GEOLOGIC FIELD WORK REPORT ON OGWASHI-ASABA AND AWAII

CAMPUS-DELSU AREA

SUBMITTED BY

IBEGO LYDIA CHIAMAKA

MAT NO: COS /2984/2017

SUBMITTED TO

THE DEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCE,FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF

PETROLEUM RESOURCES

MAY 24,2021

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 DEDICATION

DEDICATED TO MY BELOVED PARENTS, RESPECTED LECTURERS AND MY

FELLOW COURSEMATES

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 ABSTRACT
Field observations at freshly exposed quarry sites have been used to
determine the depositional setting of sandstones from the Oligocene-Miocene
Ogwashi-Asaba Formation. Some of the sandstones are ferruginized and
indurated; others are friable, cross-bedded, non-ferruginized, white to yellow
to reddish brown on weathering, and show top/bottom mantled pebbles. Lag
deposits, indicate a break in deposition. Herring bone and liesgang structures
indicate syn-depositional and post depositional activities.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE

DEDICATION

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTRODUCTION

1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

1.3 REGIONAL GEOLOGIC SETTING

1.4 MODE AND SCOPE OF PRESENT WORK

1.5 INSTRUMENTS USED

CHAPTER TWO

2.1 ROCK DESCRIPTION

2.2 STRUCTURE

CHAPTER THREE

3.1 GEOLOGICAL HISTORY

3.2 ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF ROCKS

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 CONCLUSION

4.2 REFERENCES

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 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The field trip provides a geological cross section of the Ogwashi –Asaba
formation which is identified within the paleogene Anambra Basin, i.e Afikpo
Geosyncline. The formation is characterized by widely
differinglithologiescomprising alternation of clay,sand,grit and lignites.The
rocks exposed in this area are mainly sandstones (ferruginous and non
ferruginous),clay,silt etc

Previous work on the Ogwashi-Asaba Formation include a localized

hydrogeological assessment of its shallow aquifer horizon [1], the
geochemical assessment of the lignites that occur in it by Ogala [2] and
Bassey and Eminue [3] who use evidence from petrography, geochemical
and sedimentological data obtained from a range of sedimentary rock
types in the formation to infer that the sandstones of the formation are
texturally, chemically and mineralogically immature.

This work covers the geological field work accomplished by the third year
students of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta
State. It is focused on the description of observed outcrops as well as the
identification of the sedimentary rock units, their structures and inter-
relationships and the delineation of the geologic boundaries between
adjoining rock units of different formations and/or facies. It also involves the
documentation of characteristics such as texture, colour of the various
ljoutcrops in the area of study.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

Field work is an essential requirement for every geology student and it is a

way equip students with a practical knowledge of geology thereby enabling
them fit into the challenging oil industry faultlessly. The major aim of
carrying out geological field mapping is a give students a better
understanding on mapping.

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  To develop in students, the ability to work perfectly as a team.
 To provide students with an opportunity to identify, describe
and explain field relationships between and/or among rock units
practically;
 To train students on the appropriate use of Field Mapping
equipment;
 To enable students have a first-hand observation of the facies
characteristics and delineate the geologic boundaries between
them;
 To identify different rock units
 To the exposed of the area
 To map the area
 To carry out logging on the different lithologies

THE GEOLOGICAL LOCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY OF THE FIEID AREA;

The Ogwashi-Asaba formation (Reyment, 1965) occurs extensively within the
Niger Delta basin in southern Nigeria, covering a 4,900 km2 area (Figure 1). The
formation was originally referred to as a -lignite group- (Wilson, 1925; Wilson
and Bain, 1928), -lignite series- (Simpson, 1949; 1954), and -lignite formation-
(De Swardt and Casey, 1963). Lignite layers have also been encountered in the
lowermost strata of the Ameki group and the uppermost strata of the Benin
formation in drill holes, streams/river banks and road-cut outcrops (Okezie and
Onuogu, 1985).The southern Nigerian sedimentary basin’s formation began
during the early Cretaceous period (Albian) following basement subsidence
along the Benue and Niger troughs (Nwachukwu, 1972; Olade, 1975). Folding
and uplift occurred during the Santonian along a northeast-southwest axis in
the Abakaliki-Benue area. The Anambra platform, lying to the west and
southwest of the Abakaliki folded belts, subsided to form the Anambra basin
(Reyment, 1965; Short and Stauble, 1967; Murat, 1972; Benkhelil, 1989)

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A Geological Map of the ogwashi-asaba Highlighting the Study Area.

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 SETTLEMENT AND LAND USE
Asaba is located at the western bank of River Niger. It is the capital of Delta
State. It is a fast developing urban area, asaba had a population cencus of
149,603 as at the census, and a metropolitan population of over half a
million. Asaba is well known for social activities due to the presence of large
people and social amenities such as hotels, clubs,mall event center e.t.c.

CLIMATE AND VEGETATION

Asaba maintains an average an average tropical temperature of 320c
during the dry season and an average fertile rainfall of 2700
millimeters( 106 in) during the rainy season.

1.1 INSTRUMENTS USED

Below are some basic equipment/instruments which were helpful to carry out
the geophysical survey exercise and geological field exercise with their
usefulness:
 Sample bag: Used to collect rock samples gotten form rock outcrops in
the field.
 Geologic hammer: Used to chip off samples of rocks from outcrops for
further examination

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  Global Positional Satellite (G.P.S): Used to derive geologic locations
(latitude and longitudes) of a particular area. It’s also used to get the
elevation of the area in meters above sea level. It’s also used to derive
the area of a particular rock outcrop.
 Silva Clinometer compass: Used to measure the strike and dip of a
outcrop. It’s also used to get directions.

Geology and Stratigraphic Setting

The Ogwashi-Asaba tectonic evolution is related to the development of a
triple junction formed as a result of rift faulting of the Precambrian Basement.
The triple junction and the Basement blocks aligned in a NE-SW and NW-SE
trends are believed to have developed during the continental rifting and
separation of Africa from South America. To the east the Niger Delta extends
to the Calabar Flank, and bounded by the Oban Massif. Weber noted that the
Niger Delta was formed by a set of older and stable mega-tectonic elements
(e.g. along the Benin and Calabar Hinge lines). The basin is bounded in the
north by the Cretaceous Anambra Basin. The pro-delta unit of the Niger Delta
developed in the northern part of the basin during the Campanian
transgression and ended with Paleocene transgression. Formation of the
modern delta began during the Eocene. Three major depositional
environments that are characteristic of most deltaic environments (marine,
mixed and continental) are observable in the Niger Delta . These environments
and associated deposits correspond to the Akata, Agbada and Benin
Formations. The palaeo-Niger-Benue river systemsupplied a majority of the
ancient deltaic sediments. The basal Akata Formation and the Agbada
Formation are only encountered in the subsurface. The contemporaneous
outcrop equivalent of the Akata Formation is the Imo Formation; while that of
the Agbada Formation is the Ameki Group and the younger overlying Ogwashi-
Asaba Formation .

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HAPTER 2
DAY 1
LOCATION 1: OGWASHI-ASABA FORMATION,IBUSA QUARRY
OUTCROP: 1
WEATHER: SUNNY
GPS CO-ORDINATES:
LONG: N 060 39’ 32”
LAT: E 0060 39’ 32.1”
OUTCROP FOUND: SANDSTONE

ROCK DESCRIPTION
The sandstone is ranging from very fine to coarse grained sediments. The
sandstones are ferruginized and indurated; others are friable, cross-bedded,
non-ferruginized, white to yellow to reddish brown on weathering.The
sandstone are poorly sorted to well sorted,sub-angular to angular, they are of
Oligocene age. The thickness of the outcrop is about 180 ft.

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. OUTCROP 2
SILTY-SANDSTONE

An outcrop showing the herringbone structure

ROCK DESCRIPTION: The sandstone is coarsening upward. The upper layer is
more ferrogineous than the lower layers due to higher presence of iron.
There is also the presence of cross-lamination, erosional activities, herring-
bone structure and mud cracks. the thickness of the outcrop is 40ft and it
contains more of silt. This is a Silty-Sandstone.
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mud cracks observed on the outcrop

OUTCROP3

ROCK DESCRIPTION:
The sandstone is coarsening upward,they are red in colour due to the
presence of iron. cross-bedding structures are visible on the sandstone.The
sandstone is poorly sorted and are intercalated by pebbles at the top due to a
break in deposition(hiatus).

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LITHOLOG OF OUTCROP 2
THICKNESS LTHOLOGIC LOG LITHOLOGIC DESCRIPTION
(FT)

40 Reddish in colour, more

ferruginious

30 ‘.
‘ . . Poorly sorted

24 ;, , , .. . . . . Sub-rounded to rounded
‘’’
Clay drapes,angular to sub
12 . . . ; , angular.
.. . . . Poorly sorted
. . .
8 Presence of herring bone
..’
structure, whitish
. .
color;poorly sorted.

C VF F M P
DAY 2
LOCATION 1: OGWASHI ASABA FORMATION,IBUSA QUARRY
OUTCROP: 1
WEATHER: SUNNY
GPS CO-ORDINATES:
LONG: N 060 39’ 32”
LAT: E 0060 39’ 32.1” OUTCROP FOUND: SANDSTONE

Rock Description: The sandstone

is coarsening upward,and the
grains are finegrained to
pebbles,the rocks are reddish in
colour,due to the presence of
iron. Erosional truncation can be
observed in the
sandstone ,leaving behind lag
deposits which indicate angular
unconformity.There was a break
in deposition (hiatus).
LOG OF THE OUTCROP

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THICKNESS LTHOLOGIC LOG LITHOLOGIC DESCRIPTION
(FT)

Conglomerate
Grain size is Rounded to
subrounded

12 Lag deposit
Pebbly sandstone
‘ ‘. . . . Red in colour
‘ .. . ,…
Poorly sorted
‘ . ‘ ., Intercalation of clay and
10 ;, , , .. . . . .
‘’’ - - sands
-- -- Flacer facies
--- -- -- -- Clayey sandstone facie
‘; ‘;,..

. . . ; ,
8 Whitish colour
.. . . .
, , , , Well sorted

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...
. . .
Intercalation of clay-sand
..’ sediment.
. .
4 .

GRAIN SIZE C V F M C VC P
LOGGING

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DAY 3
LOCATION 1: DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY AWAII CAMPUS
OUTCROP: 1
WEATHER: SUNNY
GPS CO-ORDINATES:
LONG: N 60 4’1 59”
LAT: E 60 15’ 39”
OUTCROP FOUND: SANDSTONE

Faulted sandstone at Awaii Campus

The fault is a reverse fault. It has a graded – bedding to horizontal-graded

planar bedding. it is fining upward.

Results and Interpretations: Field Observations:On the basis of field

observations, lithological variations and megascopic characteristic of the

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sedimentary rocks, the exposed section is divisible into five lithofacies as
follows: (i) friable, massive, whitish to yellowish fine sand lithofacies (ii) thin to
thickly bedded, cross and parallel-bedded fine grained sandstone lithofacies,
(iii) medium to coarse grained ferruginous sandstone lithofacies (iv) thinly
bedded pebble mantled bottom and top lithofacies and (v) lateritic cap
lithofacies. The third lithofacies is reddish brown/purple in colour and highly
ferruginous sandstone (locally called Ikutegbo) and is often mined for
construction purposes. The sandstone facies exhibited a characteristic cross-
stratification. Figure 4 shows a representative quarry section of reddish-brown,
white and purple coloured sandstone with cross-stratification features as
observed in the field within the study area. Also field observation revealed that
the upper portion of the Ogwashi-Asabsa sandstone is ferruginized in various
places with the weathering frontage defined by the degree of infiltration
resulting from precipitation.

THE VARIOUS STRUCTURES OBSERVED ON THE OUTCROP.

SYNDEPOSITIONAL (INTRABED) STRUCTURES : Syn depositional structures
are those actually formed during sedimentation. They are therefore,
essentially constructional structures that are present within sedimentary
beds. Bedding, stratification, or layering is probably the most fundamental
and diagnostic feature of sedimentary rocks. Bedding is due to vertical
differences in lithology, grain size, or, more rarely, grain shape, packing, or
orientation. A useful rule of thumb definition is that beds are distinguished
from one another by lithological changes. .The syn-depositional structures
include:
i. Bedding and Lamination ii. Graded bedding iii. Cross-bedding iv. Cross-
lamination
BEDDING AND LAMINATION:
Bedding and laminations are seen visible on the outcrop.
Beds also vary in their shape and definition so that planar, wavy and curved
types are recognised, and these may be parallel to each other, non-parallel
or discontinuous.

Graded Bedding: A graded bed is one in which there is a vertical change in

grain size. Normal grading is marked by an upward decrease in grain size .

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Reverse grading is where the bed coarsens upward. There are various other
types . Graded bedding is produced as sediment settles out of suspension,
normally during the waning phase of a turbidity flow.

Cross-Bedding: Cross-bedding is one of the most common and most

important of all sedimentary structures.The various oucrops in Ogwashi-
Asaba Formation exhibit cross-bedding. It is ubiquitous in traction current
deposits in diverse environments. Cross bedding, as its name implies,
consists of inclined dipping bedding, bounded by sub horizontal surfaces.
Each of these units is termed a set. Vertically contiguous sets are termed
cossets . The inclined bedding is referred to as a foreset. Foreset may grade
down with decreasing dip angle into a bottom set or toe set.

Tabular and Trough Cross beddings Basically, two main types of cross-
bedding can be defined by the geometry of the foreset and their bounding
surfaces: i. Planar or Tabular planar cross-bedding, and ii. Trough cross-
bedding. In tabular planar cross-bedding, planar foreset are bounded above
and below by sub parallel sub horizontal set boundaries . In trough cross-
bedding, upward concave foreset lie within erosion scours which are
elongated parallel to current flow, closed up current and truncated down
current by further troughs.Some beds exhibit cross-bedding structures.

Flaser bedding: Flaser bedding is observed on the sandstones. flaser

bedding is where cross-laminated sand contains mud streaks, usually in the
ripple troughs. These are commonly forms in relatively high energy
environments ( sand flats).

FAULTS

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Faults are discontinuities with large displacement. In other words, fault is a
discrete planar rock fracture, which shows evidence of a displacement (the
throw of the fault). A fault is a discrete surface.

HERRINGBONE CROSS-BEDDING
This feature was observed in the outcrops. This structure indicate a tidal flat
depositional environment.
There are several features of cross-bedding which indicate deposition by
tidal currents. Herringbone cross-bedding refers to bipolar cross-bedding,
where cross-bed dips of adjacent sets are oriented in opposite directions.
Herringbone cross-bedding is produced by reversals of the current, causing
dunes and sand-waves to change their direction of migration .

CHAPTER 3
DISCUSSION AND INFERENCES

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GEOLOGICAL HISTORY
The Ogwashi-Asaba Formation is a regressive phase conformably overlying
the Mamu Formation. The lithology of this formation consists of white,
friable, coarse-grained, moderately to poorly sorted, with thin beds of
whitish claystone as well as numerous bands of variegated rarely
carbonaceous shale19,20. Depositional environment of the Maastritchtian
sediments was interpreted to be tidal due to several occurrences of
herringbone cross-bedding and bioturbations21.Nsukka FormationThe
Danian Nsukka Formation marks the onset ofthe transgression and a return
to paludal conditions. The fluvio-deltaic formation overlies the Ajali
Sandstone and consists of variety of sandstones that passes upward into
well-bedded blue clays, fine-grained sandstones, and carbonaceous shales
with thinbands of limestone22,23. Imo ShaleThe marine Imo Shale is the
outcropping equivalent of the Akata Formation in the subsurface Niger
Delta. The shales contain a significant amount of organic matter and may be
a potential source for hydrocarbons in the northern part of the Niger
delta.The authors 24,25assigned a Paleocene age to the Imo Formation and
its depositional environment is mainly marine with littoral to neritic
environments. The Ameki Group consists of the Nanka Sand, Nsugbe
Formation, and Ameki Formation26.Theseformationsmarkthe return to
transgressive conditions. The outcropping deposits of the Eocene
regression, which marked the beginning of the Niger delta progradation,
constitute the “Ameki Group” which includes tidal facies and backshore as
well as pro-deltaic facies.The Ameki Formation is predominantly alternating
shale, sandy shale, clayey sandstone, and fine-grained fossiliferous
sandstone with thin limestone bands27, 28, 29.Ogwashi- Asaba
Formation.The Oligocene –Miocene Ogwashi-Asaba Formation consist of
interbedded successions of lignite, shale, sandstone, siltstone, and claystone
facies. It is the outcropping equivalent of the Agbada Formation in the
subsurface Niger Delta. Depositional environment has been interpreted to
be continental.

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

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Sandstone are resistant to weathering ,yet easy to work . This makes
sandstone a common building and paving material including in asphalt
concrete. it is also used for construction.

Depositional Setting:
Evidence from Field and Textural Characteristics, Colours of the various
lithologies also provide important field evidence of depositional setting.
Generally, the colour of sedimentary rocks provides useful clues to the
depositional environment. Red (often more of a maroon or a pink), and
brown, purple, or orange colouration in sedimentary rocks indicates the
presence of ironoxides. In well-oxygenated continental sedimentary
environments, the iron in the sediments is oxidized to form hematite or
ferric iron oxide (Fe2O3), which colours the sediment red, brown, or purple
such as that which is obtainable in the study area. The reddish-brown
colourations of the beds in the Ogwashi-Asaba Formation as observed in the
study area typically indicate deposition in continental (or transitional)
sedimentary environments such as flood plains, alluvial fans, and
deltas .Interrelationship between textural distribution and depositional
environments and/or processes has been used successfully to identify the
depositional environments and recognize operative processes of
sedimentation of ancient terrigenous deposits . Thus while the bivariate size
parameter diagrams are indicative of a fluviatile environment of deposition,
the linear discriminant functions provide further evidence of the precise
operative processes in a fluvial system. The samples from the Ogwashi-
Asaba are of fluvial operative processes which vary from fluvial deltaic to
beach and shallow agitated marine to shallow marine. This is represents a
mixed environment typical of fluvio-deltaic to shallow marine depositional
settings. This is in agreement with the suggested paralic delta front facies
model for the Agbada Formation as well as the universally accepted models
of growth and development of the Niger Delta Basin.

Conclusion: Sandstones from the study area were studied texturally . Sandy
sediments are mostly medium to coarse grained, moderately well-sorted to

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poorly sorted, fine to coarse skewed and platykurtic to very leptokurtic.
Statistical analysis of the grain size parameters are used to interpret
depositional environment and describe the changes in the environmental
setting of deposition. From the different structures observed, it is obvious
that most of the sediments were fluvially transported and deposited under
fluvio-deltaic to shallow marine environment. A combination of fluvial and
beach processes by a near shore whirlpool agitating turbidity action of
water likely prevailed during deposition.

REFERENCES

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 My personal geologic field note.
 www.wikipedia.com
 Personal Instructors, Dr ogbe, Dr. Jerry, Dr B.T, Mr Izeze
 H.E, Reineck, and Singh, I.B. Depositional Sedimentary Environments:
with reference to terrigenous clastics (2nd ed). Springer-Verlag, Berlin,
Heidelberg, New York, 543, 1980.
 G.M. Friedman. Differences in size distributions of populations of
particles among sands of various origins. Sedimentology vol. 26, 3-32,
1979.
 1.Agagu, O. K., Fayose, E. A., Peters, S. W. 1995, Stratigraphy and
Sedimentation in the Senoman Anambra Basin of Eastern Nigeria.
Journal of Mining and Geology. 22, 25-36
 .2.Akaegbobi, L. M. and Boboye 1999. Textural, Structural Features
and Microfossil Assemblage Relationship as a Delineating Criteria for
the Stratigraphic Boundary between Mamu Formation and Nkporo
Shale within the Anambra Basin, Nigeria, NAPE Bull, Vol. 6, No. 14, p.
176-193.
 4.Allen, G. P. 1991. Sedimentary Process and Facies in the Girond
Estuary, a Model for Macrofidal Estuaries System. In Smith, D. G;
Reinson, G. E.; Zaithin, B. A. and Rahmani, R. A. (eds). Classic Tidal
Sedimentology. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, Memoirs,
16, 219-226.5.Banerjee, I. 1979. Analysis of Cross-Bedded Sequences:
An example from the Ajali Sandstone (Maastrichtian) of Nigeria,
Quartz JL. Geology. Mm. and Met. Soc. India, v. 51, p. 69-81.

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