Solid Earth, 11, 1931–1945, 2020 https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-1931-2020 © Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Near-surface Palaeocene fluid flow, mineralisation and faulting at Flamborough Head, UK: new field observations and U–Pb calcite dating constraints Nick M. W. Roberts1, Jack K. Lee1,2, Robert E. Holdsworth2, Christopher Jeans3, Andrew R. Farrant4, and Richard Haslam4 1Geochronology and Tracers Facility, British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK 2Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University, Science Labs, Durham, UK 3Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Place, Cambridge, UK 4British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre, Nottingham, UK Correspondence: Nick M. W. Roberts (
[email protected]) Received: 29 April 2020 – Discussion started: 6 May 2020 Revised: 22 July 2020 – Accepted: 9 September 2020 – Published: 28 October 2020 Abstract. We present new field observations from Sel- drothermal mineralisation at Selwicks Bay are linked to these wicks Bay, NE England, an exposure of the Flamborough regional and far-field processes during the Palaeocene. Head Fault Zone (FHFZ). We combine these with U–Pb geochronology of syn- to post-tectonic calcite mineralisation to provide absolute constraints on the timing of deformation. 1 Introduction The extensional frontal fault zone, located within the FHFZ, was active at ca. 63 Ma, with protracted fluid activity occur- Faulting of sedimentary basin fills in the subsurface is ring as late as ca. 55 Ma. Other dated tensile fractures overlap an important process in producing structurally constrained this time frame and also cross-cut earlier formed fold struc- aquifers and reservoirs, as well as providing potential con- tures, providing a lower bracket for the timing of folding and duits and barriers to fluid resource migration and accumula- compressional deformation.