Downloads and links

This page contains downloads of distribution polygons and scientific literature, and links to websites with additional information.

ArcGIS shapefiles of distribution polygons

The distribution polygons (ArcGIS shapefiles) of all units contained in the Stratigraphic Nomenclature of the Netherlands can be downloaded here as ZIP-file. The files are bundled as downloadable packages per stratigraphic group.

The shapefiles have coordinates following European Datum 1950, UTM Zone 31N. Updates of distribution polygons will be made available here as well.

Polygons for units of the North Sea Supergroup (NU, NM, NL)

The polygons provide a nationwide illustration of the spatial distribution of the units and are therefore only to be used to obtain a general idea of the distribution of a unit. The polygons were made by combining the distribution of the lithostratigraphic unit from the GeoTOP, DGM and DGM Deep models. If needed, the presence and absence of a unit in boreholes were used to modify the spatial distribution. Additional knowledge from previous and ongoing mapping projects is incorporated where possible and sometimes overrules current stratigraphic interpretations in our database.

NU - Upper North Sea Group NM - Middle North Sea Group NL - Lower North Sea Group
 
 
Polygons for units older than the North Sea Supergroup

The polygons provide a nationwide illustration of the spatial distribution of the units and are therefore only to be used to obtain a general idea of the distribution of a unit. The polygons were been made by using the depth map of the base of the associated lithostratigraphic group from the DGM Deep model as a starting point. Presence and absence of a unit in boreholes were used to modify the spatial distribution. Additional knowledge from previous and ongoing mapping projects is incorporated where possible and sometimes overrules current stratigraphic interpretations in our database.

CK - Chalk Group RN - Upper Germanic Trias Group CL - Carboniferous Limestone Group
KN - Rijnland Group RB - Lower Germanic Trias Group CF - Farne Group
SK - Niedersachsen Group ZE - Zechstein Groep OB - Banjaard groep
SG - Scruff Group RO - Upper Rotliegend Group OR - Old Red Group
SL - Schieland Group RV - Lower Rotliegend Group OS - Silurian (no polygons)
AT - Altena Group DC - Limburg Group XX - Igneous rock

 

Scientific publications on stratigraphy of the Dutch subsurface

A collection of literature on the geology of the Netherlands and its surroundings in a broad sense is maintained in a RefWorks database.

Literature in support of the Stratigraphic Nomenclature:

  • Revised Upper Cenozoic stratigraphy of the Dutch sector of the North Sea Basin: towards an integrated lithostratigraphic, seismostratigraphic and allostratigraphic approach (Rijsdijk et al. 2005);
  • Revision and update of the Callovian-Ryazanian Stratigraphic Nomenclature in the northern Dutch offshore, i.e. Central Graben Subgroup and Scruff Group (Munsterman et al. 2012);
  • An updated and revised stratigraphic framework for the Miocene and earliest Pliocene strata of the Ruhr Valley Graben and adjacent blocks (Munsterman et al. 2019).

Nomenclature of Earth Science Terms by the Royal Dutch Society for Earth Sciences (KNGMG)

The KNGMG's five-language Nomenclature from 1980 can be downloaded from the Society's website.

The first edition of this nomenclature dates from 1929. The nomenclature was a great success and contained about 4000 terms. The main language was Dutch with a translation into English, French and German. In 1959, the second edition was published with the main reason that many new terms and geological insights were introduced in the intervening period. The main language was changed to English with a translation into Dutch, French and German. The number of terms increased to 5500. In 1980 the third edition was published. The main language was not changed, but a translation into Spanish was added. The number of terms increased to over 10,000.

Stratigraphic nomenclature of other European countries

International Commission on Stratigraphy

The International Commission on Stratigraphy is the largest and oldest constituent scientific body in the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). Its primary objective is to precisely define global units (systems, series, and stages) of the International Chronostratigraphic Chart that, in turn, are the basis for the units (periods, epochs, and age) of the International Geologic Time Scale; thus setting global standards for the fundamental scale for expressing the history of the Earth.

The International Chronostratigraphic Chart can be found on the ICS website.