PALYNOLOGICAL AND INFERRED CLIMATE ASSESSMENT OF THE PLIOCENE SEDIMENTS: INSIGHTS FROM X-WELL, OFFSHORE SETTING OF THE NIGER DELTA (Invited Presentation)

Palynological analyses of X-well in Niger Delta were carried out by analysing fifty-five ditch cuttings at the depth between 460 and 1540 m (20 m intervals). The lithostratigraphic intervals is composed of predominantly fine to medium grained sand with shale intercalation which is conformable to the paralic Agbada Formation that were influenced by a humid but warm climate-driven sea level rise. Standard technique was employed by using non-acid method Sodium-hexametaphosphate to remove the drill mud. In addition, the palynomorphs recovery yielded low to moderate and high preservation within the sampled intervals. A total of eighty-six species were documented to interpret the age that is aligned to lithostratigraphy of the formation. Common species identified are Retibrevitricolporites obodoensis, Echiperiporites estelae, Gemmamonoporites sp, Peregrinipollis nigericus, Crassoretitricolporites vanraadshooveni, Multiaerollites fomorsus, Stereisporites sp, Cyperaceoporites sp, Nympheapollis lotus, Podocarpus milanjianus, and Retistephanocolpites gracilis, and marine forms Dinoflagellate cyst, Selenopemphix sp, Operculodinium sp, Brigantedinium sp, and Lingulodinium sp. In this study, the first and last appearance datum (FAD, LAD) of diagnostic marker species Podocarpus milanjianus was used to assign Early Pliocene – Late Pliocene age to the well. In addition, the integration of terrestrial and marine forms revealed that the sediments were deposited under warm climate condition in shallow marine environments (Upper to Lower shoreface). This implies that evidence of dinoflagellate cyst provides great insight and tool to determine the climate and dating control of the Pliocene Niger Delta marine sequence.