Engineering Geology of British Rocks and Soils - Lias Group
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Engineering Geology of British Rocks and Soils - Lias Group LAND USE, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME Internal Report OR/12/032 BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY LAND USE, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME INTERNAL REPORT OR/12/032 Engineering Geology of British Rocks and Soils - Lias Group The National Grid and other Ordnance Survey data are used P. R. N Hobbs, D. C. Entwisle, K. J. Northmore, M. G. Sumbler, with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s L. D. Jones, S. Kemp, S. Self, M. Barron, J. L. Meakin Stationery Office. Licence No: 100017897/2012. Contributor/editor Keywords Lias, geology, geotechnics, K. J. Northmore geohazards, mineralogy, hydrogeology, mudrocks, engineering properties. Front cover Top left – Mulgrave Shale Member at Runswick Bay, Norht Yorkshire; Top right – Lias formations at Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire; Bottom – Black Ven Marl Formation at Stonebarrow, Dorset. Bibliographical reference HOBBS, P. R. N. ET AL. 2012. Engineering Geology of British Rocks and Soils - Lias Group. British Geological Survey Internal Report, OR/12/032. 323pp. 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 2012. All rights reserved Keyworth, Nottingham British Geological Survey 2012 BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY The full range of our publications is available from BGS shops at British Geological Survey offices Nottingham, Edinburgh, London and Cardiff (Welsh publications only) see contact details below or shop online at www.geologyshop.com BGS Central Enquiries Desk Tel 0115 936 3143 Fax 0115 936 3276 The London Information Office also maintains a reference collection of BGS publications, including maps, for consultation. email [email protected] We publish an annual catalogue of our maps and other publications; this catalogue is available online or from any of the Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG BGS shops. Tel 0115 936 3241 Fax 0115 936 3488 email [email protected] The British Geological Survey carries out the geological survey of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the latter as an agency service for the government of Northern Ireland), and of the Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3LA surrounding continental shelf, as well as basic research projects. Tel 0131 667 1000 Fax 0131 668 2683 It also undertakes programmes of technical aid in geology in email [email protected] developing countries. The British Geological Survey is a component body of the Natural Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Environment Research Council. Tel 020 7589 4090 Fax 020 7584 8270 Tel 020 7942 5344/45 email [email protected] Columbus House, Greenmeadow Springs, Tongwynlais, Cardiff CF15 7NE Tel 029 2052 1962 Fax 029 2052 1963 Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB Tel 01491 838800 Fax 01491 692345 Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, Colby House, Stranmillis Court, Belfast BT9 5BF Tel 028 9038 8462 Fax 028 9038 8461 www.bgs.ac.uk/gsni/ Parent Body Natural Environment Research Council, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1EU Tel 01793 411500 Fax 01793 411501 www.nerc.ac.uk Website www.bgs.ac.uk Shop online at www.geologyshop.com OR/12/032; Final 1.1 Foreword This report is the published product of a science-budget research study within the ‘Engineering Geology of British Rocks and Soils’ project of the British Geological Survey (BGS). Acknowledgements A large number of individuals have contributed to this project in terms of work input, expertise and general assistance. Collaborative assistance has also been received from individuals and organisations outwith the BGS. In addition to the collection of data, many individuals have freely given their advice. Many quarry and landowners have kindly provided access and assistance throughout. Engineering consultants and contractors have provided valuable information, and in some cases cores and other samples. Of the many individuals who have contributed to the project we would particularly like to thank the following BGS staff: Prof. M. Culshaw A. Forster Dr. H. Reeves M. Dobbs R. Lawley J. Bouch L. Nelder J. McKervey. Dr. A. Milodowski B. Cox, J.W.C. James Dr. G. K. Lott Other reports in the series: Engineering geology of British rocks and soils: Gault Clay. (1994) by Forster, A., Hobbs, P. R. N., Cripps, A. C., Entwisle, D. C., Fenwick, S. M. M., Raines, M. R., Hallam, J. R., Jones, L. D., Self, S. J., and Meakin J. L. BGS Technical Report No. WN/94/31. Engineering geology of British rocks and soils: Mercia Mudstone (1998) by Hobbs, P.R.N., Hallam, J.R., Forster, A., Entwisle, D.C., Jones, L.D., Cripps, A.C., Northmore, K.J., Self, S.J., & Meakin, J.L. British Geological Survey, Technical Report No.WN/98/4. Engineering geology of British rocks and soils: Lambeth Group (2005) by Entwisle, D.C., Hobbs, P.R.N., Northmore, K.J., Jones, L.D., Ellison, R.A., Cripps, A.C., Skipper, J., Self, S.J., & Meakin, J.L. British Geological Survey, Internal Report No.IR/05/006. i OR/12/032; Final 1.1 Contents Foreword ......................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... i Contents .......................................................................................................................................... ii Summary ..................................................................................................................................... viii 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 NORTH YORKSHIRE COAST .................................................................................... 3 1.2 WEST DORSET COAST ............................................................................................... 3 1.3 HEBRIDES ..................................................................................................................... 4 2 GEOLOGY ............................................................................................................................. 5 2.1 TECTONIC SETTING ................................................................................................... 6 2.2 SEDIMENTS, STRATIGRAPHY AND NOMENCLATURE ...................................... 7 3 MINERALOGY ................................................................................................................... 32 3.1 GENERAL .................................................................................................................... 32 3.2 PREVIOUS MINERALOGICAL STUDIES OF THE LIAS GROUP ........................ 32 3.3 RESULTS ..................................................................................................................... 33 3.4 DISCUSSION ............................................................................................................... 42 3.5 CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................................................... 44 4 INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS ....................................................................................... 46 4.1 GENERAL .................................................................................................................... 46 4.2 ALUM .......................................................................................................................... 46 4.3 BRICK .......................................................................................................................... 47 4.4 CEMENT ...................................................................................................................... 49 4.5 IRON ............................................................................................................................ 49 4.6 JET ................................................................................................................................ 50 4.7 BUILDING STONE ..................................................................................................... 50 5 GEOHAZARDS ................................................................................................................... 52 5.1 LANDSLIDES .............................................................................................................. 52 5.2 SHRINK/SWELL ......................................................................................................... 67 5.3 SULPHATE .................................................................................................................. 70 5.4 RADON ........................................................................................................................ 74 6 WEATHERING ................................................................................................................... 75 6.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................