4.1.2.3. Hesbaye Member

Authors: Gullentops et al., 2001.

Description: Thick pale yellow calcareous loess, finely laminated (Gullentops, 1954; Haesaerts & Van Vliet, 1974; Paepe & Vanhoorne, 1976). These sediments bear several tundra gleys. The bottom part of the member frequently show a deflation surface. Locally, a strong erosion phase is recorded, linked to the melting of the thick tundra gley ending the Vellereille Member (Harveng Soil). In the upper part of the member, the "Hesbayan loess" contains the Eltville Tephra (Haesaerts et al., 1981; Juvigné & Semmel, 1981; Meijs et al., 1983; Pouclet & Juvigné, 2009).

Stratotype: Eben-Emael (western and eastern walls of the CBR chalk quarry at Romont, respectively at 50°47'27''N / 5°38'37''E and 50°47'08''N / 5°39'27''E).

Paratypeat:

Harmignies (Omya Benelux and CBR chalk quarries; respectively at 50°25'08''N / 4°00'35''E and 50°25'13''N / 4°00'56''E);

- Rocourt (ancient Gritten sand pit; 50°40'07''N / 5°33'45'' E).

Area: Middle Belgium, on plateau and slopes.

Age: Upper Pleistocene - lower part of Weichselian upper pleniglacial (lower part of MIS 2).

Remarks: Former "Hesbayan", defined by Gullentops (1954) after a term introduced in 1839 by Dumont. Later renamed Hesbaye Member (Gullentops et al., 2001). In Kesselt, the type locality of Hesbayan (Gullentops, 1954), it was later shown that the so-called Hesbayan loess (with the Nassboden) were in fact Saalian in age (see Juvigné et al., 1996; van den Houte et al., 2003).