Aachen Formation
The Aachen Formation (, ) is an Upper Cretaceous geologic formation in the southern Netherlands and northeastern Belgium and adjacent Germany. It is stratigraphically equivalent to the middle part of the Chalk Group of England, and named after the German city of Aachen. Geography The formation crops out in southern Belgian and Dutch Limburg and adjacent areas in Germany. The formation can also be found in the subsurface of West Flanders, where it forms an aquifer from which drinking water is won. Geology The Aachen Formation consists of glauconite bearing sand. It was deposited during the Santonian and Campanian ages (85.8 to 70.6 million years ago) of the Cretaceous Period. The formation rests unconformably on top of Carboniferous rocks of the Limburg Group, which are more than three times as old. Overlying the Aachen Formation is the Vaals Formation, equivalent to the upper part of the Chalk Group of England. Fossil content Among others, the following fossils have been reported from the formation: Corals Cunnolites cancellata Flora Aachenosaurus multidens Pollen Chrysotheca dentata Chrysotheca quadriplicata Chrysotheca striata Chrysotheca tenuis Geleenites fascinus Spherites spinosus Triletes aachenensis Triletes carbunculus Triletes compositi-punctatus Triletes cristatus Triletes diktyotus Triletes dubius Triletes lobatus Triletes minimus Triletes nanus Triletes occultatus Triletes persimilis Triletes pupus Triletes tenellus See also List of stratigraphic units in the Netherlands List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in the Netherlands List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Belgium List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Germany References Bibliography Geologic formations of Germany Geologic formations of Belgium Geologic formations of the Netherlands Upper Cretaceous Series of Europe Cretaceous Germany Cretaceous Netherlands Mesozoic Belgium Campanian Stage Santonian Stage Sandstone formations Shallow marine deposits Paleontology in Belgium Paleontology in the Netherlands Formations Formations Formations