An introduction to the Neogene stratigraphy of northern Belgium: present status

Abstract

This Neogene-2020 volume presents elaborate reviews of our current understanding of Miocene and Pliocene deposits in Northern Belgium supported by new data. The review includes the latest research results notably from important field studies. This review volume should allow future progress in stratigraphic and palaeogeographic correlations of the Belgian Neogene with that of neighbouring countries. For this occasion, the Neogene databases of the Geological Survey of Belgium (GSB) and of the Flemish Community Databank Ondergrond Vlaanderen (DOV) are updated. Hence, reference to boreholes in these databases is made by their GSB and DOV code between brackets at the first mention of a borehole name in each paper. The IUGS definition is followed for the Neogene as the System/Period containing Miocene and Pliocene Series/Epochs having its upper boundary with the overlying Quaternary System/Period between the Piazencian and Gelasian Stages/Ages at 2.58 Ma (ICS chart, 2020). Historical developments in the understanding the Neogene of northern Belgium The present volume is intended as a step in the sequence of research efforts on Neogene deposits in northern Belgium that took off already at the end of the 19th century and resulted in a set of good quality geological maps. On these 1:40 000 geological maps made at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the Miocene and the Pliocene deposits were identified and classified as ‘Poederlien’, ‘Scaldisien’, ‘Diestien’ and ‘Boldérien’ stages