Houthem Formation - Stratigraphy

Stratigraphy

Dutch stratigraphers see the Houthem Formation as the youngest formation of the Chalk Group, because it has a similar lithology with the older formations in this group. Belgian stratigraphers see it as part of the Hesbaye Group, which contains Paleocene formations.

The base of the Houthem Formation is in the Vroenhoven Horizon, probably the Dutch and Belgian equivalent of the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary (K–T boundary). Below the Houthem Formation is the Late Cretaceous Maastricht Formation. In the Campine Basin the Houthem Formation is overlain by the Paleocene Opglabbeek Formation (clay and sand) and the Heers Formation (marl).

• Bless, M.J.M.; Dusar, M.; Felder, P.J. & Swennen, R.; 1993: Lithology and biostatigraphy of Upper Cretaceous-Paleocene carbonates in the Molenbeersel borehole (NE Belgium), Geologie en Mijnbouw 71, pp. 239-257.
• Laga, P.; Louwye, S. & Geets, S.; 2001: Paleogene and Neogene lithostratigraphic units (Belgium), Geologica Belgica 4, pp. 135-152.
• Felder, W.M.; 1975: Lithostratigrafie van het Boven-Krijt en het Dano-Montien in Zuid-Limburg en het aangrenzende gebied, in: Toelichting bij de geologische overzichtskaarten van Nederland, Rijks Geologische Dienst, Haarlem, pp. 63-72.
• Romein, B.J.; 1962: On the type locality of the Maastrichtian (Dumont, 1849), the upper boundary of that stage and on the transgression of a Maastrichtian s.l. in Southern Limburg, Mededelingen Geologische Stichting, nieuwe serie 15, pp. 77-84.