Outcrop samples were collected from Dukku area for the purpose of subjecting them to palynological analysis in order to determine the relative age of Gwandu Formation and palaeoenvironment of deposition of the deposit. Field and laboratory methods were carried out in order to obtain lithological sequence description of the outcrop. The samples obtained went through processes of acid digestion with hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid and separation of macerals by floatation with the use of zinc bromide. The prepared slides were observed under microscope for palynomorph contents. Diagnostic palynomorphs that are stratigraphically important for palynozonation were retrieved such as Belskipollis eligans, Verrutricolporites laevigatus. Striamonocolpites sp., Retibrevitricolporites sp., Retibrevitricolporites obodoensis, Retistephanocolpites sp., Cingulatisporites ornatus, Longapertites marginatus and Proteacidites sp. The marker fossils belong to Magnatariatites horwardii zone; Zone P600 and Subzone P630 and C1 Zone of Nigerian Niger Delta sedimentary basin zonal schemes, dated Early Miocene age. Dinoflagellate forms recovered include Batiacasphaera sp., Senegalinium sp., Andalusiella polymorpha Selenophemphix nephroides, Andalusiella sp., Andalusiella laevigata, Histrichosphaera turocona and undifferentiated dinoflagellate cysts of peridinacean forms that belong to marginal marine setting.

Palynological study of Tungu Buzum Hill was investigated with a view towards determining the age of the outcrop, compare its miospore content with the adjacent Tungu Buzu Valley of carbonaceous shale, their stratigraphic relationship and paleoenvironment of deposition of the litho-sequence. Field study involved litho-description and logging achieved by noting the rock type, mineralogical composition, bed thickness, texture, sorting, roundness, structure, fossil content and diagenetic effect. Palynological slide preparation involved decarbonisation, digestion, sieving, maceral separation using zinc bromide, mounting on slide and petrographic analysis. The litho-sequence is composed sequentially upward of claystone, siltstone, indurated silty claystone, mudstone and ferruginized ironstone characterized by loadcast, fracture, lithification and bioturbation. Palynologically, the litho-section exhibits few marker forms such as Belskipollis elegans, Peregrinipollis nigericus and Retibrevitricolporites obodoensis depictive of early Miocene age. The paleoenvironment was deduced based on the occurrence of peridinacean forms such as Andalusiella sp., Senegalinium sp., Lejeuncysta diversiforma and Paleocystodinium golzowense indicative of marginal marine, while deeper marginal marine forms of gonyaulacacean phytoplanktons present are Micrhystridium sp., Canningia capillata and Dinogymnium sp. There are similarities in palynomorph assemblages of this study and Tunga Buzu Valley section in terms of age and similarity to Gwandu Formation though varied in paleoenvironment in the valley litho-section, marked by continental to marginal marine settings. Field relationship suggests that the Tunga Buzu Hill is stratigraphically overlying the Tunga Buzu Valley, separated by a fault. The Tunga Buzu Hill section represents the footwall while the Tunga Buzu Valley is situated within the hanging wall of a normal fault structure.