Field trips > FT 4

FT 4: Late Carboniferous and Permian geology and paleontology of the Lodève-Graissessac basin

The main objective of this fieldtrip is to provide a comprehensive overview of the tectonics, sedimentology, and paleontology of the late Carboniferous and Permian Lodève-Graissessac Basin over 3 days. The excursion will be multi-scale, from large-scale basin evolution to detailed outcrop, with the aim to link forcing mechanisms with the basin architecture and depositional processes. The trip will end with the visit of the permanent exhibition « Traces of Life » in the Lodève Museum, covering 540 million years of Earth’s history with only locally discovered fossils, some of which being mentioned in the field.

General Schedule

• Day 1: Friday June 27

Participants arrival in Montpellier (travel from Toulouse not included in the fieldtrip)

Pick up and transport by bus to Salelles-du-Bosc for the diner & first night. Departure from Montpellier will be at 18:30 at the latest, please schedule your arrival time accordingly.
In the evening 30 min: Introduction to the program and to the geohistory of the Lodève Basin. 

• Day 2: Saturday June 28

Stop 1 (8:30-9:30): Basin overview : Panorama of the Lodève Basin from the Rabieux viewpoint, presentation of the different units in the landscape and introduction to the basin geohistory.
Travel to Graissessac
Stop 2 (10:30-12:30): Basin architecture,  paleoenvironments, fossil plants & arthropod tracks at Padène disused open cast coal mine (late Carboniferous/Gzhelian).

Picnic 

Travel back to Lodève
Stop 3 (14:30-15-30): Basal discontinuity of Permian over the Cambrian basement at the crossing Usclas–Saint-Privat and conditions of deposition of the first lower Permian lacustrine successions.

Stop 4 (16:00-18:00): Visit of the Tuilières paleobotanical site close to Lodève. Possibility to stay a while to look for fossils. 

Diner & night at Salelles-du-Bosc

• Day 3: Sunday June 29

Stop 5 (8:30-9:00): Pre-rift/synrift discontinuity at Salelles du Bosc. Consequences on the basin’s geohistory.

Stop 6 (9:30-10:30): Analysis of the synsedimentary fault system controlling the syn-rift opening of the basin (Mas d’Alary-Tréviels quarry).

Stop 7 (10:45-11:45): Geometrical analysis of the divergence of the syn-rift sedimentary succession in the landscape from the Mas Lavayre viewpoint. Introduction to the syn-rift sedimentation and consequences on the structure and the basin’s history.

Stop 8 (12:00-13:00):

Picnic at the Merdanson river

(13:00-15:00) Section of the Merdanson River. Analysis of the facies and the stratigraphic architecture of the transition between profundal lacustrine systems and playa-lakes to floodplains of the lower Permian (pre-rift). Climate and basin’s history consequences

Wine tasting at the cooperative cellar of Cabrières (16:00-17:30), visit of the permanent geological exhibition (https://www.estabel.fr)

Diner & night at Salelles-du-Bosc

• Day 4: Monday June 30 

Stop 9 (8:30-10:00):   La Lieude-Mérifons section. Analysis of the facies and the stratigraphic architecture of the fluvial and playa-lake succession (syn-rift), presentation of the paleontological content. Discussions on the paleoenvironments, cyclicity, climate…

Stop 10 (10:15-11:00): Col de Dio section : Paleoenvironments, traces and ichnofauna of the Mérifons facies. 
Stop 11 (11:15-12:00): Study of the proximal facies of alluvial fans in the vicinity of the footwall of the border fault (Mas Blanc to La Tour-sur-Orb). Paleogeographical reconstruction of the Lodève Basin during the upper Permian. 

Stop 12 (12:30-13:00): Analysis of the panorama of the angular discontinuity of the middle Triassic over the upper Permian on the Col de la Merquière road. Consequences on the late-Permian history of the Lodève Basin. Synthesis and general conclusions of the excursion.

Picnic at Salagou lake (13:30-14-30)  

Guided visit of geological/paleontological exhibition at Lodève Museum (15:00-17:30).
Diner & night at Salelles-du-Bosc

• Day 5: Tuesday July 1

Return to Montpellier by bus after breakfast in the morning 

Prize: 480 €

Included: transport by bus from and to Montpellier, transport by bus to all the localities, lodging for the 4 nights (27, 28, 29, 30), breakfast, lunches (picnic provided by hotel), diners, museum visit, guidebook
Not included: transport from Toulouse to Montpellier and back. Participants should arrange their transport to and from Montpellier themselves.The best option is by train (direct, 1 every hour or so, trip duration 2:15 to 2:45)

Lodging: Relais du Salagou à Salelles-du-Bosc https://www.relais-du-salagou.com/

Chalets with 2 bedrooms/4 beds (2 persons per room), shared bathroom and living room.
Participants are expected to share a room with another participant. If  this is not possible the organizers need to be informed early. It may be exceptionally arranged to have one person in a bedroom but there will be a supplement and since this will be the high season the total number of rooms is limited.
Please also let us know if you have any dietary or other specific requirements for the trip. Participants are welcome to contact the organizers to discuss these questions directly and make sure we can accommodate them as best as possible.

Maximum number of participants: 24