<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Miocene deposits in the eastern portion of the Greater Ughelli, Central Swamp and Coastal Swamp depobelts contain well-developed brackish-water trace fossil assemblages. Twelve ichnogenera have been identified, namely: <italic>Asterosoma</italic>, <italic>Bergaueria</italic>, <italic>Chondrites</italic>, <italic>Gyrolithes</italic>, <italic>Thalassinoides</italic>, <italic>Lockeia, Palaeophycus</italic>, ?<italic>Conichnus, Planolites</italic>, <italic>Siphonichnus</italic>, <italic>Skolithos</italic> and <italic>Diplocraterion</italic>. In addition, common non-descript, passively filled burrows and fugichnia (escape structures) have also been observed. The above-mentioned ichnogenera and associated non-descript structures can be arranged into six distinct and recurring ichnoassociations within the Greater Ughelli, Central Swamp and Coastal Swamp depobelts. Each ichnoassociation is comprised of a group of trace fossils which collectively reflect specific environmental conditions during deposition of these Miocene strata. All trace fossil assemblages illustrate deposition in nearshore, restricted settings. Ichnological and sedimentological criteria which may be utilized to recognise brackish-water deposits are discussed and illustrated in pictures of the cores studied.</p></abstract>

Miocene deposits in the eastern portion of the Greater Ughelli, Central Swamp and Coastal Swamp depobelts contain well-developed brackish-water trace fossil assemblages. Twelve ichnogenera have been identified, namely: Asterosoma, Bergaueria, Chondrites, Gyrolithes, Thalassinoides, Lockeia, Palaeophycus, ?Conichnus, Planolites, Siphonichnus, Skolithos and Diplocraterion. In addition, common non-descript, passively filled burrows and fugichnia (escape structures) have also been observed. The above-mentioned ichnogenera and associated non-descript structures can be arranged into six distinct and recurring ichnoassociations within the Greater Ughelli, Central Swamp and Coastal Swamp depobelts. Each ichnoassociation is comprised of a group of trace fossils which collectively reflect specific environmental conditions during deposition of these Miocene strata. All trace fossil assemblages illustrate deposition in nearshore, restricted settings. Ichnological and sedimentological criteria which may be utilized to recognise brackish-water deposits are discussed and illustrated in pictures of the cores studied.

Characteristic trace fossils from Miocene brackish-water deposits in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Independent Petroleum Geological Consultant

Geologos

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Miocene deposits in the eastern portion of the Greater Ughelli, Central Swamp and Coastal Swamp depobelts contain well-developed brackish-water trace fossil...

Characteristic trace fossils from Miocene brackish-water deposits in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Published Online: Oct 04, 2018

Page range: 111 - 125

Received: Nov 10, 2017

Accepted: May 17, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/logos-2018-0011

Keywords
Ichnoassociations, ichnology, salinity, Greater Ughelli, Central Swamp, Coastal Swamp, Neogene

© 2018 Sunny C. Ezeh et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Characteristic trace fossils from Miocene brackish-water deposits in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Published Online: Oct 04, 2018

Page range: 111 - 125

Received: Nov 10, 2017

Accepted: May 17, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/logos-2018-0011

KeywordsIchnoassociations, ichnology, salinity, Greater Ughelli, Central Swamp, Coastal Swamp, Neogene

© 2018 Sunny C. Ezeh et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Ichnoassociations, ichnology, salinity, Greater Ughelli, Central Swamp, Coastal Swamp, Neogene