Abstract
Field study, petrographic and major element geochemical composition of the Eze-Aku Sandstone facies outcropping in the Afikpo Synclinorium, southeastern Nigeria, were utilized in this study. The aim is to interpret the provenance and tectonic setting for sandstones in the sedimentary basin. Field observation shows alternating sequence of parallel sandstone ridges trending NE-SW and shales which represent the low-lying plains in the area. Four major sandstone facies were identified: massive conglomeritic sandstone facies, laminated sandstone facies, bioturbated sandstone facies and cross-bedded sandstone facies. Ternary plots for framework elements (quartz, feldspar and rock fragments) from petrography of the sandstones indicate the sandstones as arkosic and subarkosic arenites. Tectonic setting discrimination diagrams plotted based on major element oxides revealed continental block provenance dominantly in a passive continental margin. Petrographic and geochemical results indicate large amounts of detritus were derived principally from plutonic igneous rocks with minor contribution from metamorphic source region, probably from Obudu Plateau, Oban and Cameroon Massifs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amajor LC (1985) The cenomanian hiatus in the Southern Benue Trough, Nigeria. Geol Mag 121:39–50
Amireh BS (1991) Mineral composition of the Cambrian-Cretaceous Nubian series of Jordan: provenance, tectonic setting and climatological implication. J Sediment Geol 71:99–119
Anderton R (1985) Clastic facies models and facies analysis. In: Brenchley PJ, Williams PJ (eds) Sedimentology: recent developments and applied aspects. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, pp 31–47
Armstrong-Altrin JS, Lee YI, Verma SP, Ramasamy S (2004) Geochemistry of sandstones from the upper Miocene Kudankulam Formation, Southern India: implication for provenance, weathering and tectonic setting. J Sediment Res 74:28–297
Bahlburg H (1998) The geochemistry and provenance of Ordovician turbidites in the Puna. In: Pankhurst RJ, Rapela CW (eds) The Proto-Andean margin of Gondwana, vol 142. Geological Society Special Publication, London, UK, pp 127–142
Banerjee DM, Bhattacharya P (1994) Petrology and geochemistry of greywackes from the Aravalli Supergroup, Rajasthan, India and the tectonic evolution of a Proterozoic sedimentary basin. Precambrian Res 67:11–35
Basu A (1985) Influence of climate and relief on compositions of sands released at source areas. In: Zuffa GG (ed) Provenance of Arenites. D. Rediel, Dordrecht, pp 1–18
Basu A, James CW, Mack GH, Sutner LJ, Young SW (1975) Re-evaluation of the use of strained monocrystalline quartz in provenance interpretation. Geol Soc Am Bull 6:1021
Benkhelil J (1987) Structural frame and deformations in the Benue Trough of Nigeria. Bull Cent Res Explor-prod Elf- Aquitaine 11:160–161
Bhatia MR (1983) Plate tectonics and geochemical composition of sandstone. J Geol 61:611–627
Bhatia MR, Crook KAW (1986) Trace element characteristics of greywackes and tectonic setting discrimination of sedimentary basins. Contrib Miner Petrol 92:18–193
Blatt H (1992) Sedimentary Petrology. Freeman, New York, p 514
Blatt H, Middleton G, Murray R (1980) Origin of Sedimentary rocks. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, p 634
Bouma AH (1962) Sedimentology of some Flysch deposits: a graphic approach to facies interpretation. Elsevier, Amsterdam, p 168
Bouma AH, Stone CG (2000) Fine-grained turbidite systems. Am Assoc Pet Geol Mem Spec Publ 68:342
Burke KC, Dessauvagie TFG, Whiteman AJ (1972) Geological history of the Benue valley and adjacent areas. In: Dessauvagie TFJ, Whiteman AJ (eds) African Geology. University of Ibadan, Nigeria, pp 207–218
Carter JD, Baber W, Tait EA, Jones GP (1963) The geology of parts of Adamawa, Bauchi and Bornu provinces in northeastern Nigeria. Geol Surv Niger Bull 30:108
Critelli S, Nilsen TH (2000) Provenance and stratigraphy of the Eocene Tejon Formation, western Tehachapi mountains, San Emigdio mountains, and southern San Joaquin Basin, California. J Sediment Geol 136:7–27
Dickinson WR (1970) Interpreting detrital modes of greywacke and arkose. J Sediment Petrol 40:695–707
Dickinson WR (1985) Interpreting provenance relation from detrial modes of sandstones. In: Zuffa GG (ed) provenance of arenites: NATO ASI Series, C 148, D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, pp 333–363
Dickinson WR, Suczek CA (1979) Plate tectonics and sandstone compositions. Am Assoc Pet Geol Bull 63:2164–2182
Dickinson WR, Beard LS, Brakenridge GR, Erjavee JL, Ferguso RC, Inman KF, Knepp RA, Lindberg FA, Ryberg PT (1983) Provenance of North America Phanerozoic sandstones in relation to tectonic setting. Bull Geol Soc Am 94:222–235
Folk RL (1974) Petrology of sedimentary rocks. Hemphill, Austin, p 182
Gazzi P (1996) Le arenarie del Flysch sopracretaceo dell’Appennino modenese; correlazioni conil Flysch di monghidoro. Mineralógica et petrographica acta 12:69–97
Hoque M (1976) Significance of textural and petrographic attributes of several Cretaceous sandstones, Southern Nigeria. BullGeol Soc India 17:514–521
Hoque M (1977) Petrographic differentiation of tectonically controlled Cretaceous sedimentary cycles, Southeastern, Nigeria. J Sediment Geol 17:235–345
Igwe EO (2015) Aspects of sedimentology, stratigraphy and paleogeography of the Eze-Aku Group (late Cenomanian-Turonian) in the Afikpo Synclinorium, southern Benue Trough, Nigeria. Unpublished Ph.D thesis, Department of Geology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, p 194
Igwe EO, Amoke GU, Ngwu CN (2013) Provenance and tectonic setting of Amasiri Sandstone (Turonian) in Ugep area, Southern Benue Trough, Nigeria: evidences from petrography and geochemistry. Glob J Sci Front Res 13:33–40
Kroonenberg SB (1994) Effects of provenance, sorting and weathering on the geochemistry of fluvial sands from different tectonic and climatic the environment. In: Proceedings of the 29 international geological congress, part A, pp 69–81
LePain DL, Kirkham R (2001) Potential reservoir facies in the Nanushuk Formation (Albian–Cenomanian), central north slope, Alaska: examples from outcrop and core. In: Houseknecht DW (ed) National petroleum reserve core workshop, petroleum plays and systems in the Alaska. Society for Sedimentary Geology Core Workshop, vol 21, pp 19–36
Marsaglia KM (2004) Sandstone detrital modes support Magdalena fan displacement from the mouth of the Gulf of California. J Geol 32:45–48
McLennan SM (2001) Relationships between the trace element composition of sedimentary rocks and upper continental crust. Geochem Geophys Geosyst G3:1021. doi:10.1029/2000GC000109
McLennan SM, Taylor SR, Eriksson KA (1983) Geochemistry of Archean shales from Pilbara Supergroup, western Australia. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 74:1211–1222
McLennan SM, Taylor SR, McCulloch MT, Maynard JB (1990) Geochemical and Nd-Sr isotopic composition of deep sea turbidites: crustal evolution and plate tectonic associations. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 54:2015–2050
Miall AD (2000) Principles of sedimentary basin analysis, 3rd edn. Springer, Berlin, p 616
Moore CH (2001) Carbonate reservoirs: porosity evolution and diagenesis in a sequence stratigraphic framework. Elsevier, Amsterdam, p 444
Murat RC (1972) Stratigraphy and paleogeography of the Cretaceous and lower Tertiary in Southern Nigeria. In: Dessauvagie TFJ, Whiteman AJ (eds) African geology. University of Ibadan, Ibadan, pp 201–266
Naqvi SM, Sawkar RH, Subba Rao DV, Govil PK, Rao TG (1988) Geology, geochemistry and tectonic setting of Archean greywacke from Karnataka nucleus, India. Precambrian Res 39:193–216
Nwachukwu SO (1972) The tectonic evolution of the southern portion of Benue Trough, Nigeria. Geol Mag 109:411–419
Ogungbesan GO, Akaegbobi IM (2011) Petrography and geochemistry of Turonian Eze-Aku sandstone ridges, lower Benue Trough, Nigeria: implication for provenance and tectonic settings. Ife J Sci 13:263–277
Ojo OJ, Ajibola UK, Akande SO (2009) Depositional environments, organic richness Petroleum generating potential of the Campanian to Maastrichtian Enugu Formation, Anambra Basin, Nigeria. Pac J Sci Technol 10:614–628
Pettijohn FJ, Potter PE, Siever R (1987) Sand and sandstone. Springer, Heidelberg, p 618
Popoff M, Wiedmann J, De Klasz I (1986) The upper Cretaceous Gongila and Pindiga Formations, Northern Nigeria. subdivisions, age, stratigraphic correlations and paleogeographic implications. Eclogae Geol Helv 79:343–363
Rahman AMS, Ekwere SJ, Azmatullah M, Ukpong EE (1987) Petrology and geochemistry of granitic intrusive rocks from the western part of the Oban Massif, southeastern, Nigeria. J Min Geol 15:47–59
Ramanathan RM, Nair KM (1984) Lower Cretaceous foraminifera from Gboko Limestone, eastern Nigeria. J Min Geol 21:41–47
Reyment RA (1965) Aspect of the geology of Nigeria. University of Ibadan Press, Ibadan, p 145
Roser BP, Korsch RJ (1986) Determination of tectonic setting of sandstone-mudstone suites using SiO2 content and K2O/Na2O ratio. J Geol 94:635–650
Roser BP, Korsch RJ (1988) Provenance signatures of sandstone-mudstone suites determined using discriminant function analysis of major-element data. Chemic Geol 67:119–139
Roser BP, Coombs DS, Korsch RJ, Campbell JD (2002) Whole-rock geochemical variations and evolution of the arc-derived Murihiku Terrane. New Zealand: Geological Mag 139(6):665–685
Schwab FL (1975) Framework mineralogy and chemical composition of continental margin type sandstone. J Geol 3:487–490
Shanmugam G (2003) Deep-marine tidal bottom currents and their reworked sands in modern and ancient submarine canyons. J Mar Pet Geol 20:471–491
Short KC, Stauble AJ (1967) Outline of Geology of Niger Delta. Bull Am Assoc Pet Geol 15:761–776
Sprague AR, Garfield TR, Goulding FJ, Beaubouef RT, Sullivan MD, Rossen C, Campion KM, Sickafoose DK, Abreu V, Schellpeper ME, Jense GN, Jennette DC, Pirmez C, Dixon BT, Ying D, Ardill J, Mohrig DC, Porter ML, Farrell ME, Mellere D (2005) Integrated slope channel depositional models: the key to successful prediction reservoir presence and quality in offshore West Africa. EsteArtículo fue Preparado paras Presentación en el Cuarto E- Exitep Production Elf Aquitaine 18:238–354
Taylor SR, McLennan SM (1985) The Continental Crust: its Composition and Evolution. Scientific Publications, Oxford, p 312
Uzuankpunwa AB (1974) The Abakaliki Pyroclastics, eastern Nigeria: new age and tectonic implications. Geol Mag 111:65–70
Whiteman AJ (1982) Nigeria: its petroleum geology, resources and potential. Grahaman Trotman, London
Yan Z, Wang Z, Wang T, Yan Q, Xiao W, Li J (2006) Provenance and tectonic setting of clastic deposits in the Devonian Xicheng Basin, Qinling Orogen, Central China. J Sediment Res 76:557–574
Young SW (1976) Petrographic textures of detrital polycrystalline quartz as an aid to interpreting crystalline source rocks. J Sediment Petrol 46:595–603
Zimmermann U, Bahlburg H (2003) Provenance of analysis and tectonic setting of the Ordovician Clastics, Northwestern Argentina. J Sedimentol 50:1078–1104
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Igwe, E.O. Composition, provenance and tectonic setting of Eze-Aku Sandstone facies in the Afikpo Synclinorium, Southern Benue Trough, Nigeria. Environ Earth Sci 76, 420 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6750-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6750-2