Looking for fossils at Barra do Dande.

THIS TRIP IS NOW BOOKED FULL.The Angola Field Group will have a geological field trip north of Luanda on Sunday,February 05, led by Geologist Tako Koning. We will leave Luanda at 7:00 AM (sharp) and return back at approximately 5:00 PM.

Oil seeps at Libongos.


We will go to Barra do Dande and visit outcrops consisting of Cretaceous-age fossiliferous, marine sedimentary rocks. These strata are interesting from a paleo-environmental standpoint of view and they are also of economic significance since they are  the cap rocks to the Pinda reservoirs which produce oil in the shallow water areas offshore Soyo and Cabinda.  From there we will travel northeastwards to the Lifune River to see the  Libongos oil seeps and asphalt quarry.  We will then travel southwards to Caxito to the water falls at Sassa to view ancient (2 billion-years-old) Precambrian granite outcrops and where we will have a late lunch (you pack your own).  The field trip will conclude with a visit to the hydroelectric dam on the Dande River at Mabubas.

Fossil from the Cretaceous age discovered at Barra do Dande.

This field trip will also stop at Pangila Bridge to review some of the historical events which occurred in this area including the famous Quifangondo battle of November 10, 1975 between FNLA and MPLA just prior to Angola achieving independence on November 11, 1975.

There is a provincial border crossing on this trip so you must bring your original documents and proof of a valid visa.  All field trips with the Angola Field Group are at your own risk. Sign up as soon as possible since we need to limit the number of cars.

Records indicate that as early as 1820, the Portuguese shipped out barrels of asphalt probably from the Libongos seeps. This and above photo courtesy John Helm.

Our meeting point and further details will be provided once you have signed up and are confirmed for the trip. Sign up by emailing: angolafieldgroup@gmail.com and state: 1)your cell phone number   2)names of participants  3)whether you have room for passenger/s and if so how many  4)whether you are travelling from Luanda Sul or downtown Luanda.

Quifangondo battle, a turning point for the MPLA. Photo © Henriette Koning.