Kundelungu Gr

Cenozoic

Mesozoic

Paleozoic

Neoproterozoic

Paleoproterozoic

Kundelungu Gr

Period:

Ediacaran

Age Interval:

entire Ediacaran

Province:
Southern Congo Margin

Type Locality and Naming

Katanga Basin, Southern Congo margin in DRC and Zambia The Kundelungu Gr is further subdivided into: (i) the Gombela Subgroup including the glacigenic diamictites of the ‘Petit Conglome´rat’ or Kyandamu Formation and the cap carbonates of the Lusele Formation; (ii) the carbonate, then siliciclastic Ngule Subgroup; and (iii) the siliciclastic ± 573 Ma Biano Subgroup (Master et al. 2005)

Synonym:

References: Fernandez-Alonso et al., 2012; Master et al., 2005

[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, Aloloand 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: Southern margin of the Congo Shield. (A) Geological sketch map of the Katanga Basin (modified after Heijlen et al. 2008). (B) Synthetic stratigraphic log combined with C and Sr isotopic curves of the Katanga Supergroup in the DRC and Zambia (modified after d ‰13 Cailteux et al. 2005). Note the declines in C estimated at 6.7 in d 1 the Lower Roan Group, followed by intervals with strong 3C enrichments, attributed to the Bitter Spring negative excursion and a d1 second negative 3C shift at the top of the Mwashia Group, reported to the Sturtian glacial events (Bull et al. 2011)]

[Fig 7: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

Base consists of glacigenic diamictites of the ‘Petit Conglome´rat’, carbonates and siliciclastic with about 1400m thickness. The Kundelungu Gr is further subdivided into: (i) the Gombela Subgroup including the glacigenic diamictites of the ‘Petit Conglomerate’ or Kyandamu Formation and the cap carbonates of the Lusele Formation; (ii) the carbonate, then siliciclastic Ngule Subgroup; and (iii) the siliciclastic ± 573 Ma Biano Subgroup (Master et al. 2005), which is now a separate Biano Gr (equivalent to the Inkisi Gr of West Conglo Basins) (correlative figure of Delpomdor and Preat, in de Wit et al., 2015)

Lithology Pattern:

Sandy limestone

Relationships and Distribution

Lower contact

The basal Petit Conglomerate glacial till (Marinoan age) lies conformably on the Nguba Gr

Upper contact

Lies unconformably below the Biano Gr

Regional extent

Katanga Basin, Southern Congo margin in DRC and Zambia.

GeoJSON

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Fossils

Age

Ediacaran; and may extend into earliest Cambrian if the upper unit is same span as the Mpioka Gr in West Congo Margin basins

Age Span:

Beginning stage:

Ediacaran

Fraction up in beginning stage:

0.0

Beginning date (Ma):

635.00

Ending stage:

Ediacaran

Fraction up in the ending stage:

1.0

Ending date (Ma):

538.80

Depositional setting

Depositional pattern:

Additional Information

Since the Mesoproterozoic Eon, the CS region was subjected to intermittent episodes of extensional activity resulting in long-lived shallow cratonic basins, which were subsequently deformed by short-lived phases of compression during the Neoproterozoic (Fernandez-Alonso et al. 2012).

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