Open Access
Table 2
Table of the assessment of the main geological sites (HI > 30) in the Yvelines department by the INPG method (De Wever et al., 2014), and their various interests.
| Name of the site | Preservation state | PS | Main, secondly geological interests and geological history | MGI | SGI | GH | S | Educational interest | EI | HI | Anthropic threat | AT | Natural vulnerability | NV | Effective protection | EP | NP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lutetian fossil sites of the park of Grignon (Thiverval-Grignon) | Well preserved | 2 | Lutetian fossil site, known since the middle of the XVIII century. It inspired numerous paleontological and stratigraphical concepts (Lamarck, 1802–1809; Cuvier and Brongniart, 1811). One of the richest in the world for the Cenozoic Era. Exceptional and complete section of the Lutetian in its stratotypic region which permits to reconstruct precisely the paleoenvironments and paleoclimate of this epoch | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | For all type of audiences | 3 | 46 | Sale of the domain, uncontrolled excavations | 3 | Weathering, significant revegetation | 2 | ZNIEFF | 2 | 10 |
| Danian limestone of the Pont de Falaise (Montainville) | Well preserved | 2 | Rare section from Danian to Lower Lutetian known since 1847. Key for understanding the evolution of biodiversity at the beginning of the Cenozoic: more than 110 species found in the bioclastic limestone, formed by the dismantling of an “algae reef”. This site helped to determine the position of the Danian at the base of the Cenozoic Era thanks to the description of fossils | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | For the specialists, teachers, students | 2 | 41 | Waste disposal, vandalism | 1 | Fallen rocks, significant revegetation | 2 | – | 3 | 9 |
| Lutetian fossil sites of the Ferme de l'Orme (Beynes) | Badly preserved | 1 | Exceptional fossil site, studied since the middle of the XIX century and recognised as a reference of the “Calcaire grossier supérieur” (Hebert, 1949), with more than 400 species of well-known, well preserved molluscs. Section complementary to the sites of Thiverval Gringnon, from the end of the Middle Lutetian until the Upper Lutetian, showing various depositional environments | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | For all type of audiences | 3 | 39 | Uncontrolled excavations, waste disposal | 3 | Significant revegetation, weathering | 3 | Land acquisition | 1 | 10 |
| Campanian, Sparnacian, Cuisian and Lutetian deposits of the quarries of Limay | Very well preserved | 3 | Only accessible quarry in the region to expose an almost complete section from Campanian to Upper Lutetian. The base of the Calcaire grossier formation shows numerous fish remains. Beautiful and large Lutetian sedimentary figures (oblique stratifications) are present | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | For all type of audiences | 3 | 35 | – | 0 | – | 0 | RNR | 0 | 3 |
| Quarry of Quaternary loess of the Orgemonts (Mantes-la-Ville) | Well preserved | 2 | One of the most beautiful sections of Quaternary loess in France (from the Middle Pleistocene to the Holocene), studied since the end of the XIX century by Belgrand. It allows to reconstruct the climate (glacial/interglacial cycles) and environmental variations of the region during this epoch | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | For all type of audiences | 3 | 34 | – | 0 | Weathering, significant revegetation | 2 | – | 3 | 8 |
| Lutetian fossil site of the Remise à Boucher (Beynes) | Badly preserved | 1 | Lutetian site with well-conserved and diverse fossils (more than 400 species). Potential section of great importance from the base of the Middle Lutetian until the Upper Lutetian showing various depositional facies. Remarkable panorama over the valley of the Mauldre | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | For the specialists, teachers, students | 2 | 33 | Uncontrolled excavations | 3 | Weathering, significant revegetation | 2 | – | 3 | 11 |
| Quarry of Sparnacian clay and Cuisian sand of The Planes (Chapet) | Very well preserved | 3 | The quarry of Chapet presents a thick section, where the contact between the Sparnacian and the Cuisian is well expressed. The Sparnacian clay contains numerous fossils of molluscs, some remains of vertebrates and beautiful crystals of gypsum. Cuisian sedimentary figures (oblique stratifications) are well visible | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | For the specialists, teachers, students | 2 | 33 | Filling of quarry approved | 3 | Fallen rocks | 1 | ZNIEFF | 2 | 9 |
| The hills of the Seine near Moisson | Well preserved | 2 | Vast and accessible hills exposing a complete section from the Santonian to the Middle Lutetian. Here, many geomorphological objects give testimony of weathering in a periglacial climate during the Quaternary: picturesque rocky pinnacles, extension joints and the region's most spectacular endokarst formed in Campanian chalk | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | For all type of audiences | 3 | 33 | Waste disposal | 2 | Weathering, significant revegetation | 2 | RNN | 0 | 7 |
| Lutetian fossil site along the valley of Vaucouleurs | Badly preserved | 1 | Lutetian site, known since 1910, with well-conserved and diverse fossils (up to 400 species in Montchauvet). Potential section of great importance from the second half of the Middle Lutetian to the base of the Upper Lutetian. The facies give testimony of various depositional environments (lacustrine, lagoon, littoral). | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | For the specialists, teachers, students | 2 | 32 | Uncontrolled excavations | 3 | Weathering, fallen rocks, significant revegetation | 1 | Site inscrit | 2 | 9 |
| Lutetian fossil sites of Fontenay-Saint-Père | Badly preserved | 1 | Lutetian site, cited for the first time by Cuvier et Brongniart (1811), with diverse fossils (up to 400 species) including the famous Campanile giganteum and some remains of fishbones. Potential section of great importance from the base to the end of the Middle Lutetian. The facies testify of a depositional environment of shoal with low energy whose geographic distribution is limitated | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | For the specialists only | 1 | 31 | Uncontrolled excavations, high land pressure | 2 | Weathering, significant revegetation | 3 | Site inscrit | 2 | 10 |
| Lutetian fossil sites in Maulette | No longer preserved | 0 | The most occidental Lutetian fossil site of the Paris basin, recognised for its uniqueness since 1811 (Cuvier et Brongniart). The facies are rare and characteristic of littoral, lagunal and lacustrine deposits; they show a unique fossil and fauna and are essential for the understanding of the paleogeography of the Lutetian | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | For the specialists only | 1 | 31 | Housing development | 1 | Significant revegetation | 1 | – | 3 | 8 |
| Captured stream and quaternary block fields of sandstone of Vaux de Cernay (Cernay-la-Ville) | Very well preserved | 3 | Beautiful and pedagogical example of a river capture by headward erosion, which led to the formation of small waterfalls and a cluse trimmed with Fontainebleau Sandstone. This phenomenon and the sinking of the valleys during Plio-Quaternaire under a periglacial climate led to the assymetric shape of the valleys and the formation of one of the most beautiful block fields of the region (les Vaux de Cernay) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | For all type of audiences | 3 | 31 | Erosion due to high number of visitors | 2 | Weathering, significant revegetation | 1 | Site classé | 1 | 7 |
| Quarries of Stampian deposits of the Bois des Maréchaux (Senlisse) | Very well preserved | 3 | Sole quarry of the region exhibiting the different facies of alteration of the siliceous limestone of Montmorency, superimposed to the Fontainebleau Sandstone, in a perfect state of conservation. The quarry facies and their history are described on information boards | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | For all type of audiences | 3 | 31 | – | 1 | Weathering | 2 | Site classé | 1 | 7 |
| Quarry of Stampian sandstone along the Valley of Mérantaise | Very well preserved | 3 | Unique site containing fossils of lacustrine molluscs at the summit of the Fontainebleau Sandstone (Upper Stampian). The imprints of vegetal roots also give testimony of the lacustrine origin of the Stampian deposit. A beautiful network of fractures is visible | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | For all type of audiences | 3 | 31 | – | 0 | Weathering, significant revegetation | 1 | Site classé | 1 | 5 |
PS: Preservation state; MGI: Main geological interest; SGI: Secondly geological interests; GH: Geological history; S: Scarcity; EI: Educational interest; HI: Heritage interest; AT: Anthropic threat; NV: Natural vulnerability; EP: Effective protection; NP: Need of protection. HI = PSx2 + MGIx4 + SGIx3 + EIx3 + GIx2 + Sx2 (between 0 & 48); NP (case study) = 3 + AT + NV + EP (between 0 & 12). Note: Some of these assessments have not been validated by the CSRPN and the CNV yet. For the equivalence between local and international stages, see Figure 3.
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