A Palynological Study of Neogene and Holocene Sediments from Lake Albert, Uganda, with Implications for Vegetation and Climatic Changes in East Africa

Dave Shaw¹, Paul C. Logan², and Janice Weston^3
1Biostratigraphic Associates (UK) Ltd, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
²Heritage Oil & Gas Ltd, London, United Kingdom
³RPS Energy, Woking, United Kingdom

Samples have been analysed from two well locations (Turaco and Kingfisher) and adjacent field samples from the Lake Albert area of Uganda. The palynological assemblages from these samples have been analysed quantitatively, and a variety of pollen, spores, algae and fungi identified, together with a visual estimate of the kerogen.

The pollen and spores have enabled the recognition of parent plants derived from the immediate and more regional surrounding areas. These include mountain, tropical forest, savannah and swamp vegetation. In many cases the miospores and plants have been identified to genus level, and in most cases to family level.

From the identified plants, regional vegetation trends and changing abundances are recognised which are tied in to climatic cycles/changes, related to the effects of the northern hemisphere ice ages and more locally to the effects of doming in East Africa. When tied in to age diagnostic pollen this gives the basis for a robust age breakdown for these sequences, enabling accurate correlation across the southern Lake Albert area.

The character of the local vegetation source, the kerogen type and the algal/fungal recovery are also integrated with lithologies and, within the well sections, wireline data to enable interpretation of depositional style within these two very different areas.

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