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VU Research Portal Stratigraphy and sedimentary evolution Westerhoff, W.E. 2009 document version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Link to publication in VU Research Portal citation for published version (APA) Westerhoff, W. E. (2009). Stratigraphy and sedimentary evolution: The lower Rhine-Meuse system during the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene (southern North Sea Basin). TNO Built Environment and Geosciences. 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Sep. 2021 2 A revised lithostratigraphy of Upper Pliocene and Lower Pleistocene fluvial deposits from Rhine, Meuse and Belgian rivers in the Netherlands W.E. Westerhoff, A. Menkovic & F.D. de Lang This paper will be published in a special issue of Netherlands Journal of Geosciences on the Upper Tertiary and Quaternary lithostratigraphy of the Netherlands. Scheduled for 2009. Abstract A thorough revision is presented of the lithostratigraphical units of Upper Pliocene and Lower Pleistocene fluvial deposits in the south- eastern part of the Netherlands. Two new formations are defined: 1 The Waalre Formation includes all mixed Rhine-Meuse deposits. The heavy-mineral composition is characterised by predominantly unstable associations. 2 The Stramproy Formation includes all deposits that are formed by northward flowing rivers that drained the central and northern part of Belgium. The heavy-mineral composition is dominantly stable. Their lower and upper boundaries are formed by regionally extensive and marked stratigraphical horizons like the Reuver Bed at the top North Sea of the Kieseloolite Formation, and the unconformity at the base of the Sterksel Formation. The Waalre Formation is subdivided into three (informal) subunits of which the lower one (WA-1) forms an equivalent of the Late Pliocene Oebel Beds in Germany. The middle subunit (WA-2) mainly occurs in the northern part of the Roer Valley Graben and grades laterally into the shallow marine deposits of the Maassluis Formation. The upper subunit (WA-3) extends over the central and western part of the Netherlands into the present North Sea. Sediments supplied by the Belgian rivers provided infilling of the (remaining) accommodation space in the Roer Valley Graben and Amsterdam adjacent areas after the abandonment of the Rhine-Meuse system from these areas. Both formations occur at least for a part adjacent 3’ Zegveld to each other and show repeated intercalations as a result of the combined effect of tectonic movements and climate change. The revised lithostratigraphic units are defined strictly by lithology and stratigraphic superposition and therefore provide a firm Den Haag framework for the development of 3-dimensional (numerical) geological models and palaeogeographical reconstructions. Utrecht Rotterdam 2.1 Introduction intermingled with bio- and chronostratigraphic criteria. Peel Boundary fault Gilze Rijen fault Sedimentary sequences and ages of rocks formed the initial As a result a justified lithostratigraphical assignment often 1’ Northern Roer Valley issues studied by stratigraphers. The evolution of stratigraphy has to be carried out with help of microscopic techniques. Venlo Block has gradually included other aspects such as: morphology, Initially, lithology formed a main criterion to make distinction Graben lithology, fossil content, geophysical and geochemical between rock units. However, the palaeontological subdivision Krefelder Block properties. As a consequence stratigraphy now can comprise of the Pleistocene (Van der Vlerk & Florschütz, 1953; 49G0204 Huijbergen Peel Block all kinds of characteristics and attributes of rocks units. Zagwijn, 1957) and palaeogeographical reconstructions Eindhoven Venlo 3 Rhine However, the core-business of stratigraphy (i.e. the logical (Zonneveld, 1958) determined strongly the concepts of the 51D0343 2’ Tegelen ordering of rock units) still is focused on bio-, chrono-, and geomorphological and depositional architecture (Zagwijn, lithostratigraphy. Lithostratigraphy thereby is seen as the 1963b Roer Valley Graben ). As a consequence the latter aspects provided an 2 Southern basic step in stratigraphic research. It provides a framework increasing influence on the lithostratigraphical classification. 57H0058 1 Köln Feldbiss Faultzone LRE for all kinds of geoscientific studies, especially for geological The intermingling of various criteria eventually has led to Scheldt Kölner Block mapping and subsurface modelling (Weerts & Westerhoff, restricted possibilities for use of the lithostratigraphical 2006). units thus defined in digitally designed numerical subsurface models that can be used in applied geoscientific research. Jülich Ruhr ScholleErft Block This paper focuses on a pure lithostratigraphical approach Maastricht for the Upper Pliocene1 and Lower Pleistocene fluvial According to the lithostratigraphical scheme of Doppert et Aachen deposits in the southern part of the Netherlands (Fig. 2.1). al. (1975) the Upper Pliocene and Lower Pleistocene fluvial These deposits have been studied already for more than deposits are assigned to three superimposed lithostratigraphic Rhenish Massif Meuse a century (see overview of References by Meijer, 1998). formations (Fig. 2.2). The lowest comprises all Pliocene Based on their fossil content (small and large mammals, fluvial deposits and was assigned as Kieseloolite Formation. Main depositional direction of Pliocene and Quaternary fluvial systems 0 25 50 km plant macro remains, and pollen) they have played a The middle unit is known as Tegelen Formation, a mixed Major fault Site mentioned in text central role in the establishment of the Quaternary (litho) Rhine-Meuse deposit with an assumed (pre)Tiglian to Early stratigraphic framework of the Netherlands (Zagwijn, 1960, Eburonian age. The third unit is termed the Kedichem Other fault Borehole 51D0343, holostratotype Waalre Fm., a 1963 ; Doppert et al., 1975). However, due to the initial Formation. It overlies the Tegelen Formation and therefore 1 1’ Cross-section see figure 2.4 interest in the palaeontological content of the deposits comprises all fluvial (mixed Rhine-Meuse and Belgian rivers) Belgian rivers Borehole 49G0204, and an overestimated impact of climate change on them, and local deposits that post-date the Tiglian Stage. hypostratotype Waalre Fm., the lithostratigraphic subdivision of the Lower Pleistocene Meuse see figure 2.5 Rhine Borehole 57H0058, fluvial deposits (cf. Doppert et al., 1975) became strongly Figure 2.1. Tectonic setting of the study area and depositional holostratotype Stramproy Fm., direction of main fluvial systems during the Late Pliocene and Eridanos ('eastern' rivers see figure 2.7 originating in the Baltic area) Early Pleistocene. 1 The terms Pliocene and Pleistocene are used here according to the ICS-timetable 2008 where the base of the Pleistocene Series is indicated as identical to the base of the Gelasian Stage at 2.588 Ma (ICS-2008. www.stratigraphy.org). 20 21 behind the two previously defined Tegelen and Kedichem on these marine deposits might probably contribute to a Vlerk & Florschütz, 1953; Pannekoek, 1956). These continental Heavy-mineral Main characteristics Lithostratigraphy Formations have changed considerably and therefore we better understanding of the palaeogeography and ages of the ‘Praetegelen’ deposits were correlated with the marine composition of fluvial deposits cf. Doppert et al., also have replaced the original names of these formations deposits in this part of the Lower Pleistocene sedimentary Amstelian, a stage typified by a mollusc assemblage indicative 1975 (Salvador 1994; Walsh, 2005). Instead, two new formations record. of cool climatic conditions. The overlying marine deposits are introduced: belonged to the Icenian Stage. Tesch made no distinction on Stratigraphy Fluvial deposits of Rhine & Sterksel Meuse with Rhine-dominated Formation • The Waalre Formation describes mixed Rhine-Meuse 2.3 Brief review of former stratigraphical approaches the basis of the origin of the fluvial deposits. unstable heavy-mineral association deposits formed during the Late Pliocene and Early The history of Pliocene and Lower Pleistocene stratigraphic Pleistocene. The deposits are dominated by unstable research of the fluvial record in the southern part of the 2.3.2 The sediment-petrographical approach (2) (‘Rhine’) heavy-mineral associations. Netherlands shows four main types of approaches. However, it The stratigraphical approach based on the petrographical Mid Pleistocene • The Stramproy Formation encompasses deposits that are should be understood that they did not develop independently composition and provenance of sediments (Edelman, 1933, 1938; Baak, 1936) has proven to be a powerful tool for the 3 Fluvial deposits