Palaeogeography of Africa during the Cretaceous Period

Abstract A first attempt is made to synchronize the major palaeogeographical events of the African Cretaceous. Where recognizable, palaeoclimatological interpretations are given. An overview of the nature of the continental margins and the plate-tectonic setting for Africa during the Cretaceous provides a convenient backdrop for presenting the palaeogeographical development of the continent. Lacustrine deposits occur along the line of South Atlantic rifting (Late Jurassic). Oceanic crust in the South Atlantic dates from the Valanginian, with continental volcanism adjacent to the Walvis Ridge continuing until the Albian. Locally, there was a Barremian incursion in Southeast Africa. The Falkland Plateau and Walvis Ridge areas created shallow-water barriers in the Aptian which facilitated the massive accumulation of salt. Tectono-eustatic transgressions took place in the Middle to Late Albian, Cenomano-Turonian, Late Turonian to Coniacian, and Campano-Maastrichtian. Anoxic conditions prevailed during the late Jurassic (Agulhas Bank-Falkland Plateau), Aptian-Albian, the Cenomanian-Turonian, and the Coniacian, these are relatable to the epicontinental transgressional maxima and the heavy influx of organic debris (however, there was no Campano-Maastrichtian anoxic event).