Almost all geological subdisciplines depend, to varying extents, on regional geological knowledge. Stratigraphic terminology is typically well-defined, while other concepts rely on generally accepted definitions or hierarchical schemes, such as palaeontological, structural and magmatic terminologies. This is much less the case for the regional geological building blocks. Their nomenclature is usually composed of a reference to a geographical locality and a geological term. Examples from Belgium include the (Anglo-)Brabant Massif, Campine Basin, and Malmedy Graben. Despite wide recognition, such terms often lack precise definitions and may even present conflicting interpretations across different contexts and authors. Even when their meanings have drifted or become less precise, these terms continue to be utilized. Increased awareness has led to significant yet isolated initiatives aimed at improving the structure and definition of regional geological information [1-3], recently brought together through pan-European cooperation [4]. Lithotectonic unit appears to be the most effective concept for encompassing all geological features. A lithotectonic unit is characterized by its composition, structural elements, mutual relations, and/or geological history [5]. Following a geotemporal conceptual approach, lithotectonic units are defined and bounded by relative limits in time and space [6]. Lithotectonic limits are planar features corresponding to geological events which have formed and define these units. Examples of lithotectonic units include orogens, terranes, sedimentary basins, and grabens, while examples of lithotectonic limits include deformation fronts, faults, and unconformities. This approach facilitates the organization and formalization of relationships between units and limits through ontologies. The data model can be linked to established ontologies, such as the ICS Geological Time Scale Ontology [7], and allows future extensions, such as attribution to orogenic cycles [2]. The associated concepts can be linked to 2D and 3D visualizations, thereby adding an important layer of knowledge to geological maps and models. Primary objective of the newly established Lithotectonic Working Group, under the National Commission for Stratigraphy in Belgium, is to create a comprehensive lithotectonic framework, that systematically defines and describes the main geological units and limits of Belgium. This initiative aligns closely with emerging standards currently being developed and implemented at European level [4] and largely based on GeoSciML [8]. [1] Hintersberger et al. 2017, Jb Geol B-A 157:195-207. [2] Németh 2021, Miner Slovaca 2:81-90. [3] Le Bayon et al. 2022: https://doi.org/10.1051/bsgf/2022017. [4] GSEU 2022-2027: https://doi.org/10.3030/101075609. [5] INSPIRE 2015: https://inspire.ec.europa.eu/theme/ge. [6] Piessens et al. 2024: https://doi.org/10.31223/X5RT28. [7] Cox & Richard 2005: https://doi.org/10.1130/GES00022.1. [8] GeoSciML 2016: http://www.opengis.net/doc/geosciml/4.1.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2025
Within the framework of marine resource management, a common knowledge base is being developed on the distribution, composition and dynamics of various geological resources. Focus is on data from the Belgian part of the North Sea, being representative of a typical sandbank sedimentary system. To ensure harmonised seabed mapping over large, supraregional areas and to facilitate the exchange of information, special attention was paid to compatibility with marine geodatabases from the adjacent Netherlands territory. With reference to the seabed and its subsurface, two main databases are being compiled: one comprising all available lithological descriptions and one with all numerical grain-size information. To enable standardisation of the data and make them easily query-able, non-numerical descriptions are being coded to an international standard (EU FP7 Geo-Seas; www.geoseas.eu), of which the Udden-Wentworth scale is the main classifier. Several other parameters were derived, such as percentages mud, sand, gravel, shells and organic material. For the sediment database, cumulative grain-size-distribution curves were compiled, enabling calculations of any desired granulometry parameter, such as percentages of the grain-size fractions (fine, medium, coarse sand) and percentiles that are relevant in seabed-habitat mapping or sediment-transport modelling (D35, D50, D84). For both databases, the completeness and accuracy of the metadata were considered highly important. Information about sampling and coring techniques, analytical methods, horizontal and vertical positioning accuracy, and the exact timing of data acquisition is pivotal in uncertainty analyses, which are an increasingly important element of seabed mapping. The time of seabed mapping is critical to convert measured water depths to a common datum such as TAW in Belgium, facilitating integration of sample data in bathymetry data and thus their incorporation in 4D-modelling studies on morphodynamic change. For Belgium, the geological databases will be imbedded in the data infrastructure of the Belgian Marine Data Centre (www.bmdc.be), ensuring compatibility with international standards and providing easy access to a wide user community. Following processing to generate data products such as resource-related subsurface models, visualisation is foreseen through Subsurface Viewer (GmbH INSIGHT). Applied maps and models thus disseminated are crucial in decision making, and invaluable for outreach and educational purposes. The newly developed database and its associated data products will contribute to the objectives of the projects TILES (Belspo Brain-be), EMODnet-Geology (EU DG MARE), and ZAGRI (private revenues from the marine-aggregate industry).
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RBINS Staff Publications 2016
