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Abstract

This work is largely based on the author's doctoral thesis in which new graphic representations, with the accent on mapping systems, were developed in the field of fundamental and applied geology and this particular for continental deposits. Useful mapping systems for Quatemary continental deposits were indeed for the greatest part absent or still in a primary stage of development.

Among certain geologists exists still the idea that the construction of a geological map is the initial step in making the survey of an area and that the understanding of the geological constitution and evolution comes only in a later stage. This specific study is than mainly based on the already surveyed map of that particular area. This idea is only tenable to a certain level when it concerns rather homogeneous deposits extended over long distances and at a particular level, for example in a superficial or outcropping position. But once the geologist is dealing with widely differing deposits, like for instance the Quatemary deposits in Belgium, the above described method is out of question. Besides, during the study it became clear that although the general Quatemary evolution is rather well known, essential elements necessary in both the fundamental and applied geology are still missing. Consequently the necessity forced itself to follow the next procedure in order to get a detailed overview of the geological build-up of the survey area.

Detailed information is gathered by studying primary sedimentary structures in correlation with texture and palaeontological data obtained from palaeozoölogy and palaeobotany. The basic and largest part of information is got from undisturbed cored borings, provided by the Belgian Geological Survey, and outcrop observations, both completed by hand drillings as weIl as borehole descriptions. The latter ones are derived from the archives of the Belgian Geological Survey. This kind of information made the reconstruction of the sedimentary paleao-environments and paleao-subenvironments possible which for their part form the building blocs of the fundamental geological map called profile type map. The construction of the profile type map however is explained in this work step by step since in the present literature such a "manual" is still missing.

Derived from the basic data the construction of other thematic maps is possible. An engineering geological map is introduced as an example. Usefulness and applicability of these maps are discussed in previous articles written by the author.