Palynostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental reconstitution of the Paleocene-Eocene N'kapa Formation: Ngata and Moulongo series (Douala sub-basin, Cameroon).

• Palynozones make up two pollen assemblages attributed to upper Paleocene-early Eocene age. • Palynomorphs assemblage is dominated by angiosperm pollen grains. • The palaeoenvironmental is coastal swamp. A total of 72 samples from two wells (Ngata and Moulong) intersecting the N'kapa Formation of the Douala sub-basin were subjected to palynological analysis and yielded a rich assemblage of mainly terrestrial palynomorphs including Palmae pollens and dinocysts. Statistical analyses of the fossil counts led to the correlation of the two wells, outlining two informal palynozones: NpI inferred to be upper Paleocene in age with the first appearance datum of several late Paleocene pollen species such as Crototricolpites protoannemariae , Clavatricolporites leticiae , Clavatricolpites densiclavatus , Racemonocolpites racematus , Retitricolpites cf. simplex , Spathiphyllum vanegensis , and Ulmoideipites krempii. The early Eocene is inferred by the first occurrence of Retibrevitricolpites triangulates , characterizing NpII palynozone. Based on the presence and dominance of Palmae (Psilamonocolpites , Mauritiidites and Spinizonocolpites), Pteridophytes (Laevigatosporites) and Proteaceae (Echitriporites trianguliformis), a coastal swamp environment associated with a warm and humid climate is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]