Maurits Formation

Code
DCCU
Status
Formal (Van Adrichem Boogaert & Kouwe 1995).
Lithological description

Succession of mainly light-grey mudstones with relatively frequent intercalations of coal seams and subordinate intercalations of grey and buff, (sub-)angular, poorly- to moderately-sorted, very fine- to coarse-grained, argillaceous sandstones. Combined fining- and coarsening-upward trends are observed. Some dark-grey mudstone intervals contain brackish-water fossil assemblages.
On wire-line logs the formation stands out by its relatively smooth GR-log pattern, combined with highly serrate patterns in other logs. Coals seams can be recognized by spikes of low acoustic velocity and low density with a high resistivity.

Depositional setting

Predominantly lacustrine setting with intermittent swamp and fluvial-plain (meandering and anastomosing fluvial systems) conditions and rare marine incursions.

Definition of lower boundary

Conformably on the Klaverbank or the Ruurlo Formation. The contact is characterised by an abrupt upward increase in clay and coal-seam content. This level marks the top of the overall coarsening-upward trend in the lower part of the Limburg Group. In the onshore, this boundary can be somewhat difficult to discern because of the argillaceous, locally coal-rich nature of the underlying Ruurlo Formation.

Definition of upper boundary

Practically all formations of the Limburg Group can be overlain unconformably by the Lower Rotliegend Group, Upper Rotliegend Group, Zechstein Group, Rijnland Group, or Chalk Group. In the specific unit definitions these truncated situations will not be mentioned separately. Over large areas, late-diagenetic reddening has penetrated several tens of metres into the top of the Limburg Group. If a reddened interval of the Limburg Group is covered unconformably by a younger red-bed unit, the exact boundary can be difficult to pick.

Thickness indication
Up to 301 m.
Geographical distribution
Regional correlation
UK: Westoe Coal Formation & Schooner Formation; GER: Horst, Dorsten & Lembeck Formations; BEL: Charleroi and Flénu Formations.
Age
latest Bashkirian - Moscovian.
Holostratotype
Depth (thickness) AH:
3773 - 3950 m (177 m)
Parastratotype
Depth (thickness) AH:
994 - 1373 m (379 m)
Parastratotype
Depth (thickness) AH:
498 - 1598 m (1100 m)
Parastratotype
Depth (thickness) AH:
3023 - 3117 m (94 m)
Parastratotype
Depth (thickness) AH:
3887 - 4127 m (240 m)
Origin of name
Named after the former colliery Maurits in the south of the province of Limburg. In the coal-mining nomenclature this name referred to the Upper Westphalian B.
Previous name(s)
This unit corresponds to the former coal-mining groups Maurits (Upper Westphalian B) and Jabeek (Lower Westphalian C). It comprises the upper part of the Productive Measures (DCCP) of NAM & RGD (1980). For areas outside the eastern Netherlands and southern Limburg, NAM & RGD (1980) proposed no subdivision of the upper part of the Limburg Group. The name Coal Measures (DCCM) was used in those areas.
Reviewed by (date)
Tom van Hoof (2017).
References
NAM & RGD 1980. Stratigraphic nomenclature of The Netherlands. Verhandelingen van het Koninklijk Nederlands Geologisch Mijnbouwkundig Genootschap 32, 77 p.
Van Adrichem Boogaert, H.A. & Kouwe, W.F.P. 1995. Stratigraphic nomenclature of The Netherlands, revision and update by RGD and NOGEPA, Section C, Silesian. Mededelingen Rijks Geologische Dienst, 50, 1-40.
Cite as
TNO-GDN ([YEAR]). Maurits Formation. In: Stratigraphic Nomenclature of the Netherlands, TNO – Geological Survey of the Netherlands. Accessed on [DATE] from http://acc.dinoloket.nl/en/stratigraphic-nomenclature/maurits-formation.