Mesozoic Sedimentary Cover Sequences of the Congo Basin in the Kasai Region, Democratic Republic of Congo - Geology and Resource Potential of the Congo Basin - page 177

Fig. 9.13 Photo of core 154-
X016

12m

FA4

14m

Ostracodes &
Concostracans

73m

FA5

25m

FA3/5

80m

37m

110m

43m

118m

FA3

49m

FA5

141m

55m

aeolian

61m

FA5

154m

66m

162m

FA5

the Kabinda area within C3 and the overlying aeolian, fluvial
and lacustrine deposits within C4.

of the basal C3 conglomerate was observed. Here, fluvial or
mixed fluvial-aeolian facies are present at the base of the
section, which are similar to both J1 near Tshikapa and C4
near Kabinda. However, based on detrital zircon evidence
from a nearby core, (173-X009) we favor a C4 assignment
for these deposits.
Most of unit C4 in cores 173-X030 and 173-X009 is
characterized by a relatively thick succession of ephemeral
lake beds, which are interspersed with small fluvial channels
and aeolian dunes. Deposition of C3 and C4 strata across the
Kabinda area appears to have transpired during the Late
Cretaceous (post 80 Ma) based on detrital zircon data con-
straining maximum age, and in a fairly arid to semi-arid
climate. This finding is in contrast to the geologic map of

9.4.4.3 Kabinda Area
Only three cores were studied and logged in the Kabinda
region, viz: 173-X009 and -X030 (Fig. 9.14 ), and 159-X027.
The cores in this area, particularly 173-X009 and 173-X030,
were drilled at the highest-elevation areas in the study area.
The base of the section here is variable, with a major alluvial
fan succession at the base of 173-X009 on the western side,
but sparse fan deposits exist at the base of 173-X030, which
is perched above the highest elevation basement intercepts
observed in the core records. To the far east of the study area,
basement was not reached in core 159-X027 and no evidence