Stratigraphic correlation of the Vlieland and Delfland units in the Dutch offshore, based on palynology

Abstract

A palynostratigraphic examination of the Early Cretaceous Vlieland and Delfland units was undertaken. The Vlieland Sandstone and the overlying Vlieland Shale in all locations contained among others, the dinoflagellates Broomea/Batioladinium, Spiniferites dentatus, Hystrichodinium furcatum and Lithodinia pertusa. Furthermore, recycled Triassic taxa were found in the Vlieland Sandstone in the southwestern portion of the study area. The underlying Delfland sediments usually exhibited a typical Early Cretaceous, probably Valanginian, terrestrial palynoflora. The P/6-2 well was, however, anomalous in that it contained an extremely thick shale sequence exhibiting such Early Cretaceous dinoflagellates as Subtilisphaera.