Brussels Sand Member

Code
NLDOBR
Status
Formal (NAM & RGD 1980). Amended (Van Adrichem Boogaert & Kouwe 1997).
Lithological description

Succession of green-grey, glauconitic, very fine-grained sand with, mainly in the upper part, a number of hard, calcareous sandstone layers of some decimetres thickness (leading to high-resistivity peaks). Towards the base of the unit the clay content increases, and the calcium carbonate content and amount of glauconite decreases. A minor amount of mica occurs. Farther from the palaeo-coastline the member becomes silty and marly. The upper part with the cemented, calcareous sandstone layers is very rich in fossil fragments, especially in the Achterhoek and Twente: abundant Nummulites, shells (including Pecten) and Echinodermata, indicating a near-shore environment.

Depositional setting

Marine. Deposited in inner-neritic to near-shore environment. In general, the water depth appears to be shallowing upwards, with a possible exception for the uppermost part of the unit.

Definition of lower boundary

Variable in nature. Regionally it is an unambiguous boundary between the clay of the Ieper Member and the overlying sand. However, in many places the boundary is gradual and complex in nature, because different parts of the succession are missing locally as a result of several phases of erosion and/or non-deposition.

Definition of upper boundary

Contact with the overlying Asse Member is formed by the clear transition from sand to clay. Over large areas, the Brussels Sand Member has been eroded and is overlain by younger deposits.

Thickness indication
Up to 170 m.
Geographical distribution
Regional correlation
UK: ?; GER: ?; BEL: ?
Age
early Eocene - middle Eocene (Ypresian - Lutetian).
Holostratotype
Depth (thickness) AH:
735 - 844 m AH (109 m)
Origin of name
The name refers to the capital of Belgium, Brussels, and to the prevailing lithology.
Previous name(s)
None.
Reviewed by (date)
Geert-Jan Vis (2019).
References
Maréchal, R., Laga, P. (eds.) 1988. Voorstel lithostratigrafische indeling van het Paleogeen - Nationale Commissies voor Stratigrafie. Commissie: Tertiair, Belgische Geologische Dienst, Brussel, 208 p.
NAM & RGD 1980. Stratigraphic nomenclature of The Netherlands. Verhandelingen van het Koninklijk Nederlands Geologisch Mijnbouwkundig Genootschap 32, 77 p.
Van Adrichem Boogaert, H.A. & Kouwe, W.F.P. 1997. Stratigraphic nomenclature of The Netherlands, revision and update by RGD and NOGEPA, Section I, Tertiary. Mededelingen Rijks Geologische Dienst, 50, 1-39.
Cite as
TNO-GDN ([YEAR]). Brussels Sand Member. In: Stratigraphic Nomenclature of the Netherlands, TNO – Geological Survey of the Netherlands. Accessed on [DATE] from https://www.dinoloket.nl/en/stratigraphic-nomenclature/brussels-sand-member.