INORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY AS A TOOL FOR SEDIMENTOLOGICAL STUDY; A CASE STUDY OF X-WELL, NIGER DELTA BASIN, SOUTHERN NIGERIA

The work embraces the use of inorganic geochemistry for stratigraphic study. In order to further ascertain the sediments provenance, paleo-redox, tectonic settings, and sandstone classification, ditch cutting samples from the X-well on the Niger Delta Basin were collected. According to the geochemical results, the trace element ratios of V/Cr and U/Th indicated an oxic environment for deposition. The source of the sediments was felsic rock, as shown by bivariate plots of Ni vs Tio2, La/Sc vs Th/Co, and trace elemental ratios of Th/Sc, Th/Co, Cr/Th, and La/Sc.The graphs of K2O/Na2O versus SiO2 and Log (K2O/Na2O) versus Log (SiO2/Al2O3). were dominated by the passive margin zone. The sediments were classified by various chemical sandstone classification systems as sublitharenite, Fe-rich sand, and very little quartzarenite.