PalEurAfrica

PalEurAfrica

Origin of the European modern faunas through Palaeogene Central Africa collections

Democratic Republic of Congo 2016

Exploration for Paleogene deposits in old localities of Bandundu discovered by 1940-1948’s Belgian expeditions

Long missions done by J. Lepersonne in Bandundu between 1940 and 1945 have allowed him to locate numerous deposits he considered as Paleogene. From September to November 1948 he explored the South of Bandundu in more detailed and took notes of his observations in four notebooks. We used them for a second expedition of the PalEurAfrica team in September 2016. By this way, we re-located, prospected, and sampled the magnificent Lukwila Canyon and other localities with a small team of geologists and palaeontologists from RMCA, RBINS, and CRGM.

01 The Belgian team invited at the Ministry of Scientific Research and Technology in Kinshasa (from left to right: Valentin Kanda Nkula, General Director of CRGM; Thierry De Putter, Head of Service Geodynamic and Resources RMCA; Florimond Nyamoga Kabanda, Minister’s chief of staff; Thierry Smith, Coordinator PalEurAfrica Project, RBINS; Florias Mees, Curator of Geology-Paleontology collections RMCA)01 The Belgian team invited at the Ministry of Scientific Research and Technology in Kinshasa (from left to right: Valentin Kanda Nkula, General Director of CRGM; Thierry De Putter, Head of Service Geodynamic and Resources RMCA; Florimond Nyamoga Kabanda, Minister’s chief of staff; Thierry Smith, Coordinator PalEurAfrica Project, RBINS; Florias Mees, Curator of Geology-Paleontology collections RMCA)
02 Arrival at Kikwit by N1 road, 400 km east of Kinshasa02 Arrival at Kikwit by N1 road, 400 km east of Kinshasa
03 On the way to Gungu, 140 km south-east of Kiwit, the asphalt road is replaced by a sandy pathway03 On the way to Gungu, 140 km south-east of Kiwit, the asphalt road is replaced by a sandy pathway
04 Arrival with our two field vehicles at Gungu where we stay for 5 days in the mission of sisters St Joseph of Torino04 Arrival with our two field vehicles at Gungu where we stay for 5 days in the mission of sisters St Joseph of Torino
05 The Kwilu River has to be crossed with a small Chinese ferry that has replaced the old Belgian one (in front left), which sank several years ago05 The Kwilu River has to be crossed with a small Chinese ferry that has replaced the old Belgian one (in front left), which sank several years ago
06 On the other river bank women from Kandale village clean clothes in the river06 On the other river bank women from Kandale village clean clothes in the river
08 The ferry is moving but something is strange08 The ferry is moving but something is strange
09 The engine of the ferry has been stolen and villagers help by pulling the ferry to the river bank09 The engine of the ferry has been stolen and villagers help by pulling the ferry to the river bank
10 The chief of the Lukwila village controls the field permit10 The chief of the Lukwila village controls the field permit
11 The Lukwila children bring us to the canyon11 The Lukwila children bring us to the canyon
12 The Lukwila Canyon is an unbelievable spectacle for the eyes12 The Lukwila Canyon is an unbelievable spectacle for the eyes
13 Sampling of the Lukwila section: Florias Mees (CRGM) cleans the outcrop; Thierry De Putter (CRGM) describes the sediment; Nicole Kitambala Yaya (CRGM, from back) collects samples13 Sampling of the Lukwila section: Florias Mees (CRGM) cleans the outcrop; Thierry De Putter (CRGM) describes the sediment; Nicole Kitambala Yaya (CRGM, from back) collects samples
14 A beautiful 15 cm Scolopendra centipede suddenly appears in the sediment14 A beautiful 15 cm Scolopendra centipede suddenly appears in the sediment
15 The ferry is blocked and the villagers kindly help to move it15 The ferry is blocked and the villagers kindly help to move it
16 Thierry Smith (RBINS) is looking for fossils in a quarry with Paleogene sandstones while Florias Mees (CRGM) is breaking sandstones for sampling16 Thierry Smith (RBINS) is looking for fossils in a quarry with Paleogene sandstones while Florias Mees (CRGM) is breaking sandstones for sampling
17 One of these enigmatic rich coloured sandstones17 One of these enigmatic rich coloured sandstones
18 The leading car is blocked again in the sand18 The leading car is blocked again in the sand
19 Our driver, Reagan Matu, digging the engine protection plate that is broken. This happen after having already broken two tires and the assisted direction of the steering wheel19 Our driver, Reagan Matu, digging the engine protection plate that is broken. This happen after having already broken two tires and the assisted direction of the steering wheel
20 Thierry Smith (RBINS) collecting samples at the top of the cliffs of the Batéké plateau near the Maidombe River20 Thierry Smith (RBINS) collecting samples at the top of the cliffs of the Batéké plateau near the Maidombe River