A TERM PAPER ON GEOLOGIC FIELD

WORK IN PARTS OF AFIKPO BASIN,

LOWER BENUE TROUGH NIGERIA.

WRITTEN BY
NWABUOKU CHUKWUDI SIDNEY
DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY,
UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT,
NIGERIA.
MATRICULATION NUMBER:
U2019/5565026
COURSE TITLE: PRACTICE
GEOLOGIC FIELD MAPPING
COURSE CODE: GLY 305.1
COORDINATORS:
Prof. Victor Ukaegbu
Dr. Charles Ugwueze

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My sincere appreciation goes to God Almighty, who has kept me alive to

this day. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Charles
Ugwueze and Prof. Victor Ukaegbu, who served as my instructors during
the fieldwork process. I am grateful for the thoughtful contributions of
Daniel Agunobi and other group members to our group projects, as well
as the financial and emotional support provided by my family. Thank you
for being a part of my academic journey.

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 ABSTRACT
This study looks at the depositional processes connected to the various
flow regimes of ancient rivers. It also examines the procedures used to
map out an area's geology.
The study investigates the relationship between the various types of flow
regimes and the various sizes of sediment grains deposited by the various
fluid flow regimes through extensive fieldwork and the analysis of
geological survey data. According to research, the smaller sediment
particles like silt and clay can only be deposited when the fluid is
virtually quiet, whereas the heavier sediment particles like pebbles are
deposited first when the fluid flow strength declines. The implications of
these observations are examined, as well as strategies for converting this
field data into a geologic map.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Content Page
Acknowleedgment ……………………………………… 2

Abstract ……………………………………… 3

Chapter One

Introduction ……………………………………… 5

Chapter Two

Literature Review ……………………………………… 7

Local Stratigraphy fof the Afikpo Basin …………………… 7

What is the Geologic Mapping Process? …………………… 8

Chapter Three

Field Report ……………………………………… 9

Day 1 ……………………………………… 9

Day 2 ……………………………………… 9

Day 3 ……………………………………… 14

Comprehensive Maping Process ……………………………. 20

Chapter Four

Fieldwork Findings ……………………………………… 24

Important Learnings From The Places Visited ……………. 28

Chapter Five

Summary ……………………………………… 29

References ……………………………………… 31

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 CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Scientists have long been enthralled by the Earth's dynamic and complex
web of geologic processes because of how its landscapes are always
changing and how its elements are interacting with one another in
complex ways. Geologists use geologic fieldwork, an enthralling
synthesis of art and science, to comprehend this never-ending symphony.
Geologic mapping and the study of different flow regimes are two
disciplines that are essential to understanding the Earth's geological
mysteries.
This term paper sets out on an adventure into the world of geologic
fieldwork, a method that connects abstract theory and practical
knowledge. It is a voyage devoted to investigating flow regimes, the
dynamic movements of Earth's constituent parts, and the complex
procedure of geologic mapping. I hope to provide some insight on how
important these projects are to how we understand the past, present, and
future of Earth's geology.
In these pages, we will examine the methods and approaches used
by geologists to understand the various flow regimes that control our
world. We shall look at the methods, know-how, and technological
developments employed to directly examine these phenomena.
The discipline of geologic mapping, which converts the disorganized
collection of geological features into understandable visual
representations, will also be explored on this journey. We shall learn
about the careful formation of the Earth's surface through the
observations and experiences of geologists.

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 Join me on this intellectual journey as we traverse Ebonyi's rocky
terrain, interpret the complex language of geological features, and
develop the skills necessary to visualize Earth's various river regimes. I
want to reveal the untold stories that have shaped our planet through the
perspective of geology fieldwork and mapping and pay homage to the
geologists who spend their entire careers revealing these amazing tales.

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 CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
A significant tectonic feature in Nigeria is the lower Benue trough, which
includes the southern portion of the Afikpo basin. The South Atlantic
Ocean opened during the Cretaceous epoch, creating the lower Benue
trough, a rift basin. The Abakaliki anticlinorium to the northwest and the
Cameroon volcanic line to the southeast define the boundaries of the
Afikpo basin. The majority of the rocks in the basin are Middle
Cretaceous sandstones and shales that were deposited in a fluvio-deltaic
environment. Folding, faulting, and magmatism are only a few of the
phases of deformation that have impacted the basin. The adjacent
Anambra basin, a foreland basin created by the compression of the
African plate by the Niger Delta, has an impact on the basin as well.

LOCAL STRATIGRAPHY OF THE

AFIKPO BASIN
Between the Abakaliki Anticlinorium and the Cameroon line, in the
southern Benue Trough, is the Afikpo Basin, a sedimentary basin. The
Asu River Group, the Eze-Aku Group, the Nkporo Group, and the Ngodo
Group are the four primary formations that make up the basin's
sedimentary sequences of Campanian to Maastrichtian age. The oldest
and thickest formation, the Asu River Group, is primarily made up of
sandstones with a little amount of shales and conglomerates. The Eze-
Aku Group is made up of shales with sandstones and limestones
interbedded, and it sits irregularly above the Asu River Group. The
Nkporo Group, which is the youngest and thinnest formation, is made up
primarily of shales with sporadic sandstones and thin coal seams. A

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Paleocene unit known as the Ngodo Group consists of abundant
palynomorph-bearing shales that nonconformably overlies the Nkporo
Group.

WHAT IS THE GEOLOGIC MAPPING

PROCESS?
Geologic mapping is a critical procedure in the study of geology that
entails the methodical gathering, examination, and depiction of geological
data from rock formations on the surface of the Earth and below. Its goal
is to produce intricate maps that show the location, makeup, and
connections between various rock types, sedimentary layers, buildings,
mineral deposits, and other geological phenomena within a certain
geographic region. These maps give us important information on the past,
present, and potential resources of the Earth

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 CHAPTER THREE
FIELD REPORT
Day 1
Arrival time: 10:04 GMT+1
Arrival venue: Convocation Arena, University of Port Harcourt.
Date: 9th August, 2023

The convocation arena was where Professor Ukaegbu spoke to us. He

provided information about the fieldwork's significance, the area of
interest, and how to conduct ourselves while conducting fieldwork.
Following a roll call by matriculation number conducted by Dr. Charles
Ugwueze, we boarded the bus, which was overcrowded and cramped due
to the amount of students aboard.
Several changes in the destination were made during the journey, and at
13:06 GMT+1, a brief rest stop was made in Umuahia town. At 13:45
GMT+1, the journey resumed. The kids felt stranded after we arrived in
the state of Ebonyi since we had trouble finding lodging.

Day 2
Departure venue: Along Oposo road, Amasiri, Afikpo.
Departure time: 09:37 GMT+1
Date: 10th August, 2023.
Location 1
Arrival time: 09:32 GMT +1
Venue: Ohasu Community Secondary School, Afikpo.
Cordinates: 5.8965 N5°53'4773 - Latitude
7.93902 E7°56'26472 - Longitude
Rock type: Sedimentary

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The rock has a reddish brown hue. Chemical weathering is what brought
about this. When some of the rock on the surface is washed away by
chemical weathering, it occurs. Parts of the rock that couldn't dissolve are
what we can see in this area.
The characteristics that are seen here were formed near the source of this
historic drainage system. It is made out of pebbles and dried mud.
Elements like calcium and potassium, among others, are used to form
rock.
The first element to react during weathering is potassium, while iron
reacts second and forms iron stone.

Hand drawn diagram of the base of the old drainage system,

Ohasu community secondary school, Afikpo.

Coarser materials can be found as we move up the slope. This is

because the materials were carried using a higher amount of energy flow.
Compared to where we just left, at the slope's bottom, this place has more
energy.

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 NOTES FROM THE COMPASS CLINOMETER'S
MEASUREMENTS OF STRIKE AND DIP

 The compass clinometer is employed to instantly locate items.

 To determine the strike and dip of a lay rock, a compass clinometer is
utilized.
 It can also be used to determine direction and bearing.
Note: To prevent magnetic materials on the rock from interfering with
your measurement when using the compass clinometer, avoid placing the
instrument on the rock.
Keep in mind that the strike always forms a 90-degree angle with
the dip.
Dip: the extent to which a bed inclines when it deforms.

Hand drawn diagram of the gully created by the old drainage system.
Note: Anambra basin is a Cretaceous delta.

Along the paleoriver channel are some sand bars that describes the
depositional system and depositional environment of the area.

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 THREE WAYS TO KNOW YOUR TRUE NORTH

1. Rising sun: the sun rises from the east

2. Overhead sun: the shadow points towards the east
3. Northern star
Departure time: 15:43 GMT+1

Location 2
Arrival time: 16:00 GMT+1
Venue: Ndinbe Beach
Cordinates: 7948772 E7°56'55.386 - Longitude
5.84106 N5°5027.834 - Latitude

The way the river runs makes it possible to see how the sediments travel.
Much burden will be carried by a swift flow. Recent sediments can be
found in this meandering river. The end destination of all the loads is the
ocean. Paleocurrent governs the river's flow.

Hand drawn diagram of the Ndinbe river.

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While some channels are depositional, others are erosive. If channels are
discovered along the Nigerian coast, they are erosive.

The diagram above are channels stacked on each other.

This beach's sand is collected, then it is treated. By being fried, the sand
gets dried.To ascertain the grain sizes deposited when flow changes with
regard to slope, this area might be subjected to grain size analysis.

Departure time: 16:35 GMT+1

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Day 3
Departure time: 10:00 GMT+1
Departure venue: D Base hotel, along Okposo road, Amasiri, Afikpo.
Date: 11th August, 2023.

Location 3
Venue: MacGregor Hill
Arrival time: 10:15 GMT+1
Cordinates: 5°53'38"N
7°55'6"E
Rock type: Sedimentary

The radioactivity of rocks can be found and identified using the gamma
ray log.
The rocks discovered here have withstood erosional processes.

Diagram of the Bowman sequence

The facies is a representation of many deposited systems. An erosional
surface known as the sequence boundary is located at the base. The base
is created as a result of the global sea level declining. The continental
shelf became revealed as the sea receded.

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Sequence boundary: It is a surface with an unconformity between a
deposition period and a non-deposition phase.
The weathering the rock has undergone has caused its color to appear
homogeneous.
Note that whereas porosity is unaffected by grain size, permeability
can.Shale has pores, however they are not joined together like they are in
sandstone.
Recall that density migration is how hydrocarbons move. Consequently,
whereas water migrates vertically downward, hydrocarbon travels
vertically upward.

The three main fluids found in a reservoir are:

 Salt water; which lies at the base.
 Oil; which lies on the salt water.
 Gas; which lies on the oil.

Diagram of the MacGregor Hill

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 MAPPING PROCESS

Making grid lines, or dividing the space into an equal number of portions
on your mapping paper, is the first stage. This is done in accordance with
how many days you plan to stay there. For example, you would draw
fourteen grid lines if you planned to stay in a place for fourteen days.

Hand drawn diagram of grid lines

Departure time: 13:40 GMT+1

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17
Graphic logs of MacGragor Hill

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Location 4
Arrival time: 13:44 GMT+1
Venue: Afikpo timer shade
Cordinates:5°53'54"N
7°54'56"E
Rock type: Igneous (dolerite)

A vein is a fractured hinge joint that has been filled in. That is what the
Dolerites in this place stand for.After being measured with a compass, the
fault's direction was discovered to be East-West. The dolerite sill is
shown here. The dolerite has very fine grains. Because it weathers easily,
it is suitable for building but not for constructing roads.
Proxene and Plagioclase make up dolerite. Basic igneous rock is what it
is. Because dolerite is black in color and is dominant in this area, the soil
will always be dark in color. Iron and magnesium minerals make up the
sill intrusion known as the dolerite ridge. Mafic rocks are thin and
weathers easily.
In the Ezeaku Formation, sandstone and shale alteration follow an East-
West trend. Sandstone makes up the hills, while shale makes up the
valleys. The Ezeaku Formation's finish and the Asu Formation's
commencement are represented by a sandstone border.Although the
sandstones are continuous, there is a break in the shale in the Asu River
Group, causing the sandstones to develop as boulders.

Departure time: 14:30 GMT+1

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 Comprehensive Mapping Process
 Map out the many rocks on your paper based on their various
placements. This is accomplished while you explore the various
regions of the location being mapped out.
 Between the various sorts of rocks that have already been drawn out
on the paper, draw dotted boundary lines.
 Joining the various boundary lines so that they create a demarcation
for each of the various rock types that occur on various parts of the
map.
 Draw symbols to indicate the various rock types that are present in
different areas of your map, such as sandstone (dots), shale (dashed
lines), etc.

Further details:

The main equipment needed for geological mapping:

 Base Map: Used to show an overview of the area that will be mapped.
 Compass and clinometer: Used to measure the strike and dip from
rock and geological structure.
 Stationery and field notebook: Used to record and describe the
characteristics of rocks found at the observation location.
 Hammer and chisel: Used to take rock samples.
 Hand lens: Used to observe the characteristics of rock that cannot be
seen with the eye directly, such as the grain size.
 Gauge: Used is used to determine the length of an outcrop or structure.
 GPS: Used to determine the outcrop location.

The steps of geological mapping activity are:

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 Make outcrop observation, and make a description of it.
 Measure the position of rocks (strike and dip), geological structure
elements, and other geological elements.
 Make a record observations in a field notebook
 Determine the outcrop location by using GPS.

Steps to create geological maps:

 Make Geological Maps Framework

o Set of data that is used to make a map. Contains:

1. Symbols of station number (track)

2. Types of rock symbol

3. Plotting symbol of strike/dip

4. Plotting symbol of structure element.

 Make a strike and dip map

o This map shows the plots of strike and dip from a region:

1. Inventory a required data, such as strike and dip, and the

description of rock into rock units along with its contacts

as well as an indication of the geological structures (faults,
folding)
2. Plotting data on the map. we make a contour map based on

the similarity towards the strike and dip of outcrops were

obtained.

o How to reconstruct the pattern of strike of the rock layering

pattern is as follows:

1. Plot the data needed

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 2. Create key strike/dip contour
3. Reconstruct the geological structure, if any
4. Reconstruct the pattern of strike and dip.

 Make geological map

o Some things that need to be considered in making geological

maps are:

1. Determining the spread of the unit and formation.

2. Restrict the lithology in accordance with the lithology

contacts on the strike and dip map.

3. Draw the location of geological structures in accordance

with the boundary of the strike and dip map.

4. Give lithology color in accordance with the standard color

and provide explanation.

5. Make the cross section from its map

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An example of a geologic map

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 CHAPTER FOUR
FIELDWORK FINDINGS
The following are the findings at the four locations visited during the
course of the trip:

Ohasu community secondary school:

River terrace deposits are the main lithologic unit seen here. It is
composed of various sized grains. As we ascended the hill, we observed
that the deposits became more abrasive and that the top was covered in
pebbles.
One could describe the landscape here as being similar to a highland with
a downward slope. There was also an erosional gully in this area, a
landform made by the erosive action of the river that once passed through
this area. Given that the rock's distinctive red color indicates chemical
weathering, we can infer that the area where it was deposited had
experienced this process. They consist of pebbles and dried mud.Our
research leads us to the conclusion that this area is an old drainage
system.

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 Pebbles from Ohasu

The base of the Ohasu drainage. The erotional gully observed

when going uphill.

Ndinbe beach:
Sand deposits make up the majority of the litholigic units exposed at
Ndinbe Beach. It is made up of several grain sizes that are relatively close
to one another.The sediments carried in this river depositional
environment flow with the flow of the Ndinbe river. It is a meandering
river where you can find recent deposits. The ocean serves as the final
destination for all deposits conveyed.This area's topography can be
categorized as either lowland or plain. This inference can be made
because this beach isn't on a highland, and rivers always flow from
highlands to lowlands.There are ripple marks by the side of the beach,
which is one sedimentary structure seen here.

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 The Ndinbe River

Ripple marks from the side of the Ndinbe beach

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MacGregor Hill:
Sandstone beds are the main lithologic unit present here. A few
conglomerate beds make up the subordinate lithologic unit as well.
The geography of the MacGregor hill is hilly. A rock exposure with flora
at the summit is visible in the scene. Bedding planes, cross-bedding,
unconformities, parallel laminaton, and animal tracks in the form of
burrows are a few sedimentary structures that can be seen in the exposed
rock.We can infer from the sedimentary formations observed here that the
MacGregor Hill was deposited using the fluvial (river) depositional
model.

Rock exposure form the MacGregor Hill

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Afikpo timber shade:
Shale and sandstone are subordinate lithologic units here, and dolorite is
the main unit. Mountains and valleys make up the landscape. Due to the
existence of dolerite in the vicinity, the soil at the place has a black color.
Faults and dolerite sills are some additional structures we may see here.
Additionally, we see east-west trending sandstone and shale variations.
Shale makes up the valleys, while sandstone makes up the highlands.

IMPORTANT LEARNINGS FROM THE FOUR PLACES

VISITED

We may conclude that Ebonyi is primarily made up of highlands, while

there are also hills, valleys, and plains in this region.
Old drainage systems left rocks behind here.
The area has to be mapped recognizing the presence of dolerite, an
igneous rock, as well as river terrace deposits and fluvial (river) deposits.

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 CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY
Grain-based river terrace deposits create a landscape with a slope
that resembles a highland. The past of the Ohasu region is shown by a
chemical weathering and an erosional gully. The unusual red color of the
rock points to chemical weathering, while the dried mud and pebbles
point to an earlier drainage system.
Sand deposits with close-knit grain sizes make up the litholigic
units at Ndinbe Beach. The Ndinbe River, a meandering river, carries
sediments to the ocean. Lowland or plain topography with ripple patterns
on the beach side can be used to describe the Ndinbe beach.
The river depositional model was used to deposit the MacGregor
Hill, a steep landscape with visible rock exposure and vegetation at the
peak. Sedimentary features include bedding planes, cross-bedding,
unconformities, parallel laminaton, and burrows.
The landscape of the Afikpo timber shade features shale and
sandstone subunits, with dolorite as the main unit. Mountains and valleys
form the landscape, with black soil due to dolerite presence.
Lastly, Geological mapping involves using a base map, a compass
and clinometer to measure the strike and dip from rocks and geological
structures, a field notebook to record observations, a hammer and chisel
for rock samples, a hand lens for observing unnoticed characteristics, and
a GPS to determine outcrop location. The process involves outcrop
observation, description, measurement of rocks, and recording
observations in a field notebook. To create geological maps, a framework
is created, including station numbers, rock symbols, strike/dip symbols,
and structure elements. A strike and dip map is created, showing the
pattern of strike and dip in rock layering patterns. The map should

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consider the spread of units and formations, lithology restrictions, and
geological structure locations.

Table of values after measurement of the pebbles from Ohasu.

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 REFERENCES
Geologic mapping (UB) - AAPG Wiki

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
237450245_Geology_and_Stratigraphy_of_Middle_Cretaceous_Sequenc
es_Northeast_of_Afikpo_Basin_Lower_Benue_Trough_Nigeria.
Authors: Authors:

Victor Ukaegbu
 University of Port Harcourt

Idara Akpabio
 University of Uyo

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