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A stratigraphical framework for the Upper Cretaceous Chalk of England and Scotland with statements on the Chalk of Northern Ireland and the UK Offshore Sector Research Report RR/05/01 HOW TO NAVIGATE THIS DOCUMENT Bookmarks The main elements of the table of contents are bookmarked enabling direct links to be followed to the principal section headings and sub-headings, figures, plates and tables irrespective of which part of the document the user is viewing. In addition, the report contains links: from the principal section and sub-section headings back to the contents page, from each reference to a figure, plate or table directly to the corresponding figure, plate or table, from each figure, plate or table caption to the first place that figure, plate or table is mentioned in the text and from each page number back to the contents page. RETURN TO CONTENTS PAGE BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY RESEARCH REPORT RR/05/01 A stratigraphical framework for the Upper Cretaceous Chalk of England and Scotland with statements on the The National Grid and other Chalk of Northern Ireland and the UK Ordnance Survey data are used with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Offshore Sector Stationery Office. Licence No: 100017897/2005. Keywords Geology, Statigraphy, Upper Cretaceous, Chalk P M Hopson Front cover Chalk cliff and the Pinnacles stacks south of Handfast Point, north-east of Swanage, Dorset. Bibliographical reference HOPSON, P M. 2005. A stratigraphical framework for the Upper Cretaceous Chalk of England and Scotland, with statements on the Chalk of Northern Ireland and the UK Offshore Sector. British Geological Survey Research Report RR/05/01 102pp. ISBN 0 85272 517 5 Copyright in materials derived from the British Geological Survey’s work is owned by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and/or the authority that commissioned the work. You may not copy or adapt this publication without first obtaining permission. Contact the BGS Intellectual Property Rights Section, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, e-mail [email protected]. You may quote extracts of a reasonable length without prior permission, provided a full acknowledgement is given of the source of the extract. Maps and diagrams in this book use topography based on Ordnance Survey mapping. © NERC 2005. All rights reserved. Keyworth, Nottingham British Geological Survey 2005 BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY British Geological Survey offices The full range of Survey publications is available from the BGS Sales Desks at Nottingham, Edinburgh and London; see contact Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG details below or shop online at www.geologyshop.com ຜ 0115–936 3100 Fax 0115–936 3200 e-mail: sales @bgs.ac.uk The London Information Office also maintains a reference www.bgs.ac.uk collection of BGS publications including maps for consultation. Online shop: www.geologyshop.com The Survey publishes an annual catalogue of its maps and other Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3LA publications; this catalogue is available from any of the BGS ຜ 0131–667 1000 Fax 0131–668 2683 Sales Desks. e-mail: [email protected] The British Geological Survey carries out the geological survey London Information Office at the Natural History Museum of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the latter is an agency (Earth Galleries), Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London service for the government of Northern Ireland), and of the SW7 2DE surrounding continental shelf, as well as its basic research ຜ 020–7589 4090 Fax 020–7584 8270 projects. It also undertakes programmes of British technical aid ຜ 020–7942 5344/45 e-mail: [email protected] in geology in developing countries as arranged by the Department for International Development and other agencies. Forde House, Park Five Business Centre, Harrier Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HU The British Geological Survey is a component body of the ຜ 01392–445271 Fax 01392–445371 Natural Environment Research Council. Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, Colby House, Stranmillis Court, Belfast BT9 5BF ຜ 028–9038 8462 Fax 028–9038 8461 Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB ຜ 01491–838800 Fax 01491–692345 Columbus House, Greenmeadow Springs, Tongwynlais, Cardiff, CF15 7NE ຜ 029–2052 1962 Fax 029–2052 1963 Parent Body Natural Environment Research Council, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, Wiltshire SN2 1EU ຜ 01793–411500 Fax 01793–411501 Foreword The Stratigraphy Committee of the British Geological Committee (BGSSFC) for the Upper Cretaceous of Great Survey (BGS) is undertaking a review of stratigraphical Britain. The report provides a summary of the classification for all parts of Great Britain. Several lithostratigraphical schemes for the five Upper Cretaceous Stratigraphical Framework Committees (SFC) have been provinces in England (Southern, Transitional and established to review problematical issues for various parts Northern), Scotland and Northern Ireland. of the stratigraphical column. Each SFC has the following In November of 1999 a meeting held at the BGS in terms of reference: Keyworth, co-sponsored by the BGS and the Stratigraphy ● to review the lithostratigraphical nomenclature of Commission of the Geological Society, brought together designated stratigraphical intervals for a given region, experts on the Chalk to standardise the nomenclature on identifying problems in classification and correlation BGS maps and to act as a framework for the new ● to propose a lithostratigraphical framework down to Cretaceous correlation publication of the Geological formation level Society. This report follows the recommendations of that ● to organise a peer review of the scheme meeting for the English Chalk and includes reviews and ● to present the results in a document suitable for publication proposals for the terminology utilised in Scotland and ● to ensure that full definitions of the lithostratigraphical Northern Ireland. scheme are held in the web-accessible BGS BGS Stratigraphical Framework reports are published in Stratigraphical Lexicon for the areas of responsibility collaboration with the Stratigraphy Commission of the covered by the SFC Geological Society through the BGS Internet This report is the published product of a study by the www.bgs.ac.uk where they are available as free downloads. British Geological Survey Stratigraphical Framework Reports are peer reviewed via the Stratigraphy Commission. iii Acknowledgements This document is the statement on the stratigraphical Commission of the Geological Society. In this context terminology of the Chalk Group presented to the BGS special mention should be made of Professor Peter Stratigraphical Framework Committee and Stratigraphy Rawson, Professor Andy Gale, Professor Rory Commission of the Geological Society. It contains a Mortimore, Dr Don Aldiss, Dr Roger Bristow, Dr A R review of the nomenclature currently used in BGS Farrant, Mr Peter Hopson, Mr Mike Sumbler, Dr Ian publications and maps and sets out the terms to be Wilkinson, Mr Chris Wood, Mr Mark Woods, and, of utilised within current and future BGS publications. This course, all of the members of staff of the BGS who have statement draws heavily on the work of BGS staff as well special responsibility for the characterisation of the as contributions from the academic community and the Chalk. The reviewers for the Geological Society are deliberations of a meeting on Chalk Lithostratigraphy given thanks for their perceptive comments and convened at the BGS in Keyworth by the Stratigraphy corrections to the draft of this document. iv Contents Foreword iii 5 Statement on Northern Ireland Chalk Nomenclature (Ulster Cretaceous Province) 49 Acknowledgements iv 5.1 Hibernian Greensands Group 51 Summary vii 5.1.1 Belfast Marls Formation 53 5.1.2 Island Magee Siltstones Formation 53 1 Introduction 1 5.1.3 Collinwell Sands Formation 53 1.1 History of research 1 5.1.4 Kilcoan Sands Formation 54 1.2 Review of present practice and usage in the 5.2 Ulster White Limestone Group 54 BGS 6 5.2.1 Pre-Larry Bane Chalk Subgroup 55 2 Southern Province Chalk nomenclature 8 5.2.1.1 Cloghfin Sponge 2.1 Chalk Group 14 Formation 56 2.1.1 Grey Chalk Subgroup 15 5.2.1.2 Galboly Chalk Formation 56 2.1.1.1 West Melbury Marly Chalk 5.2.1.3 Cloghastucan Chalk Formation 16 Formation 57 2.1.1.2 Zig Zag Chalk Formation 18 5.2.1.4 Creggan Chalk Formation 57 2.1.1.3 Beer Head Limestone 5.2.1.5 Boheeshane Chalk Formation 19 Formation 58 2.1.2 White Chalk Subgroup 20 5.2.2 Larry Bane Chalk Formation 58 2.1.2.1 Holywell Nodular Chalk 5.2.3 Post-Larry Bane Chalk Subgroup 59 Formation 21 5.2.3.1 Ballintoy Chalk Formation 59 2.1.2.2 New Pit Chalk Formation 22 5.2.3.2 Glenarm Chalk Formation 60 2.1.2.3 Lewes Nodular Chalk 5.2.3.3 Garron Chalk Formation 60 Formation 23 5.2.3.4 Portrush Chalk Formation 61 2.1.2.4 Seaford Chalk Formation 25 5.2.3.5 Ballymagarry Chalk 2.1.2.5 Newhaven Chalk Formation 61 Formation 26 5.2.3.6 Tanderagee Chalk 2.1.2.6 Culver Chalk Formation 27 Formation 62 2.1.2.7 Portsdown Chalk 5.2.3.7 Port Calliagh Chalk Formation 29 Formation 62 2.1.2.8 Upper Campanian and 5.2.3.8 Ballycastle Chalk Maastrichtian Chalk in the Formation 62 Transitional Province 30 6 Note on the Chalk Group Nomenclature in the UK 3 Northern Province Chalk Nomenclature 31 offshore sector 64 36 3.1 Chalk Group 9 References 66 3.1.1 Grey Chalk Subgroup 36 3.1.1.1 Ferriby Chalk Formation 36 3.1.2 White Chalk Subgroup 36 3.1.2.1 Welton Chalk Formation 36 FIGURES 3.1.2.2 Burnham Chalk Formationn 38 1 The Upper Cretaceous ‘provinces’ for the