Kattendijk Formation

Kattendijk Formation
Stratigraphic range: Zanclean
TypeGeological formation
UnderliesVarious Quaternary aged formations
OverliesRupellian Clay Formation
Thickness5–15 m (16–49 ft)
Lithology
PrimarySand
Location
Coordinates51°18.5667′N 3°12.3675′E / 51.3094450°N 3.2061250°E / 51.3094450; 3.2061250
RegionFlanders
CountryBelgium
Type section
Year definedDe Heuter and Laga, 1976
Kattendijk Formation is located in Belgium
Kattendijk Formation
Kattendijk Formation
Kattendijk Formation
Kattendijk Formation
Kattendijk Formation
Kattendijk Formation (Belgium)

The Kattendijk Formation (also known as the Kattendijk Sands) is a five-million-year-old marine geological formation with outcrops north of Antwerp, Belgium. The area was named by De Heuter and Laga in 1976. The sands range from medium fine to coarse and contain a large proportion of shell grit.

Geology

The clay is of Rupelian age and developed to a depth of approximately 70 m (230 ft) beneath a deposit of Neogene sand. The formation has a Miocene epoch aquifer, while the clay level dates to the Pliocene.

Palaeontology

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon

Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text
crossed out taxa are discredited.

Birds

Birds of the Kattendijk Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages
Alca A. stewarti A patellar skeleton including humeri and ulnae A relative of the modern razorbill
Modern razorbill (A. torda)

Cetaceans

Cetaceans of the Kattendijk Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages
Pliodelphis P. doelensis A partial skull A small oceanic dolphin
Balaenella B. brachyrhynus A partial skull A relative of modern right whales
Casatia Inderterminate A partial skeleton A relative to the modern narwhal and beluga 
Holotype of C. thermophila from Italy

Fish

Shark teeth have been found in the formation, and bite marks attributed to Hexanchus griseus (bluntnose sixgill shark) and Carcharodon plicatilis have been reported on the fossil bones of cetaceans.

References

  1. ↑ Deckers, J.; Louwye, S. (2020). "The architecture of the Kattendijk Formation and the implications on the early Pliocene depositional evolution of the southern margin of the North Sea Basin". Geologica Belgica. 23 (3–4): 323−331. Bibcode:2020GeolB..23..323D. doi:10.20341/gb.2020.017. hdl:1854/LU-8693840.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Kattendijk Formation – National Commission for Statigraphy Belgium". Retrieved 2026-06-14.
  3. 1 2 Schittekat, J. (2001). "Engineering geology of the Boom clay in the Antwerp area". In Holeyman, Alain E. (ed.). Screw Piles — Installation and Design in Stiff Clay. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9789058091925.
  4. ↑ van der Sijp, Jaap Willem Charles Marie, ed. (1973). New aspects of mineral and water resources in The Netherlands. The Hague: M. Nijhoff. OCLC 2367071.
  5. ↑ Coetsiers, M.; Walraevens, K. (2009). "The Neogene Aquifer, Flanders, Belgium". In Edmunds, W. Mike; Shand, Paul (eds.). Natural groundwater quality. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781444300352.
  6. ↑ Martin, J. W. R.; Walker, C. A.; Bonser, R.; Dyke, Gareth J. (2000). "A new species of large auk from the Pliocene of Belgium". Oryctos. 3. J. W. R. Martin, C. A. Walker, R. Bonser, Gareth J. Dyke: 53–60. ISSN 1290-4805.
  7. ↑ Belluzzo, Alice; Lambert, Olivier (2021-04-07). "A new delphinid from the lower Pliocene of the North Sea and the early radiations of true dolphins". Fossil Record. 24 (1): 77–92. doi:10.5194/fr-24-77-2021. ISSN 2193-0074.
  8. 1 2 3 Lambert, Olivier; Stewart, John R.; Louwye, Stephen; Coninck, Luc De; Bosselaers, Mark; Crété, Lucile; Goolaerts, Stijn; Mallet, Christophe; Mollen, Frederik H. (2026-03-18). "Evidence for different shark species feeding on a diminutive right whale and a relative of the beluga in the Early Pliocene of the southern North Sea". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 71 (1): 69–84. doi:10.4202/app.01297.2025. hdl:1854/LU-01KV5FJP13ME2D6S52G67CY82V.