Abstract:
The morpho-taxonomy of dispersed spores and pollen as well as dinoflagellate cysts of Late
Cretaceous to Early Tertiary palynomorphs recovered from ninety seven (97) slides prepared from
the ditch cutting of a section of two wells (Gaibu-01 well and Kasade-01 well) in the Borno Basin,
northeastern Nigeria were described. The aim is to carry out detailed systematic paleontology of
the palynomorphs retrieved from Gaibu-01 Well and Kasade-01 Well and provide information on
the paleoclimatic condition of the basin. Palynomorphs taxa recovered from the Basin were
compared with those found in African and South American (ASA) region. The palynological
assemblage recovered includes forty seven (47) genera, forty one (41) species and seven (7)
indeterminate taxa in Gaibu-01 well and twenty two (22) genera, eighteen (18) species and four
(4) indeterminate taxa in Kasade-01 well. The palynological assemblage is dominated by
angiosperm pollen having sub-dominant gymnosperm and pteridophytic spores with very low
dinolagellate cysts. Three palynozones were established in Gaibu-01 well. These zones are, from
oldest to youngest: the Triorites africaensis assemblage zone (Albian – Cenomanian), the
Oligosphaeridium spp. assemblage zone (Turonian – Coniacian) and the Droseridites senonicus
zone (Santonian). Three palynozone were also established in Kasade-01 well, these are, from
oldest to youngest: the Monocolpollenites sphaeroidites assemblage zone (Campanian), the
Dinogynium euclaensis assemblage zone (Maastrichtian) and the Spinizonocolpites baculatus
assemblage zone (Early Paleocence). Majority of the palynomorphs assemblages in Gaibu-01 well
and Kasade-01 well were developed within a predominantly warm and humid climate. These
assemblages are typical of the Albian-Cenomanian of African and South America (ASA)
microfloral Province, the Turonian palynofloras of Brazil and Central-West Africa Province and
the Senonian Palmae Province of Africa and South America (ASA) region