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Bimbo Sandstone Formation
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Bimbo Sandstone Fm base reconstruction

Bimbo Sandstone Fm


Period: 
Cryogenian

Age Interval: 
latest Cryogenian


Province: 
Northern Congo Margin

Type Locality and Naming

Ubangui Basin, Eastern CAR. Located eastwards in the Kembe´-Nakando sandstones of the Fouroumbala-Bakouma Basin in the eastern CAR (Alvarez 1995, 2000); around Bangui extend southwards to the Congo River

Synonym: Bimbo sandstones

References: Alvarez 1995, 2000

[Fig 1. Simplified geological map of the Congo Basin, compiled from various published map. The stratigraphic units have been assembled into major sequences (Late Neoproterozoic, Paleozoic and Cenozoic)]

[Fig 2. Tectonic setting of the Neoproterozoic basins of present-day Central Africa, compiled from the 1: 2M geological map of the Zaire (Lepersonne, 1974a) and the 1: 4MmapGeology and Major Ore Deposits of Africa (Milesi et al., 2006)]

[Fig 3. Lithostratigraphic synthesis for the Neoproterozoic to Early Paleozoic period. Compiled after various authors (see text). Dotted lines between Banalia, Alolo and Galamboge formations: stratigraphic transition by recurrences]

[Fig 4. Lithostratigraphic columns for the Congo Basin established using data from the 4 wells in the central part of the basin and outcrops on its NE margin (Lindi-Ubangi and Kisangani-Kindu region), compared with the West-Congo and Katanga stratigraphy]

[Fig 5. Simplified geological map of Sub-Saharan Africa showing the Neoproterozoic basins on and around the Congo Shield (modified after De Waele et al. 2008). (LC) Lower Congo Basin, (Co) Comba Basin, (Sa) Sangha Basin, (Ny) Nyanga-Niari Basin, (An) Angola Basin, (SO) Semb-Ouesso Basin, (Ba) Ubangui Basin, (LiB) Likki-Bembe´ Basin, (Bk) Bakouma Basin, (Fou) Fouroumbala Basin, (Li) Lindi Basin, It Itombwe Basin, (Ma) Malagarazi-Bukoban Basin, (Mb) Sankuru-Mbuji-Mayi-Lomami-Lovoy Basin, (Lu) Luamba Group, (Kat) Katanga Basin, (RB) Ruwenzorian Belt, KaB) Karagwe-Ankole Belt, (RuB) Ruzisian Belt, (KiB) Kibaran Belt,(UB) Ubendian Belt, IB Irumide Belt]

[Fig 6. Northern margin of the Congo Shield. (A) Geological sketch map of the Lindi Basin (modified after Verbeek 1970; Poidevin 1985)]

[Fig 7. Stratigraphic logs of the Lindi Supergoup in the DRC (modified after Verbeek 1970). (C and D) Stratigraphic logs of the Lindi Supergoup in CAR (modified after Poidevin 1985). cc cap carbonates, SG Sturtian Glaciation, MG Marinoan Glaciation]

[Fig 8. Stratigraphic correlation between the Neoproterozoic sedimentary basins in Central Africa. Correlations based on Sr isotopic data, radiometric age constraints and revised lithological relationships]


Lithology and Thickness

“130 m-thick fluvial sandstones passing eastwards into the fluvial-lacustrine Kembé-Nakando sandstones of the Fouroumbala-Bakouma Basin in the eastern CAR” (de Wit et al., 2015)


Lithology Pattern: 
Sandstone


Relationships and Distribution

Lower contact

Lies on the Kembe Conglomerate Fm

Upper contact

Overlain by the Banjui Carbonate Fm

Regional extent

Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks exposed in the SW of the CAR, around Bangui extend southwards to the Congo River.


GeoJSON

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Fossils


Age 

Kembe Conglomerate Fm is suggested by correlation figures in de Wit et al. (2015) to be coeval to the Upper Tillite in the West Congo Margin basins, hence Marinoan glacial in age. However, “cap carbonate” is in the Bangui Carbonate Fm, hence the intervening Bimbo Sandstone Fm is also implied to be Marinoan glacial time. Therefore, Kembe and Bimbo given equal parts of the Marinian glacial interval for graphic purposes.

Age Span: 

    Beginning stage: 
Cryogenian

    Fraction up in beginning stage: 
0.9

    Beginning date (Ma): 
643.50

    Ending stage: 
Cryogenian

    Fraction up in the ending stage: 
0.95

    Ending date (Ma):  
639.25

Depositional setting


Depositional pattern:  
?glacial-fluvial environment


Additional Information


Compiler:  

Enam O. Obiosio, Solomon Joshua Avong and Henry Nasir Suleiman (2024) - Stratigraphic Lexicon compiled from the following books:

Geology and Resource Potential of the Congo Basin by Maarten J. de Wit, François Guillocheau and Michiel C.J. de Wit , Published Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015; DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-29482-2