Studies In Rhythmical Sedimentation Pattern within The Nigerian Upper Benue-Dadiya Syncline and its Paleogeographic implication

Abstract Studies in the cyclic beddings in the Dadiya Syncline reflect varying depositional environments constrained under sea level fluctuation as well as crustal subsidence spanning the period of Aptian to Santonian. The identified environments of depositions are the continental Bima Sandstone, the coastal beach Yolde Formation, the brackish Jessu and Sukuliye Formations, the open marine Dukul and Numanha Formations as well as marginal marine Lamja Sandstone. The environments are deduced from carbonate microfacies characteristics as well as foraminifera and ostracod microfossil assemblages. The open marine conditions of Dukul, Numanha and the topmost Lamja beds are indicative of the three cycles of paleo-sea level rise in the Dadiya Syncline rock record.