Depositional Environment of Tertiary Sediments in Calabar Flank: A Case Study of Pebble Morphometric Analysis Occurring Around 25km of Calabar-Itu Road, Southeastern Nigeria.

Authors

  • Itam, Asukwo Essien Geology Department, University of Calabar Author
  • Ugar, Samuel Izama Geology Department, University of Calabar Author
  • Obim, N. V Geology Department, University of Calabar Author

Keywords:

Pebble morphometric, Calabar Flank, paleodepositional environment, quartz pebbles, fluvial setting

Abstract

Pebble morphormiteric analysis of some selected beds deposited around 25km of Calabar-Itu Road in Calabar Flank, Southeastern Nigeria, was carried out in order to determine the paleodepositional environment of the pebble suites. A total number of 700 unweathered quartz pebbles were collected from the study area, comprising of 50 samples respectively from 14 locations. The results of the pebble morphometric parameters included: Flatness Ratio (FR), Coefficient of Flatness Ratio (CFR), Elongation Ratio (ER), Maximum Projection Sphericity Index (MPSI) and Oblate Prolate Index (OPI), have average and range values of 0.55 (0.51 - 0.59), 55.32% (50.84 – 59.36%), 0.74 (0.70 - 0.76), 0.73 (0.70-0.77) and 1.50 (0.10-2.39) respectively. These values were inferred from those pebbles within the study area and were mostly found to have been deposited in a fluvial setting than in beach. Roundness values average 44.26% and ranges from 38.27% to 58.94% showing fluvial setting, while the various bivariate plots of the pebble parameters and forms show a mixing of both fluvial and beach/marine settings for pebbles found within the investigated area.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Edet, J. J., & Nyong, E. E. (1994). Palynostratigraphy of Nkporo Shale exposures (Late Campanian–Maastrichtian) on the Calabar Flank, Southeastern Nigeria. *Review of Paleobotany and Palynology*, 8, 131–147.

Essien, N. U., Itam, A. E., Oyama, A. A., & Obim, V. N. (2017). Pebble morphometric analysis of the basal section of the Awi Formation, Calabar Flank, Southeast Nigeria. *International Journal of Recent Trends in Engineering and Research*, 3(1), 208–218.

Gale, J. (1990). The shape of beach gravels. *Journal of Sedimentary Petrology*, 60, 787–789.

Hubert, F. L. (1968). Selection and wear of pebbles on gravel beach. University of Groningen, Geological Institute Publication, 190, 144.

Inyang, D. O., & Enang, E. I. (2002). Use of statistical parameters in sedimentological study of conglomerates in North-eastern Niger Delta, Nigeria. *Nigerian Journal of Mining and Geology*, 40(1), 273–302.

Inyang, D. O., Itam, A. E., & Okon, E. E. (2014). Granulometry and pebble morphometry of an exposed section of the Benin Formation around Okurikang and environs, Southeastern Nigeria. *International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences (IJNAS)*, 9(5), 45–52.

Itam, A. E., Inyang, D. O., Akpan, E. B., & Ikoro, D. O. (2015). Pebble morphometric analysis of Awi Formation in Calabar Flank, Nigeria. *The Journal of Educational Research and Technology*, 4(4), 93–110.

Itam, A. E., & Ugar, S. I. (2016). Sedimentary textural parameters of outcrop sample exposed along a road cut in Calabar, Calabar Flank, Southeastern Nigeria. *International Journal of Engineering Sciences and Research Technology*, 5(10), 233–242.

Itam, A. E., Inyang, D. O., Umana, S. U., Akpan, E. B., & Udinmwen, E. (2016). Palynostratigraphy of Lemna Road Transect of Benin Formation, Calabar Flank, Nigeria. *Asian Journal of Physical Science*, 1(1), 1–9.

Itam, A. E., Udofia, M. U., & Inyang, D. O. (2017). Palynostratigraphic study of Pamol shale deposits, Calabar Flank, Southeastern Nigeria. *International Basic and Applied Basic Research Journal*, 3(1), 1–10.

Itam, A. E., Una, E. E., Udoh, M. U., Inyang, D. O., Emeka, C. N., Emeka, V. I., & Bassey, E. I. (2019). Palynological evaluation of Cretaceous sediments of Ekenkpon Shale, Calabar Flank, Southeastern Nigeria. *Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research*, 6(7), 156–164.

William C. Krumbein (1941). Measurements and geological significance of shape and roundness of sedimentary particles. *Journal of Sedimentary Petrology*, 11, 64–72.

Lutig, G. (1962). The shape of pebbles in the continental, fluviatile and marine facies. *International Association of Scientific Hydrology Publication*, 253–258.

Robert C. Murat (1972). Stratigraphy and paleogeography of the Cretaceous and Lower Tertiary in Southern Nigeria. In T. J. Dessuavagie (Ed.), *African Geology* (pp. 251–266). University of Ibadan Press.

Madi, K., & Ndlazi, N. Z. (2020). Pebble morphometric analysis as signatures of the fluvial depositional environment of the Katberg Formation near Kwerela River, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. *Arabian Journal of Geoscience*, 13, 235.

Nyong, E. E. (1995). Cretaceous sediments in the Calabar Flank. In *Proceedings of the 31st Annual Conference of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society* (pp. 13–25).

Nyong, E. E., & Ramanathan, R. M. (1985). A record of oxygen-deficient paleoenvironments in the Cretaceous of the Calabar Flank, Southeastern Nigeria. *Journal of African Earth Sciences*, 5(4), 455–460.

Nwajide, C. S., & Hoque, M. (1982). Pebble morphometry as an aid in environment diagnosis: An example from the Middle Benue Trough, Nigeria. *Nigerian Journal of Mining and Geology*, 19(1), 114–120.

Ogala, J. E., Adaikpoh, E. O., Omo-Irabor, O. O., & Onotu, R. U. (2010). Granulometric analysis and pebble morphometric studies as indicators of depositional environments of sandstone facies around Okanyan, Nigeria. *World Applied Sciences Journal*, 1(3), 245–255.

Ogechukwu, C. O., & Odumodu, C. F. (2019). Pebble morphometric study of the Ogwashi-Asaba Formation at Ubakala and environs in Southeastern Nigeria. *Journal of Sciences Research*, 9(6), 36–51.

Ogbe, O. V., Osokpor, J., Emelue, C. V., & Ocheli, A. (2023). Morphometric analysis of pebbles in verification of transport processes and interpretation of palaeoenvironment: A case study from the Ogwashi Formation (Oligocene), Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria. *Geologos*, 29(1), 21–31.

Oluwajana, A. O., Ugwueze, C. U., Ogbe, O. B., & Egunjobi, K. J. (2021). Pebble morphogenesis of the Cretaceous conglomerates from the Abeokuta Formation near Oluwa River, Southwestern Nigeria. *Mining-Geology-Petroleum Engineering Bulletin*, 36, 93–104.

Samuel W. Petters (1982). Central West African Cretaceous–Tertiary benthic foraminifera and stratigraphy. *Palaeontographica Abteilung A*, 179, 1–104.

Petters, S. W., Zarboski, P. M. P., Essien, N. U., Nwokocha, K. D., & Inyang, D. (2010). Cretaceous sediments in the Calabar Flank. In *Geological Excursion Guidebook* (pp. 14–19). Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society.

Sames, C. W. (1966). Morphometric data of some recent pebble associations and their application to ancient deposits. *Journal of Sedimentary Petrology*, 36, 126–142.

Sneed, E. D., & Folk, R. L. (1958). Pebbles in the lower Colorado River, Texas: A study of particle morphogenesis. *Journal of Geology*, 66, 114–150.

Stratten, T. (1974). Notes on the application of shape parameters to differentiate between beach and river deposits in Southern Africa. *Transactions of the Geological Society of South Africa*, 59–64.

Una, E. E., Itam, A. E., Udoh, M. M., & Inyang, D. O. (2017). Biostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental study of outcrop samples exposed along Calabar–Odukpani Junction, Southeastern Nigeria. *International Basic and Applied Research Journal*, 3(10), 1–9.

Ukpong, A. J., & Ekhalialu, O. M. (2015). Integrated biostratigraphic study of Well Etankpini 005 based on foraminiferal and palynological analysis, Calabar Flank, Southeastern Nigeria. *International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research*, 6(3), 1129–1141.

Zarma, A. A., Samaila, N. K., Abubakar, M. B., & Ahmed, S. B. (2015). Pebble morphometric analysis and environmental diagnosis: Case study of the Bama Ridge, Borno Sub-Basin, Nigeria. *Annals of Borno*, 25, 148–160.

Depositional Environment of Tertiary Sediments in Calabar Flank: A Case Study of Pebble  Morphometric Analysis Occurring Around 25km of Calabar-Itu Road, Southeastern Nigeria

Downloads

Published

2026-05-07

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Depositional Environment of Tertiary Sediments in Calabar Flank: A Case Study of Pebble Morphometric Analysis Occurring Around 25km of Calabar-Itu Road, Southeastern Nigeria. (2026). Global Nexus Journal Of Multidisciplinary Research, 1(1), 94-106. https://globalnexusjournal.com.ng/index.php/home/article/view/11

Share

Similar Articles

11-17 of 17

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.