3.6 Luxembourg Formation - LUX
Authors
Steininger (1828); Guerin-Franiatte et al. (1991); Boulvain et al. (2001); Boulvain & Belanger (2018).
Description
Alternation of sandy limestone and sand with cross-bedded stratifications; locally, homogeneous sand, sandstone and coquinas ("lumachelles").
Stratotype
Large quarry along the N4 road, at Côte rouge (cf. Boulvain et al., 2017).
Area and thickness
Belgian Lorraine and Luxemburg. The formation, a hundred meters thick, comprises five members: at the base, the Metzert Member, a grey to yellow sandy unit (locally sandstone: "Clairefontaine facies "); then, above a slight angular unconformity, the Florenville, Orval and Virton Members, consisting of alternating yellow to orange sand and sandy limestone. These members are differentiated from one another only when separated by marl horizons (respectively, the Strassen and Posterie Members). West of the meridian of Prouvy, these marl horizons become thin layers very difficult to correlate. Near Virton, a third marl horizon (Trite Member) occurs near the base of the formation, separating Florenville and Chevratte Members. On the other hand, at the east of the meridian of Arlon, the same marl horizons thicken quickly and grade into the Arlon Formation. The Stockem Member which consists of clear sand is probably a weathering facies of the Virton Member or the Hondelange Formation.
Age
The Luxembourg Formation is clearly diachronic (Maubeuge, 1965; Guérin-Franiatte & Muller, 1986; Guérin-Franiatte et al., 1991). In eastern Belgian Lorraine, it encompasses the Upper Hettangian and the base of the Sinemurian, from Schlotheimia angulata to Arietites bucklandi ammonite Zones; in the western part of the area, this formation extends from the Lower to the Uppermost Sinemurian, from Arietites bucklandi to Echioceras raricostatum ammonite Zones.
Note
This formation was introduced in Belgium by Dumont (1842). Because of its diachronic character, it was later subdivided in various “Assises” on a biostratigraphic basis. The unitary character of the formation was redefined by Guerin-Franiatte et al. (1991). Some units, corresponding partially to old “assises”, were redefined as members with new lithostratigraphic limits (Members of Metzert, Florenville, Orval, Virton, Stockem). The other “assises” are abandoned.
Published on
14/12/2022
References
Boulvain, F. & Belanger, I., 2018. The Hondelange Formation and the sequence stratigraphic model of Belgian Lorraine. Geologica Belgica, 21, 59-71.
Boulvain, F., Belanger, I., Colbach, R., Dechamps, S., Delsate, D., Deligny, D., Ghysel, P., Michel, J., Philippo, S. & Ramlot, B., 2017. New sedimentological data from Triassic to Jurassic boreholes (Bonnert, Haebicht, Grouft, Grund, Consdorf) and sections (Tontelange, Differdange, Rumelange) from Southern Belgium and Luxemburg. Professional Papers Belgian Geological Survey, 319, 45 p.
Boulvain, F., Belanger, I., Delsate, D., Ghysel, P., Godefroit, P., Laloux, M., Monteyne, R. & Roche, M., 2001. Triassic and Jurassic lithostratigraphic units (Belgian Lorraine). In Bultynck & Dejonghe (eds), Guide to a revised lithostratigraphic scale of Belgium, Geologica Belgica, 4, 113-119.
Boulvain, F., Delsate, D. & Maubeuge, P.L., 1995. Description et interpretation stratigraphique de quatre sondages dans le Secondaire de la Gaume (Neulimont, Aubange, Saint-Mard et Toernich). Belgian Geological Survey Professional Paper, 277, 51 p.
Dewalque,. G., 1902. Habay-la-Neuve-Arlon, carte géologique n°219 à 1/40.000, dressée sur ordre du gouvernement.
Dumont, A., 1842. Mémoire sur les terrains triasique et jurassique dans la province de Luxembourg. Nouveaux Mémoires de l'Académie royale de Belgique, XV, 1-36.
Guérin-Franiatte, S, Hary, A. & Muller, A., 1991. La Formation des Grès du Luxembourg au Lias inférieur: reconstitution dynamique du paléoenvironnement. Bulletin de la Société géologique de France, 162 : 763-773.
Guérin-Franiatte, S. & Muller, A., 1986. L’Hettangien dans le NE du Bassin de Paris: biostratigraphie et évolution sédimentaire. Annales de la Société géologique de Belgique, 109, 415-429.
Maubeuge, P.L., 1965. Contribution à la géologie de la Province de Luxembourg et du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg: le problème du “Grès de Luxembourg”. Bulletin de la Société belge de Géologie, Paléontologie et d’Hydrologie, 74, 316-346.
Monteyne, R., 1958. Recherches sur le Lias inférieur du Sud de la Belgique. Thèse Dr. Sc. Univ. Libre de Bruxelles, Fac. des Sciences (non publié), 622 pp.
Steininger, J., 1828. Essais d’une description géognostique du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. Imprimerie de l’Académie royale, Bruxelles.