ABSTRACT

The three chief sedimentary basins of France (the Paris, Aquitanian, and Rhodanian Basins), and three smaller ones (Limagne, Forez, and Alsatian Basins), are defined.

The roles played by the marginal land areas are examined in each case. The primary importance of the Central Massif, and its progressive reduction during geological time, are demonstrated by heavy mineral methods.

Diastrophic influences on the sedimentary regimes are shown for the Aquitanian Basin (bordered on the south by the Pyrenees) and for the Rhodanian Basin (bordered on the east by the Alps). At different periods of time these two basins had comparable histories. Thus, during periods of orogenic quiescence Hercynian detritus predominated, whereas during periods of Pyrenean and Alpine orogenesis the sediment came chiefly from destruction of the young chains.

The mineralogical series discovered in the sediments reflect very closely successive stages of erosion of the land areas.