The Geological Foundation of the Netherlands: The early Carboniferous, Devonian and older
bookPart
This chapter addresses the geological development of the Netherlands and its immediate surroundings during the older portion of the Paleozoic (Cambrian to early Carboniferous, 538-323 Ma). During this period northwestern Europe experienced two major phases of mountain building: the Caledonian and the Variscan phases. These laid the foundations for the geology of the Netherlands. The Caledonian phase is associated with the progressive closure of the Iapetus Ocean between Laurentia to the northwest and Baltica and Avalonia to the southeast and south, respectively. Although classically considered as a Caledonian phase, the Brabantian Deformation event is related to the progressive closure of the Rheic Ocean which existed south of Avalonia. This is represented by an angular unconformity surrounding the ancient Brabant Massif (Belgium). This unconformity separates deformed Silurian and older, (very) low-grade metamorphic units from overlying relatively undeformed non metamorphic Middle Devonian deposits. The continued northward migration of microplates originating from Gondwana ultimately closed the Rheic Ocean, and formed the Variscan Mountains and foreland basin during the Carboniferous. It is against this backdrop that the mainly Middle Devonian to lower Carboniferous sedimentary succession of the Netherlands accumulated along the northern edge of the Rhenohercynian sea. Borehole and seismic data of this succession are still very scarce. However, over the last decade several research initiatives provided valuable new insights in this fundamental episode in the geological history of the region.
Topics
TNO Identifier
1013567
Publisher
Amsterdam Universityy Press
Source title
Geology of the Netherlands
Pages
53-93