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- volume 13 (2010)
- number 3
- Stratigraphy of an Early–Middle Miocene sequence near Antwerp in northern Belgium (southern North Sea basin)
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Stratigraphy of an Early–Middle Miocene sequence near Antwerp in northern Belgium (southern North Sea basin)
Abstract
The lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy of a temporary outcrop in the Antwerp area is described. The deposits can be attributed to the Kiel Sands and the Antwerpen Sands members, both belonging to the Lower and Middle Miocene Berchem Formation. Invertebrate and vertebrate macrofossils are abundantly present. The molluscan fauna compares well to former findings in the Antwerpen Sands Member. It can be concluded that the studied sequence is continuously present in the Antwerp area, and thickens in a northward direction. The study of the marine mammal fauna shows that eurhinodelphinids are the most common fossil odontocete (toothed-bearing cetaceans) in the Antwerpen Sands Member, associated here with kentriodontine, physeteroid, squalodontid, mysticete (baleen whales) and pinniped (seals) fragmentary remains. Both the molluscan fauna and the organic-walled palynomorphs indicate for the Antwerpen Sands Member deposition in a neritic, energetic environment, which shallowed upwards. The dinoflagellate cysts indicate that the Antwerpen Sands Member was deposited during late Burdigalian to Langhian times.
Antwerpen Sands, Mollusca, Odontoceti, Mysticeti, Pinnipedia, dinoflagellate cysts.
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A propos de : Stephen LOUWYE
Research Unit Palaeontology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281/S8, 9000 Gent, Belgium. E-mail: stephen.louwye@ugent.be
A propos de : Robert MARQUET
Palaeontology Department, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, 1000 Brussels. E-mail: robert.marquet@HUBrussel.be
A propos de : Mark BOSSELAERS
Lode Van Berckenlaan 90, 2600 Berchem, Belgium. E-mail: mark.bosselaers@telenet.be
A propos de : Olivier LAMBERT
Département de Paléontologie, Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique, rue Vautier 29, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. Present address: Département Histoire de la Terre, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, rue Buffon 8, 75005, Paris, France. E-mail: olambert@mnhn.fr