Durham E-Theses Quaternary sea level change, Lake formation, and associated glacial events, with special reference to the lower tees basin Lockery, Andrew R. How to cite: Lockery, Andrew R. (1971) Quaternary sea level change, Lake formation, and associated glacial events, with special reference to the lower tees basin, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/8445/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 QUATERNARY SEA LEVEL CHAIJGE, LAKE PORILATIOH, AIJ) ASSOCIATED GLACIAL EVENTS, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO TIIE LOWER BASIN Andrew R. Lockery Dissertation presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Department of Geography, Durham University August, 1970 Resubmitted in March 1971, Ai'^k-.CT EVMiT,,, Hit. ;t CI i- i-./,F., .liC", Yj 'ilif-Q.^tT >S H/.. IH The Thesis set out to fulfil two j.urpoEe;>: l) To further the development of .'t muthodolory for the study of displaced shorelines. Z) To apply the mothodoloQ' to the lo*;er Teoa Bnsin. 'luthodolofy An examination of previous work sur.rested that a methodology should encompass ns many facets of a marine environs nt as pos• sible to obtv.in host results. Threo such facets v/or.i selected for detailed study, morphology, nedinentolo:;y, and fossil avidonce, and the value of each was assessed on both theoretical and practical grounds. It was concluded that the decree of differential warping exhibited by a terr tee could in-iic?ite the origin of the feature. Similarly the jvirticle size and ..lineralory of a sand sized sediment may indicate its depositicnal environment. Although both of the a: ove techniques were p&rtiaily successful it vas concluded Lhrit "in situ" fossil ovidence provided tha best moans of identifying a displaced marine environment. "'ho i-over '['• es ;*nsin The above methodolo"./ \/an applied to both the onshore and offr'.'ore cnviro.Tnsr.Lo of Iho T>JOO !3asin, and it appeared th.it there VMS no evidence for a late or post flavial sea level above t).b. Uijwlyn, In contrast, thure was evidence for ce.-.levels lower thun present. Sunrcary One mfjy concLude that there ware three areas in neud of further study. All three could be applied to the methodological and regional aspscts of the present study. Firstly th-jre was a definite need for improvements in the field of sedimentolopy. It was felt that a dotailed oui*V3y of particle size, shape, and «!onaity groups within sand sized uodimants would provide the best measure of environmental conditions. Secondly, there was a very yreat need for further dotailed studies cf the offshore environment, whilst thirdly, there was a pressing need for an absolute chronology. i'HEPACE The author has alv.nys maintained an active interest in the sea and this thesis represents a desire to enhance man's understanding of this natural phenomenon. Following graduation in 1966, two specific eventB combined to influence the choice of thesis topic. The Institute of British Geographers published a special number on "The Vertical Displacement of Shorelines in the British Isles," and the British Geomorphological Research Group held a stormy but stimulating seminar on this same topic. This publication, the seminar, and the remaining British works on the subject of sea level change all served to emphasise a concentration on the study of raised features and morphological evidence at the expense of submerged features and 8edimentological evidence. Further perusal of previous work confirmed a basic need for a reliable methodology enabling all forms of displaced shorelines to be recognised and the thesis is dedicated primarily to fulfilling this need. The enormity of this task became more apparent as research progressed and the selection of the Lower Tees Basin as the test region for the proposed methodology placed the necessary limitations on the scope of the thesis. The Lower Tees was almost certainly glaciated during the Wurm Ice advance, (Beaumont, 1967), and although earlier events are discussed, the need to examine unmodified features and Bediments effectively restricted the 3tudy to the period following the retreat of this ice sheet. It was also acknowledged that factors other than sea level change had played significant roles in the morphological evolution of the Tees Basin and the inclusion of the words "lake formation and associated glacial events" in the thesis title not only reflected this recognition but further allowed for comparisons to be rade between morphologically similar marine, lacustrine and ice stagnation features* Finally, the sheltered nature of the Tees Basin led to a greater emphasis being placed upon depositional features than might otherwise have been the case. In concluding this preface, one must reiterate that every care was taken to avoid the possible pitfall of excessive regionalism. This would have obscured the prime aim of the thesis which is to promote a greater understanding of the mechanisms and consequent results of changes in sea level. ACK!JO'-^D?.;JL"J:TS Tho author wishes to acknowledge the assistance of the following persons t Dr, P. Beaumont, for hlo thorough and conscientious supervision; Professor W. B. Fisher, Hoad of the Geography Department at Durham, for permission to use the departmental equipment and facilities; Dr. J. B. Sissons, for his helpful advice during tho initial stages of the projectj Dr. D. J, Bellamy, University of Durham Botany Department, for the generous loan of marine equipment and personnel; Denys Smith and FAdy Francis, of the Geological Survey, for readily supplying the geological evidence in existence; Dr. J. 12o Klovan, for assistance with computer analyses; and last but not loast, Valerie Lockory, for her willingness to assist in fieldwork and typing* In addition, the author would like to acknowledge the considerable assistance of the following authorities: Middle3borough Corporation The Tees Water Board The Tees Harbour Authorities Hartlepool Corporation Stockton Corporation BiHingham Corporation Imperial Chemicals Industries J. D. and D. i-!. Watson, Civil Engineers The Geological Survey of Britain The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba COHT^.TS. Piiuii'iiC.*. ACKUO.*Lj,DJj,:.'Ji:Tb. LI6T OJ ILLU-TRATIJKS. SaCTia-: i. CHj'iPT^Ji 1. KTHOIXjCTia. (a) The Thesis Fora. (b) The Causes of Sea Level Chcnge, CHAPTER 2. PREVIOUS -ORK. An Appraisal of Techniquea for the Initial Recognition and Chronology of Displscod Shorelines. (a) ilorld Studios. (b) British Studies. CHAPTER 3. T1IB LO..JR TJ'^S BASP!. (a) The Choice of Area. (b) physiography and Stratigraphy. (c) Glicie.1 History. (d) Dejilacit'tion (e) Ser. Level Chsji^e. (f) Sun-nary. Si-JCTIJi: 2. i»0RP,:0I.J-r7. IlaTilODS JJ L> RESULTS CiiAPT^R <l. TaRii^JTJAL ...ORPiiJLOGY ANiJ TiU RJC0J..ITI J . py ;ii.IJ.^) JiiJ^^.jIIJ^o. (e) Preliminary Survey, (b) Precise Levelling. PAG~. 84. CHAPTER 5. SUP-A:tU.-0L'3 i !J:-Ji:0i. JGY. (L.) Purpose of the Study. (b) Choice of j-xec. (c) .Methods t nd Problems. (d) Results. (e) 5u:n:nEry. 107. CHAPTER 6. L/iJPJoITJ ;wAL aiiVIROXi.LlNTS. PR^V LOUS wJRK A1-.D i liilTiiJD j OF iUO J^-ITIOK. (a) Introduction. (b) particle Size. (c) Perticle ShF.pe. (d) Particle Density. (e) Surface Texture. (f) Sedimentary structures. 141. CHAPTER 7. A uISCUoSION OF SAi-'PLIKG PRJCjiOJiv^o. (a) Previous 'work. (b) Sampling. (c) The Interpretation of Results. 164. CHAPTER 8. Truil APPLICATION JF S^uI.-^TOLOGif TO DjjPOSri'I0ix;AL j,:,VIRj;-....'jrtTo OF IU.O.VK OiiloIK. (a) Introduction. (b) Littori-.l. (c) Aeolit-n. (d) Offshore,llerrshore. (e) Fluvial. (f) Lccustrincl. (g) Conclusion. 245. CilAPT^ii 9. Tib. APPLICATION OF oeL>L.L^;TOi,JGY TO TiLJ DiPOJITJ OF TiLi LO...J{ T*.uH bASLs. (a) Introduction. (b) Fossil Seciimontt-ry environments in the Tees Bey. (c) Sites Identified ts l.'&rine by previous \iorkers. (d) Other Possible J,i«rine Sites. (e) Other S&nd end Gr&vel Deposits. (f) Duried Stnds ."3elov; O.D. I.'ev/lyn. (g) Synthesis. (h) Conclusion. SECTION 4. FOoSlL ^VILuiKGa AMD CHROHOLOJICAL OTUDLJS. CHAPTER 10. FOSSIL FAUi;AL JJJD FLORAL jiVIDahCs., J^D THB CHROiiOLOGY OF jfiV^iiTd IN Trla LO..SH T-uiati BASIN. (a) Introduction. (b) Fossil Faunal tnd Floral Evidence. (c) Chronology of events. (d) Summery CHAPTER 11. C0WCLU3I011. 334. (a) Systematic. (b) Regional. VOLUME TWO. CONTiSKTS. Maps and DitiEreuns. Bibliography. Appendices. (i) Photographs. (ii) Rational Grid References. (iii) Levelled Heights. (iv) Methods of Sedin:entr.ry Analyses. (v) particle Size Analyses. (vi) Mineralogies.! Analyses. LIST OF IlLUoTte.TICKa Fig 1. Isostutic Uplift, (tfter Miunsan, 1527) Fig 2. Tho effects of Different Rates of Glacier Retreat on the Amount of Glacial Rebound. Fig 3. iBobcses of Late and Postglacial Shorelines in Hichlcnd Britain. Fig 4. Graphs Depicting the .iustatis Rise of Sea Level Following the Last Ice Age. Fig 5. Graphs Depicting the jAi static Rise of Sea Level Following the Lest Ice Age, Fig 6. Retreat of the Vilirm Ice Shoot. Fig 7. The Lower Tees Basin. Fig 8. Tho Lower Tees.