Cenozoic

Cretaceous

Neoproterozoic

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Pindiga Formation

Pindiga Fm

Period:

Cretaceous

Age Interval:

Turonian-Coniacian

Province:
Benue Trough North -Gongola Arm

Type Locality and Naming

This section of the Gongola Arm was divided: the Lower sequence is the Gongila Fm and the Upper Sequence is the Pindiga Fm. The type locality of the Gongila Formation is at the Quarry of the Ashaka Cement Company at Ashaka, while that of Pindiga Fm is at Pindiga village. [Note: often merged with the “underlying” Gongila Fm.]

References: Reyment,1965; Adeleye,1975; Kogbe,1976; Dessauvagie, 1975; Petters, 1978; Offodile, 1980; Whiteman, 1982; Benkhelil, 1989; Okosun, 1992; Guiraud, 1993; Akandeet al., 1998; Zaborskiet al., 1998; Jauroet al., 2007; Obaje,2009; Nwajide, 2013

[Fig 1. Stratigraphic successions in the Benue Trough and the Nigerian sector of the Chad Basin]

Lithology and Thickness

Lithologically, these formations (Gongila and Pindiga) are characterized by the dark/black carbonaceous shales and limestones, intercalating with pale colored limestones, shales and minor sandstones. The Gongila Fm has an average thickness ranging from 100 to 150meters and the Pindiga Fm average about 300 to 500 meters.

Lithology Pattern:

Clayey limestone

Relationships and Distribution

Lower contact

Pingida Fm is indicated as semi-coeval or slightly transgressive with the Gongila Fm, but both are similar lithology. Pindiga Fm and Gongila Fm are conformably on the Yolde Fm

Upper contact

Fika Shale Fm lies conformably on the Pindiga Fm and Gongila Fm

Regional extent

Gongola Arm

GeoJSON

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Fossils

Ammonites (Libycocerasismaelis ,Vascocerasbulbosum, Paravascocerascostatum), Gastropods, bivalves, gastropods, foraminifera, ostracods, Palynomorphs

Age

Middle Cretaceous – Schematic figure in Obaje, 2009, indicates a total range of latest Cenomanian through early Santonian; but depends on presence of Fika Fm (shale) above and Gongila Fm below. Average is ca. middle and upper Turonian.

Age Span:

Beginning stage:

Turonian

Fraction up in beginning stage:

0.4

Beginning date (Ma):

92.10

Ending stage:

Turonian

Fraction up in the ending stage:

1.0

Ending date (Ma):

89.39

Depositional setting

Marine depositional environment and based on the microfauna in the formation suggests shallow open marine setting with moderate circulation and agitation. Deposited in a sandstone-shale sequence that is presumably marine (Whiteman, 1982).

Depositional pattern:

Additional Information

Compiler:

Enam O. Obiosio, Solomon Joshua Avong and Henry Nasir Suleiman (2024)- Stratigraphic Lexicon compiled from the following books:

Nigeria: Its Petroleum Geology, Resources and Potential, by Arthur Whiteman, 1982; (Volume 1) Published by Graham and Trotman Ltd.

A review of the Cretaceous System in Nigeria by P. M. Zaborski (1998) In Africa Geoscience Review, Vol.5, No.4, pp385-483

Geology and Mineral Resources of Nigeria by Nuhu George Obaje, Published by Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2009; http://www.springer.com/series/772

Geology of Nigeria Sedimentary Basins, Nwajide C. S., 2013; Published by CSS Bookshops Limited, Lagos Nigeria.