

direction and resting comfortably on the Pre-Cambrian Basement Complex (Table 1). It extends

from the Gulf of Guinea to the Chad Basin and through to have been formed by the Y-Shaped

(RRR) triple Junction ridge system that initiated the breaking and depression of the Afro-

Brazilian plates in the early Cretaceous. The Benue Trough originated as a failed arm of the

triple Junction rift-ridge system that led to the separation of Africa from the South America

during the Aptian/Albian, as suggested, Burke et al. (1972) and Nwachukwu (1972). The

opening of this arm started in Middle Aptian in the Southern Atlantic by crustal stretching and

downwarping accompanied by the development of coastal evaporate basins. It reaches the Gulf

of Guinea by late Aptian and extends North East, to the Benue Abakaliki Trough. Murat (1970)

identified three main tectonic phases in the Benue Trough which has controlled the filling of the

sedimentary Basin. The first phases began during Albian and was characterized by the movement

along major NE-SW trending Benue-Abakaliki Trough. This lead to two stable areas on either

side off the Benue-Abakaliki Trough, called the Anambra platform on the west and Ikpe

25
Platform on the East. On the Eastern flank there was the NE-SW trending Ikang Trough and the

Ituk High as well as the Eket Platform, all persisted into the Tertiary without significant changes.

A second major Tectonic event resulted from compressional movements along the established

NE-SW trend that lead to the folding of the sediments of the Benue-Abakaliki Trough. This

resulted in a series of NE-SW trending folds that formed the Abakaliki Anticlinorium, and the

down raping of the Anambra platform, to form the wide Anambra Basin and the narrow Syncline

on the west and East off Abakaliki Anticliorium respectively (kogbe 1976). The unset of this

folding phrase in the late Santonian was accompanied by pronounced igneous activities. This

account for the occurrence of a larger number of intermediate and basic instructions in the study

area. This second tectonic phrase was in interpreted as the closing of an embrayo Benue Ocean

(Burke et al. 1971). This was as a result of differential movement between two parts of African

plates as a consequence of differences between in the rate of spreading and direction between the

section of the Mid and Atlantic Ridge opposite the bulge of Africa and South of the Gulf of

Guinea. The latter events lead to the formation of Anambra Basin, which constituted a major

depo-centre of clastic sediments and deltaic sequences. The erosion off the Abakaliki uplifted

and folded belts resulted in the development of a Proto-Niger Delta sequence consisting of the

Enugu/Nkporo, Mamu, Ajali and Nsukka formations. This was followed by regressions that

started during Eocene and continued to the present day with the deposition of the sediment of the

Tertiary Niger-Delta.

3.1.3 Stratigraphic Setting

The mapped area falls under the third sedimentary domain of the Benue Trough known as the

Southern segment of the Benue Trough (Nwajide 2013). The area is demarcated in the north by

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the arbitrary line taken from south of Gboko to Otukpo, and southwards along the Awgu

formation and Nkporo Group. Another way of demarcating the territory is to take all the areas

underline by sedimentary units of santonian terrain. Nwajide (2013), separated the lithic fill of

the Benue Trough (since it spans only from the lower cretaceous to the santonian) from that of

the Anambra basin (which span from immediate post santonian to the earliest tertiary). The main

stages of the Tectonic evolution of the Benue Trough are well documented in the stratigraphic

succession, basically comprising three sequences: Aptian-Cenomanian pyroclastic, paralic,

shallow marine, and fluviatile sequence corresponding to the garben and transitional tectonic

stages; a Turonian-Coniacian paralic, marine and fluviatile sequence that resulted from down

rapping and a consequent wide spread marine transgression; and a Companian-Mastrichtian

paralic, marine and fluviatile of flap sequences which followed the Santonian compressional

deformation episode that displaced the depositional axis westward. (Petters, 1978).

After the evolution of the Benue Trough, sediments started depositing into the Trough with Asu

River Group being the oldest settlement followed by Ezeaku Group, Odukpani formation and

Awgu/Agbani Group respectively (Nwajide, 1990). The Asu River Group representing the first

and the oldest cycles of the shallow marine to brackish water sediments, which were deposited in

Albian and around the Cenomanian. The Asu-River Group is an extensive stratigraphic unit

usually named as the oldest sedimentary unit in the western Cross River plain, latter works has

shown that it is the unit at the core of Abakaliki fold belt, and extend far into the central Benue

Trough as a lateral as well as a chrono-equivalent of the southern limits of the Bima formation.

The Asu-River is subdivided into the Abakaliki formation, the Ogoja formation and the Mamfe

formation and lateral equivalents. (Reyment 1965, p.26) and belong to the pre-Albian to Albain.

This sediment was deposited in the Basement Complex and consist of roughly 2000m of poorly

27
bedded shasles (Abakaliki Shales), siltstone and limestone, and mudstone (Agagu and Adighije,

1983). The presence of Cenomanian Sediments and Santoniaan intrusion of Dykes and sill

Extrusion that possess important mineralization zones along the gently folded axis of the

Abakaliki anticline has been reported (Burke, 1971, Benkheil, 1989; Ojoh, 1990, Whiteman

1982).

During the albian transgression, the fossiliferous Abakaliki shale with lenses of limestone and

micaceous sandstone were deposited followed by Cenomanian deposits (Odupkani formation)

which extends along the entire length of the Benue Trough. The Odupkani formation overlies

Albian mfamosing limestone formation as well as Aptian Awi formation which rest directly on

(non-conformbly) on the pre-cambrian basement rocks. They are about 1000-metre-thick

(Reyment 1965, Dessanvagie 1970), and were deposited under shallow water condition ns. This

formation is arkosic (Awi formation), followed by quartose sandstone limestone facies

(Mfamosing limestone) in which shale pre-dorminates in the upper parts.

The marine Cenomanian-Turonian Nkalagu Formation (black shale’s, limestone, and siltstone)

and the interfringing regressive sandstone of the Agala and Agbani Formations (Cross River

Group) rest on the Asu River Group. The Turonian period marked the beginning of another

marine transgression. During this period the Eze-Aku Formation was deposited (Olade, 1975).

The Eze-Aku formation overlies the Asu River Group and consist of black calcareous shales,

shelly limestone, siltstone, and sandstone, which were deposited as a result of renewed

transgression in the depositional cycle of the Benue Trough (Petters et.al 1982, Reyment, 1965).

The Abakaliki formation described by Reyment (1965) has its type locality within the Abakaliki

town where it consists of folded, lead/zinc mineralised shale, with lenses of sandstone and

limestone, with one of the latter attaining a thickness of 30m. This Formation attained a

28
thickness of 1000m in some places, representing shallow waters deposit. The Abakaliki

formation is locally rich in ammonite fauna. In places it is abundant that fossils weathered out of

shale litter the terrain and fragments from part of the mounds in the yam farms (Reyment 1965,

p.28). After the Cenomanian regression there was a wide spread Turonian transgression with

little period of regression in between during whic the Eze-Aku Group was deposited.

The Turonian is overlaying by sediments of Coniacian age. The Coniacian is represented by the

Awgu Formation (Reyment, 1965). The Formation consist of bluish grey, well bedded shale. The

Santonian was a period of non-deposition, folding and faulting. This was followed by uplift and

erosion of the sediments. The intensive Middle-Santonian deformation and magmatism in the

Benue Trough displaced the major depositional axis eastward which led to the formation of the

Anambra Basin. The Santonian age was heralded by tectonic event. This Tectonic epirogenic

event led to uplift, folding and wide spread erosion of the Pre-Santonian sediments in the trough.

The second Transgressive-regressive phase of the deposition in Turonian to Coniacian was

terminated again by a phase of folding and faulting in the early Santonian times, which affected

all the sediments deposited before the tectonism and this produced the Afikpo syncline.

Sedimetation in the Anambra Basin thus commenced with the early Campanian-Early

Mastrichtian of the Enugu and Nkporo Formation (lateral equivalents) after the folding and

faulting. The shelly faces grade laterally to sandstones of the Owelli and Afikpo Formation in

the Anambra Basin.

The Nkporo Formation in the Afikpo syncline thin towards the NW and SE at the trough margins

of the basin. The Mamu Formation lies conformably upon the Nkporo Formation. The Nkporor

Formation is the basal formation of the campanian-Maastrichtian sediments, and is relatively

29
undisturbed but intruded by igneous rocks. The Enugu-Nkporo formation are essentially marine

sediments of the third transgressive cycle. These, in most parts of the Anambra Basin is overlain

by the lower Maastrichtain sandstones, shales, siltstones and mudstones and the inter-bedded

coal seams of the deltaic mamu Formation. The deltaic facies grade laterally into the overlaying

marginal marine sandstones of the Ajali and Nsukka Formations. The marine shales of the Imo

and Nsukka Formations were deposited in the Paleocene (i.e. Niger Delta). The Nsukka

formation and the Imo shale mark the beginning of the Niger delta during the Paleocene. Imo-

Nsukka Formations are overlain by the tidal Nanka Sandstone of Eocene Age. The Eocene

Nanka Sands mark the return to regressive conditions. Nanka Formation is overlain by

sandstones shale’s and lignite beds of the Oligocene/Miocene Ogwashi-Asaba Formation. These

tertiary units constitute the proto-Niger Delta Eocene of Recent sequences in the surface. Down

dip, towards the Niger Delta, the Akata shae and the Agbada Formation constitute the Paleocene

equivalent of the Niger Delta. The Turonian deposit is represented by the Eze-Aku formation,

which consist of hard grey and black calcareous shale, limestone and siltstone. Locally the shale

grades into sandstone (Amasiri sandstone near Afikpo). The formation varies in thickness up to

1000-1200 (Reyment, 1965, Dessavagie, 1975) and it’s overlain by 900m of bluish grey, bedded

shale with some fine-grained carbonaceous limestone beds (Awgu shale). Locally replaced by

sandstone (Agbani sandstone). The lowest part of this formation contains Turonian ammonites

while the top is early conacian.

The Eze-Aku formation uncomfortably overlies the Aus River Group around the Ebonyi

(Abakaliki) area, the formation consists of essentially NE-SW trending linear feldspathic rigdes

of sandstones varying in thickness from 10-60 meters. The structural deformation that occurred

30
during the Santonian, strongly affected the Eze-Aku Formation and the Asu-River Group.

However, the Asu-River Group is known to be extensively deformed as a result of the mild

conacian deformation event (Nwachukwu, 1972 and Amajor,1985,1987), Ezepue (1984) also

noted an intrusion of igneous bodies in both formations.

The Anambra platform subsided into a major basin contemporaneously with the Santonian uplift

and the deformation of the Benue-Abakaliki Trough, the axis of the Anambra basin was

displaced to the west. A smaller depression was also formed in Afikpo on the south-eastern

Flank of the Abakaliki Anticlinorium. The first cycle of deposition in the Afikpo syncline started

with Campanian- Maastrichtian Nkporo formation which is of dark shale, sandstone and marl

with coating of sulphur and numerous benthonic foraminifera, vascoceratid ammonites as well as

echinoids, bryozoans, fish teeth and crab (Reyment 1965) and these fossils shows normal shelf

environment of deposition. Wright et al 1985, p. 163 defined the Anambra Basin as “upper

Santonian-Maastrichitian to Paleocene depositional area located at the southern end of the Benue

Trough, within which the Nkporo Group and younger sediments accumulated, and which

extended towards the southwest as the Niger Delta Basin”. The Nkporo formation is

charactererised by a sequence of fine to coarse grained, moderately sorted, graded and poorly

consolidated kaolinitic sandstone of about probable deltaic origin(Murat,1970).

31
The second cycle involves the deposition of paralic sequence of the Mamu formation. This

Mamu formation is overlain by the shoreline sequence of Ajali formation (sandstone), this is

overlain by the Nsukka formation and then the marine Imo shale which are paralic.

Figure 3.3: Generalised geologic map of southern Nigeria (Adapted from Nwajide 2013).

32
Figure 3.4 Stratigraphy of the Benue Trough and the Anambra Basin (after Reyment 1965 and

Ojoh 1992

33
LOCAL STRATIGRAPHY OF THE STUDY AREA

At the course of this study, twelve different outcrop and exposure location were visited and

carefully mapped. All observed lithologies were carefully and painstakingkly denoted, taking

into consideration and record of their sedementological and structural featutes such as, grain size,

texture, colour variation, intercalations, bedding, fisility fractures, attitude of beds and fossils: as

two fossils in their cast and mould were recovered from two different locations within the study

area. One of the fossil was correlated to match a Gastropod and the other a Pelycypod. Most of

the exposures within the study area were found along road cut sections and river channels. Two

lithostratigraphic unit were finally delineated which are:

1. A basal Brown shale unit

2. An overlying Light –dark grey shale units

34
Figure 3.5: Outcrop map of study area

35
1. Brown Shale Unit:

This is the basal underlying lithostratigraphic unit found in the study area and as being

underlying, I state it is the older unit in line with the peinciples of stratigraphy. It is

lithologically comprised of brown shales, that apperes wethered in some places and also

fractured. It predominantly occurs around the central and southern regions of the study area (as

visible from my geologic map). At times they are found interbedded with mudstones, siltstone

and clay. The shales here are of moderate to poor fissility, possibly owing to much actions of

weathering. In most outcrop locations, the shales are found rich in lateritic over burdens of

varying thicknesses. Most outcrops are trending and striking in the NE-SW direction, while their

Dips are in the NW direction towards the western part of the map and SE direction towards the

eastern part of the map. Structurally, the opposing direction of the Dips measured in the field,

infers a possible fault plane exist within the mapped area.

36
Plate: 3.1: typical section of the basal brown Shale unit.

37
 Plate 3.2: fractures observed within the basal brown shale lithologic unit.

2. The Light to Dark grey shale unit:

This unit directly overlies the brown shale unit, and as such stratigraphically is a younger bed.

It is comprised predominantly of light to dark grey shales that show very good fisility and are

laminated. The shales here are hard and often interbeded with mudstones. In some areas, fringes

of laterites were observed. It was in this unit that two fossils were found: a Gastropod and a

38
Pelycypod (bivalve). In a few areas, the shale here appears to occur along with ferroginized

sandstones.

Plate 3.3: A typical sectional representative of the light to Dark Grey Shale unit.

39
40
Plate 3.4 A recovered Gastropod fossil found in the study area.

Plate 3.5: Recovered Pelycypod (Bivalve) fossil from study area.

41
3.2 FOSSIL DISCUSSION

Both fossil observed belongs to the special fossil phylum Mollusca, one being identified as a

gastropod and the other being indentified as a Pelycpod. The presence of a Mollusc in any

environment obviously tell of a shallow marine paleo environment of deposition as molluscs of

ancient times live within and around shallow water bodies. Gastropods are one of the most

diverse groups of the Phylum Mollusca, both in form, habit and habitat. Gastropods has been

found to have evolved early in the Cambrian age, this goes to support part of the literature

reviews in this work that dates the study area to be of Pre Albian age.

On the other hand, the Bivalves has been aroud for the past 500 million years, having made their

first appearance in the Mid Cambrian, they flourished in the Mesozoic and Cenezoic eras and

abound in modern seas and oceans having their shells littering beaches across the globe: all these

are pointers that they are predominantly found in marine habitats, support the deductions of

Authors that gave a Shallow Marine Paleo environment for the study area.

42
Geology profile along nnorth west east

Figure 3.6:. Geologic map of Study area.

43
 CHAPTER FOUR

MATTERIALS AND METHODS

4.1 PETROGRAPHY

Petrography is a branch of petrology that focuses on detailed descriptions of rocks. Someone

who studies petrography is called a petrographer. The mineral content and the textural

relationships within the rock are described in detail. The classification of rocks is based on the

information acquired during the petrographic analysis. Petrographic descriptions start with the

field notes at the outcrop and include macroscopic description of hand specimens. However, the

most important tool for the petrographer is the petrographic microscope. The detailed analysis of

minerals by optical mineralogy in thin section and the micro-texture and structure are critical to

understanding the origin of the rock. Electron microprobe analysis of individual grains as well as

whole rock chemical analysis by atomic absorption, X-ray fluorescence, and laser-induced

breakdown spectroscopy are used in a modern petrographic lab. Individual mineral grains from a

rock sample may also be analyzed by X-ray diffraction when optical means are insufficient.

Analysis of microscopic fluid inclusions within mineral grains with a heating stage on a

petrographic microscope provides clues to the temperature and pressure conditions existent

during the mineral formation. Petrography as a science began in 1828 when Scottish physicist

William Nicol invented the technique for producing polarized light by cutting a crystal of Iceland

spar, a variety of calcite, into a special prism which became known as the Nicol prism. The

addition of two such prisms to the ordinary microscope converted the instrument into a

polarizing, or petrographic microscope. Using transmitted light and Nicol prisms, it was possible

to determine the internal crystallographic character of very tiny mineral grains, greatly advancing

the knowledge of a rock's constituents.

44
During the 1840s, a development by Henry C. Sor by and others firmly laid the foundation of

petrography. This was a technique to study very thin slices of rock. A slice of rock was affixed to

a microscope slide and then ground so thin that light could be transmitted through mineral grains

that otherwise appeared opaque. The position of adjoining grains was not disturbed, thus

permitting analysis of rock texture. Thin section petrography became the standard method of

rock study. Since textural details contribute greatly to knowledge of the sequence of

crystallization of the various mineral constituents in a rock, petrography progressed into

petrogenesis and ultimately into petrology.

It was in Europe, principally in Germany, that petrography advanced in the last half of the

nineteenth century.

4.2 METHODS OF INVESTIGATION

4.2.1 Macroscopic characters

The macroscopic characters of rocks, those visible in hand-specimens without the aid of the

microscope, are very varied and difficult to describe accurately and fully. The geologist in the

field depends principally on them and on a few rough chemical and physical tests; and to the

practical engineer, architect and quarry-master they are all-important. Although frequently

insufficient in themselves to determine the true nature of a rock, they usually serve for a

preliminary classification, and often give all the information needed.

With a small bottle of acid to test for carbonate of lime, a knife to ascertain the hardness of rocks

and minerals, and a pocket lens to magnify their structure, the field geologist is rarely at a loss to

what group a rock belongs. The fine grained species are often indeterminable in this way, and the

minute mineral components of all rocks can usually be ascertained only by microscopic

45
examination. But it is easy to see that a sandstone or grit consists of more or less rounded, water-

worn sand grains and if it contains dull, weathered particles of feldspar, shining scales of mica or

small crystals of calcite these also rarely escape observation. Shales and clay rocks generally are

soft, fine grained, often laminated and not infrequently contain minute organisms or fragments of

plants. Limestones are easily marked with a knife-blade, effervesce readily with weak cold acid

and often contain entire or broken shells or other fossils. The crystalline nature of a granite or

basalt is obvious at a glance, and while the former contains white or pink feldspar, clear vitreous

quartz and glancing flakes of mica, the other shows yellow-green olivine, black augite, and gray

stratiated plagioclase.

Other simple tools include the blowpipe (to test the fusibility of detached crystals), the

goniometer

4.2.2 Microscopic characteristics

Photomicrograph of a volcanic sand grain; upper picture is plane-polarized light, bottom picture

is cross-polarized light, scale box at left-center is 0.25 millimeter.

When dealing with unfamiliar types or with rocks so fine grained that their component minerals

cannot be determined with the aid of a hand lens, a microscope is used. Characteristics observed

under the microscope include colour, colour variation under plane polarised light (pleochroism,

produced by the lower Nicol prism, or more recently polarising films), fracture characteristics of

the grains, refractive index (in comparison to the mounting adhesive, typically Canada balsam),

and optical symmetry (birefringent or isotropic). In toto, these characteristics are sufficient to

identify the mineral, and often to quite tightly estimate its major element composition. The

process of identifying minerals under the microscope is fairly subtle, but also mechanistic - it

46
would be possible to develop an identification key that would allow a computer to do it. The

more difficult and skilful part of optical petrography is identifying the interrelationships between

grains and relating them to features seen in hand specimen, at outcrop, or in mapping.

4.2.3 Separation of components

Separation of the ingredients of a crushed rock powder to obtain pure samples for analysis is a

common approach. It may be performed with a powerful, adjustable-strength electromagnet. A

weak magnetic field attracts magnetite, then haematite and other iron ores. Silicates that contain

iron follow in definite order—biotite, enstatite, augite, hornblende, garnet, and similar ferro-

magnesian minerals are successively abstracted. Finally, only the colorless, non-magnetic

compounds, such as muscovite, calcite, quartz, and feldspar remain. Chemical methods also are

useful.

A weak acid dissolves calcite from crushed limestone, leaving only dolomite, silicates, or quartz.

Hydrofluoric acid attacks feldspar before quartz and, if used cautiously, dissolves these and any

glassy material in a rock powder before it dissolves augite or hypersthene.

Methods of separation by specific gravity have a still wider application. The simplest of these is

levigation, which is extensively employed in mechanical analysis of soils and treatment of ores,

but is not so successful with rocks, as their components do not, as a rule, differ greatly in specific

gravity. Fluids are used that do not attack most rock-forming minerals, but have a high specific

gravity. Solutions of potassium mercuric iodide (sp. gr. 3.196), cadmium borotungstate (sp. gr.

3.30), methylene iodide (sp. gr. 3.32), bromoform (sp. gr. 2.86), or acetylene bromide (sp. gr.

3.00) are the principal fluids employed. They may be diluted (with water, benzene, etc.) or

concentrated by evaporation.

47
If the rock is granite consisting of biotite (sp. gr. 3.1), muscovite (sp. gr. 2.85), quartz (sp. gr.

2.65), oligoclase (sp. gr. 2.64), and orthoclase (sp. gr. 2.56), the crushed minerals float in

methylene iodide. On gradual dilution with benzene they precipitate in the order above. Simple

in theory, these methods are tedious in practice, especially as it is common for one rock-making

mineral to enclose another. However, expert handling of fresh and suitable rocks yields excellent

results.[1]

4.2.4 Chemical analysis

In addition to naked-eye and microscopic investigation, chemical research methods are of great

practical importance to the petrographer. Crushed and separated powders, obtained by the

processes above, may be analyzed to determine chemical composition of minerals in the rock

qualitatively or quantitatively. Chemical testing, and microscopic examination of minute grains

is an elegant and valuable means of discriminating between mineral components of fine-grained

rocks.

Thus, the presence of apatite in rock-sections is established by covering a bare rock-section with

ammonium molybdate solution. A turbid yellow precipitate forms over the crystals of the

mineral in question (indicating the presence of phosphates). Many silicates are insoluble in acids

and cannot be tested in this way, but others are partly dissolved, leaving a film of gelatinous

silica that can be stained with coloring matters, such as the aniline dyes (nepheline, analcite,

zeolites, etc.).

Complete chemical analysis of rocks are also widely used and important, especially in describing

new species. Rock analysis has of late years (largely under the influence of the chemical

48
laboratory of the United States Geological Survey) reached a high pitch of refinement and

complexity. As many as twenty or twenty-five components may be determined, but for practical

purposes a knowledge of the relative proportions of silica, alumina, ferrous and ferric oxides,

magnesia, lime, potash, soda and water carry us a long way in determining a rock's position in

the conventional classifications.

A chemical analysis is usually sufficient to indicate whether a rock is igneous or sedimentary,

and in either case to accurately show what subdivision of these classes it belongs to. In the case

of metamorphic rocks it often establishes whether the original mass was a sediment or of

volcanic origin.

4.2.5 Archaeological applications

Archaeologists use petrography to identify mineral components in pottery. This information ties

the artifacts to geological areas where the raw materials for the pottery were obtained. In addition

to clay, potters often used rock fragments, usually called "temper" or "aplastics", to modify the

clay's properties. The geological information obtained from the pottery components provides

insight into how potters selected and used local and non-local resources. Archaeologists are able

to determine whether pottery found in a particular location was locally produced or traded from

elsewhere. This kind of information, along with other evidence, can support conclusions about

settlement patterns, group and individual mobility, social contacts, and trade networks. In

addition, an understanding of how certain minerals are altered at specific temperatures can allow

archaeological petrographers to infer aspects of the ceramic production process itself, such as

minimum and maximum temperatures reached during the original firing of the pot. Petrography

49
as a science began in 1828 when Scottish physicist William Nicolpolarized lightIceland

sparcalciteNicol prismpetrographic microscope

4.2.6 Petrography Analysis

Petrology is the study of rocks. A petrographic analysis is an in depth investigation of the

chemical and physical features of a particular rock sample. A complete analysis should include

macroscopic to microscopic investigations of the rock sample. A petrographic analysis is critical

when trying to learn about a rock, reservoir, or formation of interest. The scale of investigation

depends on the importance of the particular sample of interest. To fully describe and characterize

a rock takes varying stages of analysis beginning with an outcrop or hand sample. When

investigating a geothermal resource the petrographic analysis plays a critical role in determining

the resource potential. A petrographic analysis can be describing core samples from an

exploration well, looking at thin sections of the reservoir or reservoir boundary, using a scanning

electron microscope (SEM) to characterize the fracture surfaces from microstructures, doing X-

ray diffraction (XRD) to identify exact mineral assemblages of a rock, or some other useful

petrographic technique that can be used to identify the chemical or physical features of a specific

rock. A well rounded investigation needs to account for both macroscopic and microscopic

features.

4.2.7 Data Access and Acquisition

Data acquisition begins with a rock sample from outcrop, drill core, or cuttings. Once

macroscopic details about the formation or rock sample have been determined by visually

inspecting an outcrop or hand sample, a petrographic thin section is typically made to

50
characterize the microscopic features. Thin sections are great for identifying the minerals

present, porosity, inter-granualr volume (IGV), alteration, microstructures, and provenance.

However, thin sections are only two dimensional, to get a three dimensional understanding of the

micro-features a scanning electron microscope (SEM) is typically used. SEM’s can reveal

micron scale surface features of a rock sample. One of the consequences of a rock interacting

with an electron beam in an SEM is that characteristic X-rays are released, which can be

measured to determine a relatively qualitative elemental composition of the specific grain being

investigated. This process is called energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, or EDS, and can be

very helpful in providing basic elemental composition of a sample. To acquire quantitative bulk

rock compositions XRD is a common technique. There are various XRD machines and

techniques, but typically a rock sample is crushed into a fine powder which is packed and

mounted onto a stage that is analyzed by X-rays. The X-ray detector captures this information

which gets plotted onto a diffractogram where characteristic peaks can be identified as specific

minerals.

At the course of the field work, fresh samples were collected from the field insitu and taken to

the laboratory, on arrival. These samples were cut into slides and reduced to a thickness were by

they can be studied under the petrographic microscope easily and their constituent minerals and

inter relationship ascertained.

4.2.8 Laboratory Analysis

Thin sectioning were carried out on two samples collected within the study area and studied

under the cross polarized light and plane polarized lights of the petrogra[phic microscope, in

other to identify mineral assemblages and ratio of each sample. As with this, one can be able to

ascertain how long these samples must have been deposited and the rate and anmount of

51
environmental activities it has undergone. This is possible, knowing that some rocks easily loose

some certain unstable mineral assemblage elements they contain after a long period of time. .

Specimen 1. Where QZ is quartz, MX is rock matrix: under Plane polar light and cross

polar light respectively.

52
Specimen 2. Where QZ is quartz, MX is rock matrix, Li is Feldpar : under Plane polar

light and cross polar light respectively.

53
 CHAPTER FIVE

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 5.1 showing results for Specimen 1 and 2

UNIT Quartz (%) Feldspar (%) Rock Matrix TOTAL

Polycrystalline Monocrystalline
Fragment (%)

(%)
Specimen

1 14.3 20.3 09 4.3 55 100

Specimen

2 15 19 5.5 15.5 45 100

These two specimens are very coarse grained and exhibit poikilotopic texture. The quartz grains

which are essentially polycrystalline are isolated on the silt sized matrix. Limonite (iron oxide) is

the cementing material and the quartz grains maintain mostly concavo-convex contacts with each

other.

These two specimens consist of coarse grained, moderately sorted, angular to sub-angular quartz

grains, k-feldspar and plagioclase (with totally obliterated twinning) and some rock fragments

cemented by clay minerals and carbonates. Quartz occurs in both polycrystalline and

54
monocrystalline grains with sutured boundaries and concavo-convex contacts. The grain size

ranges from 1 mm to 5 mm.

Specimen 1 consists of quartz (34.6%), feldspar (9%) and rock fragments (4.3%). The proportion

of monocrystalline quartz is 20.3% of the total quartz content whereas that of polycrystalline

quartz is 14.3%. The polycrystalline quartz is recognized by its irregular mosaic fractures on the

surface which shows strong segmented undulosity. The quartz grains have line and concavo-

convex contacts while some of the grains are isolated on the matrix giving the rock a texture that

is somewhat poikilotopic. The shape of the quartz grains ranges from sub-angular to sub-

rounded. Feldspars constitute about 9% of the rock. Of all the feldspars, plagioclase is intensely

altered while the grains of orthoclase feldspar are partially altered and appear cloudy. The

cementing material is calcite. Rock fragments constitute about 4.3% of the rock. Micas are also

present. Some of the micas observed are bent.

DISCUSSIONS

Most of the sediments that make up these samples were found to be very coarse grained, this is

an indicator that these sediments have not been transported from too long a distance, suggesting

that its parents rock providence is not quite very far away from the study area. The identified

poikilitic texture of the samples which is characteristic representative of an igneous rock in

which small crystals of one mineral occur within the crystals of another, suggest that the

sediments here would have experienced some sort of effects of either tectonism or volcanism

which made it possible for the samples to acquire some igneous characteristics (this is supportive

to authors reviewed earlier who mentioned effects of volcanism within the study area). One of

the cementing agents of the sediments was found to be Limonite which is an ore of iron

55
consisting of mixture of hydrated iron and hydroxides in varying composition: also further

support volcanism in the building up of the study area.

There was also traces of feldspathic minerals like plagioclase and orthoclase within the analysed

samples, these clay minerals are indicators of a shallow marine paleoenviroment as wind might

not be strong enough to have transported these clay minerals. Also owing to the fact that not all

the K feldspars has been lost in the samples still supports that the samples has not travelled a

very long distance as this is seen in their angular to sub angular roundness. The sediments as

observed under the petrographic microscope are moderately sorted still pointing to a nearby

providence for its parent rocks.

56
 CHAPTER SIX

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The study area is dominated by shale, with laterite occurrences. Two major lithological units

were delineated after a detailed field mapping which are: a basal brown shale unit and an

overlying light to dark grey shale unit. The area is rich in fossil contents like gastropods,

pelycypods and bivalves of which some were recovered from outcrops within the study location.

Under microscopy, the samples were found to be angular to sub angular in roundness,

moderately sorted and very coarse grained, with grain size ranging from one (1) to five (5) mm.

most of the beds and structures whose attitude were measured here were striking and trending

predominantly in the NE to SW direction with some yielding dip readings of about 220.

Integrating all the information I have got from both, geologic mapping, fossil discussion and

petrographic laboratory analysis, I correlate the paleo environment of deposition of the sediments

in this area to be of a Shallow marine environment with low tidal flow and quick regression

leaving the samples moderately sorted. The samples have not travelled a long distance away

from where they were originated and during a geologic season of the formation of this area, there

is evidience of volcanism and tectonism. The volcanism brought about different kinds of

minerals occurring together with the pre-existing ones while the tectonic activity leads to the

fracturing and jointing of some units within the study area.

57
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