Permian - Triassic – Jurassic lithostratigraphic units in the Campine basin and the Roer Valley Graben (NE Belgium)

Abstract

Permian to Lower Jurassic strata, deposited between Variscan and Cimmerian deformation phases, subcrop in the northeastern Campine basin and Roer Valley Graben (NE Belgium). Total preserved thickness attains 550 m (of which 520 m drilled) in the Campine basin and ca. 1500 m (of which 1250 m drilled) in the Roer Valley Graben. Discovery of these concealed deposits is due to coal exploration of the Campine basin; further interest is linked to their potential for energy production or storage. Permo-Triassic sediments displaying Germanic facies were deposited on the southern margin of the Southern Permian Basin; Pangaea break-up associated with opening of the North Atlantic created conditions for deposition of the fully marine Jurassic sediments. Therefore, the stratigraphical succession in northeastern Belgium is closely related to the Dutch stratigraphical nomenclature.