Biostratigraphy of Cretaceous-Neogene sedimentary infill of the Mamfe basin, southwest Cameroon: Paleoclimate implication

A palynological investigation of sixteen (16) outcrops from Mamfe Basin, southwest Cameroon, has been carried out using spores, pollen and organic matter components to establish the biostratigraphic framework basin reconstruct depositional paleoclimatic conditions. The inferred climatic trend is based on distribution pattern recovered species, mainly vertical occurrence disappearance, for time window investigated. Particulate are represented by gymnosperm grain Classopollis spp. opaque phytoclasts. Some fern spores such as Cicatricosisporites venustus, Verrucatosporites spp., Polypodiisporites aff. specious, Deltoidospora Laevigatosporites Polypodiaceoisporites Foveotriletes ornatus occur in significant amounts. Angiosperm pollen, including Echitricolporites spinosus, Monoporopollenites annulatus, Pachydermites diederixi Sabicea-type, locally present. Araucariacites Afropollis jardinus less abundant, depending stratigraphic level. assemblage suggests an age ranging early Barremian Cenomanian. Additionally, we identified a level dated Miocene Pleistocene one sections. Hygrophilous flora pteridophyte (Cyathidites spp.) angiosperm (Afropollis jardinus) present compared xerophytic (Classopollis) along studied sections, indicating variation. Variation palynomorph assemblages led define three settings paleoclimate: 1) humid conditions prior coinciding with opening Atlantic Ocean; 2) arid semi-arid intermittent short-lived phases Cenomanian; 3) onwards. Thus, allows constraining infill accessing states hinterland where powerful climate proxies currently very limited. appears record regional rather than local fluctuations.