A report on the occurrence of Albian–Cenomanian elater-bearing pollen in Nasara-1 well, Upper Benue Trough, Nigeria: Biostratigraphic and palaeoclimatological implications

Abstract Elater-bearing pollen including Elaterocolpites castelainii, Elateroplicites africaensis, Elaterosporites klaszii, Elaterosporites protensus and Senegalosporites petrobrasi were recovered from the Yolde Formation and the Bima Sandstone penetrated by the Nasara-1 well. Although some elater-bearing species have previously been documented, this is the first report of the occurrence of these particular species in the Upper Benue Trough. The assemblage is interpreted as Albian to Middle Cenomanian in age, and indicates possible arid to semi-arid palaeoclimatic conditions for these periods in the Upper Benue Trough. Earlier similar species were interpreted as Upper Albian in the Lower Benue Trough of Nigeria located to the southwest, and as Albian to Cenomanian in other localities within the Africa–South America (ASA) palynofloral province. This therefore allows a palynostratigraphic correlation of the Bima Sandstone and the Yolde Formation of the Upper Benue Trough with the Albian to Cenomanian sequences of the Lower Benue Trough and other localities within the ASA palynofloral province.