Cross-border correlations showing diachronous lithostratigraphic units in the southeastern North Sea Basin during the Early Oligocene (middle-late Rupelian)
Keywords:
Dinoflagellate cyst analysis, geophysical logs, Boom and Steensel members (NL), Boom and Eigenbilzen formations (B), Oligocene
Abstract
Wireline log correlation panels of palynologically analysed boreholes illustrate lateral facies transitions within Rupelian age strata of the Dutch Rupel Formation across the southeastern North Sea Basin. The middle to upper part of the Rupel Formation consists of clays and silts of the Boom Member and the overlying sandier Steensel Member. In the Mill and Goirle boreholes in the Dutch Province of North Brabant, the Boom Member is thickly developed and represents the middle to upper Rupelian (biozones NSO3 to NSO5a), while the Steensel Member is rather thinly developed and only comprises the uppermost Rupelian (biozone NSO5a). Borehole log correlations show that towards the south (or more proximal to the palaeo-continent) the Rupel Formation becomes sandier and the clayey Boom Member thins in favour of the sandy superjacent Steensel Member. Palynological analyses confirm that the Boom Member is restricted to the middle Rupelian (biozone NSO3) age here, and that the superjacent Steensel Member is of middle to upper Rupelian age (biozones NSO3 to NSO5a). Geological models constructed for northern Belgium propose that this facies transition occurs rather sharply, along a WSW-ENE oriented zone parallel to the presumed shoreline at that time. The results of this study support this interpretation and extend the trend towards the Netherlands.
References
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Munsterman, D.K. & Deckers, J., 2022. Biostratigraphic ages and depositional environments of the upper Oligocene to lower Miocene Veldhoven Formation in the central Roer Valley Rift System (SE Netherlands-NE Belgium). Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 101: e6. DOI: 10.1017/njg.2022.3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Munsterman, D.K., ten Veen, J.H., Menkovic, A., Deckers, J., Witmans, N., Verhaegen, J., Kerstholt-Boegehold, S.J., van de Ven, T. & Busschers, F.S., 2019. An updated and revised stratigraphic framework for the Miocene and earliest Pliocene strata of the Roer Valley Graben and adjacent blocks. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 98: e8. DOI: 10.1017/njg.2019.10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
NAM & RGD, 1980. Stratigraphic Nomenclature of the Netherlands. Verhandelingen KNGMG 32: 77 pp.Google Scholar
Ogg, J.G., Ogg, G. & Gradstein, F.M., 2016. A Concise Geologic Time Scale: 240 pp.Google Scholar
Powell, A.J., 1992. Dinoflagellate cysts of the Tertiary System. In: Powell, A.J., A stratigraphic index of dinoflagellate cysts, 155–272.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sliwinska, K.K., 2019. Early Oligocene dinocysts as a tool for paleoenvironment reconstruction and stratigraphic framework-a case study from a North Sea well. Journal of Micropalaeontology 38: 143–176. DOI: 10.5194/jm-38-143-219.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stover, L.E. & Hardenbol, J., 1994. Dinoflagellates and depositional sequences in the Lower Oligocene (Rupelian) Boom Clay Formation. Belgium. Bulletin Society Belgium Geology 102(1-2): 5–77.Google Scholar
TNO-GDN, 2023. Stratigrafische Nomenclator van Nederland. TNO – Geologische Dienst Nederland. http://www.dinoloket.nl/stratigrafische-nomenclator.Google Scholar
Van Adrichem Boogaert, A.H. & Kouwe, W.F.P. (eds), 1993-1997. Stratigraphic Nomenclature of the Netherlands, revision and update by RGD and NOGEPA, Mededelingen Rijks Geologische Dienst 50, Section I, 39 pp.Google Scholar
Vandenberghe, N., De Craen, M. & Wouters, L., 2014. The boom clay geology from sedimentation to present-day occurrence. A review. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Belgium 60: 78–p.Google Scholar
Vandenberghe, N., Hager, H., van den Bosch, M., Verstraelen, A., Leroi, S., Steurbaut, E., Prüfert, J. & Laga, P, 2001. Stratigraphical Correlation by calibrated well logs in the Rupel Group between North Belgium, the Lower-Rhine area in Germany and Southern Limburg and the achterhoek, in The Netherlands, Aardkundige Mededelingen 11. University Press Leuven: 69–84.Google Scholar
Vandenberghe, N., Harris, W., Wampler, J., Houthuys, R., Louwye, S., Adriaens, R., Vos, K., Lanckacker, T., Matthijs, J., Deckers, J., Verhaegen, J., Laga, P., Westerhoff, W. & Munsterman, D., 2014. The implications of K-Ar glauconite dating of the Diest Formation on the paleogeography of the Upper Miocene in Belgium. Geologica Belgica 17: 161–174.Google Scholar
Vandenberghe, N. & Mertens, J., 2013. Differentiating between tectonic and eustasy signals in the Rupelian Boom Clay cycles (Southern North Sea Basin). Newsletters on Stratigraphy 46(3): 319–337.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vandenberghe, N. & Wouters, L., 2023. Lithostratigraphic Information Sheets Rupel Group. National Commission for Stratigraphy Belgium, proposal for discussion. 43 pp. https://ncs.naturalsciences.be/sites/default/files/Rupel%20Group%20discussion%2020230718.pdf Google Scholar
Van Simaeys, S., Munsterman, D.K. & Brinkhuis, H., 2004. Oligocene dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy of the southern North Sea Basin. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 134(1-2): 105–128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vernes, R.W., Deckers, J., Bakker, M.A.J., Bogemans, F., De Ceukelaire, M., Doornenbal, J.C., den Dulk, M., Dusar, M., Van Haren, T.F.M., Heyvaert, V.M.A., Kiden, P., Kruisselbrink, A.F., Lanckacker, T., Menkovic, A., Meyvis, B., Munsterman, D.K., Reindersma, R., ten Veen, J.H., van de Ven, T.J.M., Walstra, J. & Witmans, N., 2018. Geologisch en hydrogeologisch 3D model van het Cenozoïcum van de Belgisch-Nederlandse grensstreek van Midden-Brabant / De Kempen (H3O – De Kempen). Studie uitgevoerd door VITO, TNO-Geologische Dienst Nederland en de Belgische Geologische Dienst in opdracht van Vlaams Planbureau voor Omgeving, Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij, TNO, Geologische Dienst Nederland, Nederlandse Provincie Noord-Brabant, Brabant Water, Programmabureau KRW/DHZ Maasregio.Google Scholar
Vernes, R.W., Deckers, J., Walstra, J., Kruisselbrink, A.F., Menkovic, A., Bogemans, F., De Ceukelaire, M., Dirix, K., Dusar, M., Hummelman, H.J., Maes, R., Meyvis, B., Munsterman, D.K., Reindersma, R., Rombaut, B., Van Baelen, K., Van de Ven, T.J.M., Van Haren, T. & Welkenhuysen, K., 2023. Geologisch en hydrogeologisch 3D model van het Cenozoïcum van de Belgisch-Nederlandse grensstreek van De Noorderkempen/West-Brabant (H3O-De Voorkempen), TNO-rapport 2023 R10347, VITO-rapport 2023/RMA/R/2906, BGD-rapport 2023/02, 156 pp.Google Scholar
Vis, G.J., Verweij, J.M. & Koenen, M., 2016. The Rupel Clay Member in the Netherlands; towards a better understanding of its depositional environment. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 95(3): 221–251. DOI: 10.1017/njg.2016.25.
Published
2024-05-13
How to Cite
Munsterman , D. K., & Deckers , J. (2024). Cross-border correlations showing diachronous lithostratigraphic units in the southeastern North Sea Basin during the Early Oligocene (middle-late Rupelian). Netherlands Journal of Geosciences, 103. https://doi.org/10.1017/njg.2024.10
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