Tectonic Evolution of the Bornu Basin
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eoniyide7Tectonic Evolution of the Bornu Basin
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Powered by AIDuring the Late Rift Stage (98–75 Ma), rift formation in the Bornu Basin slowed, and a tectono-eustatic rise in sea level led to epicontinental transgressions, from both the Tethys and the South Atlantic, that affected the basin. This era saw a change in the stress regime due to variations in spreading rates and directions between the Equatorial and Southern Atlantic plates. Consequently, the basin experienced a marked tectonic pulse at around 85 Ma, causing folding and basin inversion. The tectonic environment was dominated by tensional movements, resulting in high-angle normal faults in the strata above .
The tectonic frameworks of the Benue Trough and the Bornu Basin exhibit a close relationship, both representing parts of a failed rift system formed during the breakup of Gondwanaland. This trilateral system included the third "arm" that remained dormant amidst continental rifting. The lateral strike-slip movements, mainly driven by the separation of Africa and South America, fostered transtensional openings in both the Benue Trough and the Bornu Basin. These tectonic activities concurrently shaped prominent fault systems and influenced sediment deposition patterns across the regions .
The folds observed in the Bornu Basin during the Late Rift Stage are described as simple and symmetrical, characterized by low fold frequencies and amplitudes that increase towards the center of the basin. The spatial occurrence of these folds is limited to the southeastern part of the basin. The chief fold axes strike NW–SW, and the folds are considered to be flexural folds, likely developed from graben subsidence in the basement. The dominant anticline and syncline structures trend NW–SE, marking significant structural features within the basin .
The NW–SE trending folding patterns greatly influenced the structural geology of the Bornu Basin by shaping its fundamental geological structure. These folds, characterized as flexural with spatially restricted occurrences, predominantly lie in the southeastern part of the basin and extend over significant distances without effective strike closures. The folds determine the spatial distribution of sediments and the localization of structural highs and lows, contributing to variations in substratum stability and influencing hydrocarbon reservoir development .
During the Post Rift Stage (66–0 Ma), significant tectonic activities ceased in the Bornu Basin. Consequently, no new faulting or significant folding events have been observed in the Tertiary and younger strata. The geological structures from this period exhibit gentle dips to the north and northeast, aligning with the general slope direction of the Chad Basin. This cessation of tectonic movement suggests stability in the basin's geological structure in recent geological times, indicating that the past tectonic activities have strongly shaped the current landscape configuration .
During the Pan African Crustal Consolidation Stage (750–550 Ma), major basement lineaments and faults were generated within the Bornu Basin. These structures set the stage for future rift basin formation by establishing "essential structures" or precursor directions, primarily following a dominant NE–SW trending fault system .
The separation of the African and South American continents during the Early Rift Stage (130–98 Ma) contributed significantly to the formation of the Bornu Basin. This event marked the breakup of Gondwanaland and led to the creation of a rift basin as part of the triple junction rift system. The strike-slip movements originating from South America to Nigeria, due to this continental separation, facilitated lateral movements between crustal blocks, resulting in a transtensional opening that formed the Benue Trough and Bornu Basin .
The Santonian deformation significantly impacted the Bornu Basin by modifying its tectonic structures during a marked tectonic pulse at the end of the Late Rift Stage. This event was characterized by folding and basin inversion, particularly affecting the Benue, Yola, and Bornu basins. It involved the development of a subordinate NW–SE trending fault system due to a shift in the stress regime post-deformation. Consequently, these changes resulted in basement-involved faults, high-angled normal faults in overlying strata, and the formation of horst and graben structures, influencing the basin's geological evolution .
The evolution of the Bornu Basin is influenced by four main tectonic stages: (1) the Pan African Crustal Consolidation Stage, during which major lineaments and faults provided precursor directions for rift basins; (2) the Early Rift Stage, marked by the formation of the Benue Trough and Bornu Basin amidst the Gondwanaland breakup; (3) the Late Rift Stage, where tectonic activities slowed, leading to epicontinental transgressions and structural modifications; and (4) the Post Rift Stage, in which tectonic activities ceased, resulting in stable geological structures with gentle regional dips .
Geological evidence supporting the occurrence of epicontinental transgressions into the Bornu Basin during the Late Rift Stage includes macro- and micro-fauna records. These records show migrations from the Tethys and the South Atlantic via locations such as Algeria, Nigeria, and the Benue Trough into the basin. This data suggests a sea-level rise contributing to coastal submergence and sediment deposition in the region .