NCS meeting report 29/06/2016
Meeting report: National Commission for Stratigraphy Belgium
GSB-RBINS, 29/06/2016
Start : 09:30 End : 12 :00
Present (8):, M. De Ceukelaire (S and Webmaster), E. Goemaere (S), Michiel Dusar, Stephen Louwye, Isabelle Belanger, Frieda Bogemans, Alain Herbosch, Bernard Mottequin
Invited (1): Y. Vanbrabant acting head of the GSB
Excused (9): N.Vandenberghe (P) Martin Laloux (SPW), Marie Coen-Aubert, Vanessa Heyvaert, Katrien De Nil, Jacques Verniers, Johan Yans, Eddy Poty, Bernard Delcambre
En l’absence du président en titre, les 2 secrétaires assurent ensemble la présidence de la séance
Agenda :
1. Approval of the previous meeting report : http://ncs.naturalsciences.be/meeting-reports/meeting-2016-01
Approved without modifications
2. Survey of the different subcommissions:
General comments:
- The full reference and abstract of new publications can be published on the website.
- New Paleozoic units defined by the Service géologique de Wallonie as part of the geological mapping programme – including transboundary units defined in Germany or the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (cf work by Léon Dejonghe) should be publishd on the NCS website. It provides value of publication, in general much faster than the official publication of the geological maps. Yves Vanbrabant will contact Daniel Pacyna and Martin Laloux for establishing a procedure for doing so in the framework of the geological ERANET programme.
- The new LIDAR map of Wallonia offers many possibilities for improving geological mapping. This is considered an occasion for upgrading the existing geological maps by the Service géologique de Wallonie.
Lower-Paleozoic:
No new stratigraphic units were defined. Current effort by the cartography teams of the Service géologique de Wallonie is mostly directed towards the Lower Paleozoic of the Stavelot-Venn Massif.
Alain Herbosch, Jean-Paul Liégeois and Christian Pin recently published: “ Coticules of the Belgian type-area (Stavelot-Venn Massif): limy turbidites within the nascent Rheic oceanic basin.” in Earth-Sciences Reviews, june 2016 à les références de l’article et son résumé seront repris sur le site web de la NCS (à fournir par Alain).
Devonian
Adaptation text website Devonian : “The Devonian is also known in two deep boreholes of the Campine Basin. In this northern area of Belgium, it is more particularly characterized by thick conglomeratic deposits whose age is Upper Givetian to Upper Frasnian.”
- Membre de Martelange à transmettre la description (I.Belanger) à la sous-commission et mettre les informations sur le website de la NCS
- Relancer l’examen des unités (groupe, formations, membres) du Famennien suite aux travaux publiés de cartographie par le SGW et placer ces données sur le website de la NCS
- Stimulation des équipes de géologues cartographes de la carte géologique de Wallonie afin qu’ils transmettent les données sur les unités stratigraphiques nouvellement créées dans le cadre de leurs cartes. Ceci est vrai en particulier pour les unités autour du Massif de Stavelot-Venn qui s’inspirent des unités définies récemment en Allemagne.
- The proposed Booischot Formation is accepted by the present commission and to be formalised.
Carboniferous
- Les représentants de la sous-commission sont absents mais E.Poty a transmis à B. Mottequin les documents utiles (conformément au rapport 2016-01 : « E. Poty will soon deliver to the ncs the introductory text for the Carboniferous and transmit also the membership list of the Carboniferous subcommission[MD1] . A discussion text is also announced regarding the introduction in the Lower Visean of the Formation d’Hemptinne , commonly known before as the “ Terwagne blanc”) qui sont ci-attachés.
- Text sent by Eddy Poty and revised by Bernard Mottequin :
- Dinantian (lower Carboniferous)
The Carboniferous period (about 359 Ma to 299 Ma) was divided between Dinantian (359 – 331 Ma) and Silesian. These two subsystems do not correspond to the two subsystems now defined in the Carboniferous system : Mississippian and Pennsylvanian, the base of the latter being situated in the lowermost part of the Silesian (about 323 Ma). However, the Belgian subdivisions remain in use because they correspond to two main patterns of deposition : carbonated for the Dinantian and siliciclastic with coal measures for the Silesian.
The Dinantian comprises the Tournaisian and Viséan stages, divided in five substages which are now largely used in Eurasia : Hastarian (Lower Tournaisian), Ivorian (Upper Tournaisian), Moliniacian (Lower Viséan), Livian (Middle Viséan) and Warnantian (Upper Viséan). The Dinantian succession was deposited along the southern edge of the Laurussia continent, in two major marine basins separated by the Anglo-Brabant Massif, corresponding to the Campine Basin in the north of Belgium and the Namur-Dinant Basin in the south of Belgium, northern France and Aachen area in Germany. The Dinantian of the Namur-Dinant Basin outcrops largely and was the type area for the historical subdivision of the lower Carboniferous, while the Dinantian of the Campine Basin outcrops only in the Visé area and is mainly known from boreholes.
The Dinantian deposits are almost exclusively limestones and diagenetic dolomites evolved from limestones (mainly in the Tournaisian). They are the base for the recognition of 10 third-order eustatic stratigraphic sequences which can be traced worldwide.
The Namur-Dinant Basin is divided in seven sub-basins having their own tectono-sedimentary evolution : the Hainaut (HSA), Namur (NSA), Condroz (CSA), Dinant (DSA), Visé-Maastricht (VSA), southern Avesnois (ASA), and Vesdre-Aachen sedimentation areas (VASA). The HSA is characterized by high subsidence rates, with the accumulation of up to 2500 m of limestones and dolomites including thick anhydrite units (up to 200 m thick). The classical Tournaisian type sections are located and still well exposed around the town of Tournai, in the HSA. The NSA displays a incomplete stratigraphic succession with proximal carbonate facies ; the French Boulonnais is part of the NSA. The CSA has proximal facies with some gaps. The DSA has during the upper Tournaisian a relatively deep water sedimentation with the development of Waulsortian buildups ; it shows an evolution to shallow water facies during the Viséan. The VSA was part of the Namur-Dinant Basin during the Upper Devonian and the Tournaisian, then evolved to a rapidly subsiding graben filled with deep marine limestone turbidites, separated from the Namur-Dinant Basin by the Booze- Le Val-Dieu ridge and connected to the Campine Basin; the disused quarries at Visé were the classical stratotype for the Viséan. The ASA is in northern France and displays a very incomplete succession sometimes similar to those of the NSA. The VASA has the most incomplete succession with very proximal facies for the Tournaisian corresponding to periods of sea-level highstand, and no Viséan deposit.
In the Namur-Dinant Basin, small quarries extracts limestones for building stones (mainly in the Upper Tournaisian) and large quarries extract limestone for aggregates, cement and lime production.
The Campine Basin records mainly Viséan carbonates with numerous microbial/cryptalgal buildups, some of them being karstified and used for gas storage. The Viséan succession varies in thickness with respect to the general half-graben structure of the basin, the thickness of the deposits increasing southward to the Brabant Massif.
New formation: the Hemptinne Formation
Description: The formation comprises pluridecimetre-thick bedded, pale to white limestones of peritidal facies. They are composed of wackestones with fenestrae, stromatolitic boundstones, peloidal and oolitic grainstones. There are typically frequent levels of pluricentimetre oncolites. Fossils are not common. The Hemptinne Formation resembles the Terwagne Formation, but is very pale while the other is very dark, and it is devoid of silica and argillaceous layers, except for an argillaceous layer in its upper part (cinerite M). Therefore the Hemptinne limestone is very pure and was often confounded with the overlying Neffe Formation and with the underlying Avins Member of the Longpré Formation.
Stratotype: The section in the eastern bank of the small valley of the Hubièssau rivulet, between Robièpont and the Ferme de la Bataille, 500 m northwest of Hemptinne, 4 km north of Philippeville, Dinant sedimentation area (DSA).
Area: northern and southern borders of the DSA. The formation marks the transition between the Salet Formation of the DSA and the Terwagne Formation of the Condroz sedimentation area (CSA) and of the Southern Avesnois sedimentation area (ASA).
Thickness: about 80 m in the type section. In fact, because the formation has a pale colour and some oolitic facies similar to those of the Avins Mbr and the Neffe Fm, its boundaries are usually not easy to recognize.
Age: Moliniacian (early Viséan), MFZ11 Mississippian Foraminifer Zone. The cinerite M is present in its upper part, as in the Terwagne Formation. Until now, no corals were found. The formation corresponds to the transgressive system tract of the Dinantian third-order sequence 6.
Changes in the lithostratigraphy
- Ourthe Fm : Thickness : About 35 m in the type area, 20 m in the Hoyoux valley.
- Martinrive Fm : There was a mistake in the description of the lithology : « Most of the formation consists of dark limestones (mudstones to wackestones)… » (and not « packstones to wackestones »)
New proposal announced: Rieudotte, Gives, Java members of Andenne Formation to be introduced by Bernard Delcambre.
A question about the stratigraphic results of the BALMATT geothermal well in Mol, drilled by VITO: M. Dusar informs that the VITO organisation is not ready to lift the confidentialty of this well soon.
Members of the Carboniferous subcommission
- Delcambre Bernard (UCL), Denayer Julien (Ulg), Dusar Michiel (KBIN), Hance Luc (CARMEUSE s.a.), Hennebert Michel (FPM), Mottequin Bernard (IRSNB), Poty Edouard (Ulg[MD2] ).
Recent papers
- Denayer, J., Aretz, M., Poty, E. & Mottequin, B. 2016. Royseux : a palaeobiodiversity hotspot in the Late Viséan (Carboniferous) of Belgium. Geologica Belgica 19/1 : 7-20.
- Mottequin, B., Poty, E. & Prestiani, C. 2015. Catalogue of the types and illustrated specimens recovered from the « black marble » of Denée, a marine conservation-lagerstätte from the Mississippian of southern Belgium. Geologica Belgica, 18 : 1-14.
- Poty, E., Aretz, M. & Hance, L. 2014. Belgian substages as a basis for an international chronostratigraphic division of the Tournaisian and Viséan. Geological Magazine 151 (2) : 229-243.
Link to the abstract and fieldtrip volumes of the IGCP 596 meeting that took place at RBINS last year:
http://strata.fr/pdf/Strata2015-1.16-midpaleozoic-climate.pdf
Perm-Trias-Jura
Discussion about the Hondelange Member, which is a sandy unit within the clayey Arlon Formation. Isabelle Belanger et Frédéric Boulvain ont organisé une excursion géologique (participants belges, luxembourgeois et allemands) en Lorraine belge pour observer les affleurements du Membre de Hondelange et discuter de l’intérêt de convertir le Membre de Hondelange en Formation de Hondelange. Les membres de la sous-commission s’accordent pour valider cette proposition. Le livret-guide de l’excursion ainsi qu’un résumé seront prochainement transmis par I. Belanger pour être publié sur le site web de la NCS
Cretaceous
Up to three lithostratigraphic schemes exist for the same stratigraphic intervals (the NCS subdivision published in 2001 and partly emended since, the units of the carte géologique de Wallonie, and the units used in DOV documents. The mapping units effectively in use should be included on the NCS system as equivalent to the 2001 system. The Vert Galand Formation of the carte géologique de Wallonie has been considered as a first testcase.
A proposal for the Vert Galand Formation, incorporating the Bruyelle and Merlin Members and its equivalents in Flanders published on the DOV website has been introduced by M. Dusar with support of J. Yans. Tacit agreement by Michel Hennebert (Service géologique de Wallonie) as one of the original authors will be requested before this unit can be formalised.
The alterites particularly concern the Cretaceous system as they form either at the expense of Cretaceous strata or are largely developed during the Cretaceous epoch. However, their discussion is treated separately.
Paleogene-Neogene
Ieper Group: revision in an advanced state, attending confirmation of Subcommission to put new version on the web
Neogene Continental Group (proposed by NCS 2016-1 meeting): on hold till the end of the H3O project, which will take another year. M. Dusar has written a discussion text but will not take initiative to lead this working group.
Chattian – Inden – Kiezeloolite Formations : Timothy Lanckacker is working on the proposals published on the NCS website, it also depends on the outcome of the H3O project.
Excursion Formation de Bruxelles (conjointe sous-commision et Société géologique du Nord). La division de la F. de Bruxelles s’annonce très difficile. Rik Houthuys will prepare a proposition.
New member between Heers and Hannut : Johan Matthijs will prepare a discussion text. Proposed name : Beselare clay member.
Quaternary
Excursion in the Mark valley – report = thesis Willy Huybrecht
Arenberg Formation is put on the website as a proposal
Weelde Formation, new text prepared by F. Bogemans is on reading in the subcommission, will be soon published as proposal
Alterites
- Clay+ flint Formation. Le proposal préparé par M.Dusar et validé par J.-L. Pingot et J.Yans est disponible sur le site web pour discussion. Cette formation existe notamment en Angleterre et en France. Une discussion générale a lieu sur les limites inférieures de cette unité, son extension spatiale, son épaisseur cartographiable (ou non).
- Sont évoquées d’autres altérites comme a) les saprolites sur le socle du Massif de Brabant (non cartographiées sur les nouvelles cartes wallonnes mais visibles en forages) et les altérites d’Ardenne. Discussion sur leur représentation sur les cartes géologiques (trame, symboles…)
- Roland Dreesen has written a request to the president of NCS to consider the development of a generalised mapping system for residual sandstones overlying older formations. During discussion this is extended to gossans and orebodies (which were represented on the old geological maps).
- Il est conclu que
- la discussion n’était pas encore terminée et nécessite une réflexion complémentaire ;
- geotechnical properties should be considered an essential part of its characterisation ;
- que Michiel Dusar et Johan Yans prépareront un texte qui introduit le nouvel onglet « alterites » sur le site WEB ;
- qu’il fallait mettre ce point à l’ordre du jour de la prochaine réunion de la NCS ;
- il est envisagé de créer un groupe de travail sur ce thème.
Talk by Y.Vanbrabant (GSB):
Présentation du programme de recherche « StratiSankey: a tool to ease the stratigraphy reading » (fichier pdf en annexe au présent rapport). Ce projet fait partie intégrante du plan stratégique du SGB-GSB pour les prochaines années.
Yves demande l’aide de la NCS pour son travail. La commission est intéressée, lui apportera son aide et conseille néanmoins à Yves qu’il s’adresse aux auteurs de chaque nouvelle carte géologique car les géologues cartographes sont les plus qualifiés pour discuter des corrélations (évolutions temporelles) entre les stratigraphies anciennes et la stratigraphie actuelle.
Varia
The cores of the collection RBINS-SGB will move to Peronnes-lez-Binche. Some cores will not be available for some months for scientific research.
Drupalgardens stops his support the 1the of august. We are looking to a new host for the website. The url ncs.naturalsciences.be will remain. Normally the user will not have any inconveniences.
Aucune date n’a été fixée pour une prochaine réunion plénière.
Les secrétaires remercient les membres des sous-commissions pour leur travail.
E. GOEMAERE & M. DE CEUKELAIRE N. VANDENBERGHE
Secretaries President
