Holland Formation

Code
KNGL
Status
Formal (NAM & RGD 1980).
Lithological description

Sequence of grey and red-brown marls and marly claystones, locally with fairly thin intercalations of bituminous shale or thicker incursions of greensands.

Depositional setting

Moderately- to fairly deep-marine setting (middle- to outer-neritic), where fines and bioclastic carbonates settled. Bituminous deposits indicate periods of stagnant basin-floor circulation. Occasional thin sand layers were deposited during storms. The presence of abundant glauconite indicates intense winnowing.

Definition of lower boundary

Overlies the Vlieland Claystone Formation (in the West Netherlands Basin the De Lier Member of the Vlieland Sandstone Formation). This boundary marks a slight but distinct regional unconformity. In more elevated areas the formation rests unconformably on the Vlieland Sandstone Formation, Niedersachen, Altena or Upper Germanic Trias groups, starting with a basal claystone or greensand bed.

Definition of upper boundary

Often unconformable as a consequence of inversion. If not, the Texel Formation overlies the Holland Formation.

Thickness indication
100 - 500 m.
Geographical distribution
Regional correlation
UK: Cromer Knoll Group & Rødby Formation; GER: ~Minden-Braunschweig-Gruppe; BEL: Hainaut Group.
Age
Aptian - Albian boundary.
Holostratotype
Depth (thickness) AH:
2295 - 2403 m (108 m)
Parastratotype
Depth (thickness) AH:
1127 - 1580 m (453 m)
Origin of name
Named after the Dutch province of Zuid-Holland.
Previous name(s)
None.
Reviewed by (date)
Sander Houben (2017).
References
NAM & RGD 1980. Stratigraphic nomenclature of The Netherlands. Verhandelingen van het Koninklijk Nederlands Geologisch Mijnbouwkundig Genootschap 32, 77 p.
Cite as
TNO-GDN ([YEAR]). Holland Formation. In: Stratigraphic Nomenclature of the Netherlands, TNO – Geological Survey of the Netherlands. Accessed on [DATE] from http://acc.dinoloket.nl/en/stratigraphic-nomenclature/holland-formation.