Gentbrugge Formation


The Gentbrugge Formation is a geologic formation in the west of Belgium. The formation crops out in East Flanders and West Flanders and also occurs in the subsurface of the Province of Antwerp. It consists of marine clay, silt and sand, deposited in the shallow sea that covered northern Belgium during the Ypresian age.

Description

The Gentbrugge Formation reaches its greatest thickness in the north of Belgium, where it can be maximally thick. It is subdivided into three members. The base of the formation is formed by silty clay and clayey silt. On top of this are laminae of silt and beds of very fine sand, disturbed by bioturbation. The sands can have horizontal bedding as well as cross bedding, and are often lithified into sandstone.

Stratigraphy

The Gentbrugge Formation is part of the Ieper Group and is stratigraphically on top of the older Mons-en-Pévèle Formation, another formation of the same group. On top of the Gentbrugge Formation are deposits of the Lutetian Zenne Group. In the north of Belgium this is often the Aalter Formation. In the south the Aalter Formation often lacks and the younger Brussels Formation and Lede Formation can be found directly on top of the Gentbrugge Formation.