Doncaster Geodiversity Assessment Volume 1 – Report Geology and Landscape South Programme Commissioned Report CR/07/025N BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEOLOGY AND LANDSCAPE SOUTH PROGRAMME COMMISSIONED REPORT CR/07/025N Doncaster Geodiversity Assessment Volume 1 – Report S Engering and H F Barron The National Grid and other Ordnance Survey data are used with the permission of the Contributors Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Licence No: 100017897/2007. Keywords Geodiversity; Doncaster. Editor Front cover A H Cooper Permian Bryozoan reef, North Cliff Quarry, Doncaster Bibliographical reference ENGERING, S & BARRON, H F. 2007. Doncaster Geodiversity Assessment. British Geological Survey Commissioned Report, CR/07/025N. 139pp. 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 report use topography based on Ordnance Survey mapping. © NERC 2007. All rights reserved Keyworth, Nottingham British Geological Survey 2007 BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY The full range of Survey publications is available from the BGS British Geological Survey offices Sales Desks at Nottingham, Edinburgh and London; see contact details below or shop online at www.geologyshop.com Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG The London Information Office also maintains a reference 0115-936 3241 Fax 0115-936 3488 collection of BGS publications including maps for consultation. e-mail: [email protected] The Survey publishes an annual catalogue of its maps and other www.bgs.ac.uk publications; this catalogue is available from any of the BGS Sales Shop online at: www.geologyshop.com Desks. 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Biodiversity and the need for the Government to recognise, audit and plan for habitat and ecology is widely accepted and enshrined in UK legislation. However, the importance of the complementary concept of Geodiversity is only now gaining recognition, despite providing the foundations for habitats and species. Geodiversity has a vital role in all aspects of the natural heritage and impacts on many sectors in economic development and historical and cultural heritage. For example, in the development of sustainable eco or geo-tourism (UNESCO Global Geoparks), Strategic Environmental Assessment, local authority structure and mineral plans, building stone resources, education and art. Nationally important geological sites have been assessed and are protected by statutory measures, but other than Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) in some areas, there is little systematic inventory and evaluation of local sites or development of management measures for these sites. The introduction of Planning Policy Statement 9 (PPS9): Biodiversity and Geological Conservation has elevated the importance of geodiversity to a new level in England and Wales. This report produced by the British Geological Survey seeks to address the aims of PPS9 and provides a foundation for developing a Doncaster Geodiversity Action Plan. Acknowledgements The authors wish to express their thanks to Helen McCluskie, Steve Butler, Colin Howes and Elaine Ward of Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council for support and advice throughout the project and to Tony Gibbs of the Derbyshire Caving Association for information on the cave systems. Also thankyou to the workshop attendees Cllr Yvonne Woodcock, Melissa Massarella, Donna Halliday, Roy Sykes, Tim Kohler, Mick Oliver, Rachel Overfield and David Edwards for their contributions. The field work could not have taken place without the co-operation of the various landowners and quarry operators; their permission is gratefully acknowledged. i CR/07/025N; Issue 1.1 Last modified: 2007/06/28 12:20 Contents FOREWORD ......................................................................................................................................I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................................I CONTENTS.......................................................................................................................................II SUMMARY........................................................................................................................................V 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Project background ............................................................................................... 1 1.2 Project Objectives.................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Legislative and Policy context .............................................................................. 1 2 GEODIVERSITY AND ITS IMPORTANCE .................................................................................... 3 2.1 Geodiversity – why is it important?..................................................................... 4 3 THE GEOLOGY OF DONCASTER .............................................................................................. 5 3.1 Introduction – Bedrock......................................................................................... 5 3.2 Introduction – Quaternary ................................................................................... 6 3.3 Geology and Landscape – Natural Areas............................................................ 8 3.4 Carboniferous ........................................................................................................ 8 3.5 Permian................................................................................................................. 10 3.6 Triassic.................................................................................................................. 14 3.7 Neogene (Quaternary)......................................................................................... 15 3.8 Structure............................................................................................................... 22 4 MINERAL RESOURCES ........................................................................................................... 23 4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 23 4.2 Resources and Reserves ...................................................................................... 23 4.3 Sand and gravel ................................................................................................... 23 4.4 Crushed rock aggregates..................................................................................... 25 4.5 Industrial dolostone............................................................................................. 26 4.6 Brick Clay, including Fireclay............................................................................ 26 4.7 Building stones ..................................................................................................... 27 4.8 Coal ....................................................................................................................... 27 4.9 Peat........................................................................................................................ 27 4.10 Hydrocarbons....................................................................................................... 28 5 GROUNDWATER RESOURCES ...............................................................................................