Research

Contribution to the study of the ‘‘Terre de barre’’ of the coastal sedimentary basin of Togo (West Africa): chronostratigaphical and paleoclimatic implications

Pauline Y. D. Da Costa¹, Kodjo Togbe¹, Mahaman S. Tairou¹, Pascal Affaton², Ampah K.C. Johnson¹

¹Department of geology, Faculty of Science, University of Lomé, PB 1515, Lomé, Togo

²CNRS, Cerege, Aix-Marseille University, Europole méditerranéen de l’Arbois, PB 80,13545 Aix-en Provence cedex 04, France.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: dzycosta@yahoo.fr , dzycosta@gmail.com

Accepted 28 September 2013

Abstract

The emerged part of West African coastal basins is covered by a reddish continental formation generally called ‘‘Terre de barre’’. In the coastal basin of Togo, this formation rests unconformable on the Mio-Pliocene deposits belonging to the Continental terminal sensu strict. The age of the ‘‘Terre de barre’’ formation, often imprecise, is due to the difficulties involved in the investigation of continental sediments that are usually poorly fossiliferous and highly weathered. The discovery of pottery shards in the ‘‘Terre de barre’’ of this basin, makes it possible to date for the first time this formation in Togo. This study provides new stratigraphical, paleontological and paleoclimatic results that allow a better delimitation of the Neogene-Quaternary boundary in this basin.
 

Keywords: Coastal basin, Togo, ‘’Terre de barre’’, Prehistoric objects, Quaternary, Neogene-Quaternary boundary, Paleoclimates