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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1995; v. 82; p. 215-232;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1995.082.01.15
© 1995 Geological Society of London

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Overview of the influence of syn-sedimentary tectonics and palaeo-fluvial systems on coal seam and sand body characteristics in the Westphalian C strata, Campine Basin, Belgium

Roland Dreesen1, Dominique Bossiroy1, Michiel Dusar2, Romeo M. Flores3 & Paul Verkaeren4

1 Institut Scientifique de Service Public, 200 Rue du Chéra, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
2 Belgian Geological Survey, 13 Jennerstraat, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium
3 US Geological Survey, Federal Center, Branch of Coal Geology, Denver, CO 80225, USA
4 NV Kempense Steenkolenmijnen, Aardkundige Dienst, 351 Koolmijnlaan, B-3540 Heusden-Zolder, Belgium

The Westphalian C strata found in the northeastern part of the former Belgian coal district (Campine Basin), which is part of an extensive northwest European paralic coal basin, are considered. The thickness and lateral continuity of the Westphalian C coal seams vary considerably stratigraphically and areally. Sedimentological facies analysis of borehole cores indicates that the deposition of Westphalian C coal-bearing strata was controlled by fluvial depositional systems whose architectures were ruled by local subsidence rates. The local subsidence rates may be related to major faults, which were intermittently reactivated during deposition. Lateral changes in coal seam groups are also reflected by marked variations of their seismic signatures. Westphalian C fluvial depositional systems include moderate to low sinuosity braided and anastomosed river systems. Stable tectonic conditions on upthrown, fault-bounded platforms favoured deposition by braided rivers and the associated development of relatively thick, laterally continuous coal seams in raised mires. In contrast, rapidly subsiding downthrown fault blocks favoured aggradation, probably by anastomosed rivers and the development of relatively thin, highly discontinuous coal seams in topogenous mires.





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M. Kosters and M. E. Donselaar
Syn-sedimentary faulting and the formation of localized reservoir sands: Carboniferous examples from the Campine Basin, Belgium and the Dutch offshore
Petroleum Geoscience, 2003; 9: 309 - 319.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]