Stratigraphic discriminatory potential of heavy mineral analysis for the Neogene sediments of Belgium

• Published in: Geologica Belgica Vol. 23; no. 3-4; pp. 379 - 398
• Main Author: VERHAEGEN, Jasper
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Université de Liège 01.01.2020
• Subjects: Campine Basin; grain size; heavy mineral composition; Miocene; Pliocene; stratigraphy
• ISSN: 1374-8505; 2034-1954
• DOI: 10.20341/gb.2020.003

The Neogene units of Belgium cannot always be easily distinguished based on visual inspection and correlation across the basin is not straightforward. To aid in the stratigraphic interpretation of units, the discriminatory potential of heavy minerals has been determined. In this study, heavy mineral composition is combined with grain size analysis, providing information on the bulk sediment. Based on heavy mineral composition important interpretations could be made, such as (1) a different provenance between the Dessel Member and the Hageland Diest sand, making it improbable that they were deposited at the same time, (2) the Kasterlee-sensu-Gulinck unit of the eastern Antwerp Campine should be redefined as a lower Mol Formation unit or as a lateral equivalent of the typical Kasterlee Formation to the west, affected strongly by southern continental sediment input, and (3) the Waubach Member in the Ruhr Valley Graben should be split into two separate units, with the upper unit correlated with the Mol Formation and the lower unit, possibly the Inden Formation, correlated with the Diest Formation and Kasterlee Formation. The ‘X’ unit of the Maaseik core is likely a local transitional unit which cannot be directly correlated with a unit in the Campine Basin.