Globigerina Limestone is referred just by the name of Franka even though there are subdivisions of the same layer including Tal-Bajjad, Tal-Kwiener etc. Only the Greensand layer which is a thin layer and sometimes completely absent is referred to in Maltese as Il-Ġebla s-Safra or Rina. So the sequence of rocks from top to bottom is as follows:

1. Upper Coralline Limestone – Qawwi Ta’ Fuq
2. Greensand – Il-Gebla s-Safra (or) Rina
3. Blue Clay – Tafli
4. Globigerina Limestone – Franka
5. Lower Coralline Limestone – Qawwi t’Isfel jew ta’ Taħt jew Żonqor.

At Primary level we prefer to refer to Greensand as Il-Ġebla s-Safra. The term Rina is introduced later on at the end of Form I.

Edward Gilson 3.12.2010