Kortrijk Formation

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Kortrijk Formation
Stratigraphic range: Ypresian
~54  Ma
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Type Geological formation
Unit of Ieper Group
Sub-unitsMont Héribu Member
Orchies or Saint-Maur Member
Moen or Roubaix Member
Aalbeke Member
Underlies Tielt Formation
Overlies Landen Group
  Tienen & Hannut Formations
Thicknessup to 125 m (410 ft)
Lithology
PrimaryMarine claystone
Location
Region Hainaut, West Flanders, East Flanders & Walloon Brabant
CountryFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Extent Campine Basin
Type section
Named for Kortrijk
Region West Flanders

The Kortrijk Formation (Dutch : Formatie van Kortrijk; French : Formation de Courtrai; abbreviation: Ko; named after the West Flemish city of Kortrijk) is a geologic formation in the Belgian subsurface. This formation crops out in northern Hainaut, southern West and East Flanders and in Walloon Brabant. The formation consists of marine clay from the Ypresian age (early Eocene, about 54 million years old). [1] [2]

Contents

Description

The Kortrijk Formation consists predominantly of clay, sometimes sandy or silty. The formation generally becomes sandier to the east, in Brabant and the Campine area. In some places fossils or bioturbation occur. In the westernmost part of Belgium it can be 125 metres (410 ft) thick, but it gradually wedges out to the east. [2]

Subdivision

The Kortrijk Formation is subdivided into at least four members: the Mont Héribou, Orchies or Saint-Maur, Moen or Roubaix and the Aalbeke Member. The Kortrijk Formation forms the lowest part of the Ieper Group and is stratigraphically overlain by the younger Tielt Formation (late Ypresian marine sand), part of the same group. The Kortrijk Formation lies on top of late Paleocene formations like the Tienen Formation or Hannut Formation, both part of the Landen Group. [1] [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Ypresian First age of the Eocene Epoch

In the geologic timescale the Ypresian is the oldest age or lowest stratigraphic stage of the Eocene. It spans the time between 56 and47.8 Ma, is preceded by the Thanetian age and is followed by the Eocene Lutetian age. The Ypresian is consistent with the lower Eocene.

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The Heers Formation is a geologic formation in the subsurface of Belgium. The formation consists of sand and marl and was deposited in the shallow sea that covered Belgium during the middle to late Selandian age of the Paleocene epoch.

The Landen Group is a lithostratigraphic unit in the Belgian subsurface. The group consists of two formations of Thanetian to Ypresian age. The Landen Group is named after the town of Landen in Flemish Brabant.

The Tienen Formation is a geologic formation in the subsurface of northern Belgium. The formation crops out in the province of Hainaut and the Hesbaye region in the province of Limburg. It has a late Thanetian (Paleocene) to early Ypresian (Eocene) age.

Ieper Group

The Ieper Group is a group of rock strata in the subsurface of northwest Belgium. The group is subdivided into three marine formations, all formed during the Ypresian, a single age of the geologic timescale. Both age and group are named after the West Flemish town of Ypres, for which the Dutch name is "Ieper".

The Dongen Formation is a geologic formation in the subsurface of the Netherlands. The formation consists of early Eocene marine clay and sand. It is named after the town of Dongen in North Brabant.

The Rupel Group is a stratigraphic group of rock strata in the subsurface of Belgium. It is subdivided into three formations that are all marine deposits of Oligocene age.

The Zenne Group is a group of rock strata in the subsurface of central and northwest Belgium. The group consists of three formations, all from the Ypresian and Lutetian ages. These formation have their shallow marine facies in common.

The Aalter Formation is a geologic formation in the subsurface of northwest Belgium. The formation consists of marine clay and sand, deposited in the shallow sea that covered northern and central Belgium in the Eocene epoch.

The Gentbrugge Formation is a geologic formation in the west of Belgium. The formation crops out in East Flanders and West Flanders and also occurs in the subsurface of the Province of Antwerp. It consists of marine clay, silt and sand, deposited in the shallow sea that covered northern Belgium during the Ypresian age.

The Tielt Formation is a geologic formation in the subsurface of Belgium. The formation crops out in the north of Hainaut, in the southern and central parts of West- and East Flanders and in Walloon and Flemish Brabant. It consists of marine very fine sand and silt, deposited in the shallow sea that covered Belgium during the middle and late Ypresian age.

The Voort Formation or Voort Member is a stratigraphic unit in the subsurface of north Belgium and the south of the Netherlands. The unit has the status of a formation in Belgium but is seen as a member of the Veldhoven Formation in the Netherlands. The Voort Formation consists of shallow marine sands with a late Oligocene age.

The Maldegem Formation is a geologic formation in the Belgian subsurface. The formation consists of alternating marine clay and sand strata, deposited during the late Eocene.

The Brussel Formation is a geologic formation in the subsurface of central Belgium. The formation is named after the Belgian capital, Brussels. It consists of shallow marine sandstone and calcareous sands, deposited in the sea that covered Belgium 45 million years ago, in the Eocene.

The Lede Formation is a geologic formation in the subsurface of Belgium. The formation is named after the town of Lede in East Flanders. It consists of shallow-marine limestone and sandstone, deposited in the former sea that covered Belgium during the Eocene.

The Tongeren Group is a lithostratigraphic unit in the subsurface of Belgium. It consists of shallow marine, epicontinental and/or continental clays and sands from the late Eocene to early Oligocene epochs.

References

  1. 1 2 Steurbaut, 2006, p.76
  2. 1 2 3 Kortrijk Formation - National Commission on the Stratigraphy of Belgium

Bibliography