The geology of the Kirkmichael area, Ayrshire Integrated Geoscience Surveys (Northern Britain) Internal Report IR/03/078 BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY INTERNAL REPORT IR/03/078 The geology of the Kirkmichael area, Ayrshire Richard A Smith The National Grid and other Ordnance Survey data are used with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Ordnance Survey licence number GD 272191/2003 Key words Geology, Kirkmichael, Ayrshire. Bibliographical reference SMITH, R A. 2003. The geology of the Kirkmichael area, Ayrshire. British Geological Survey Internal Report, IR/03/078. 21 pp. © NERC 2003 Keyworth, Nottingham British Geological Survey 2003 IR/03/078; Version 0.1 last modified: 17/06/03: 11:45 BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY The full range of Survey publications is available from the BGS Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG Sales Desks at Nottingham and Edinburgh; see contact details 0115-936 3241 Fax 0115-936 3488 below or shop online at www.thebgs.co.uk e-mail: [email protected] The London Information Office maintains a reference collection www.bgs.ac.uk of BGS publications including maps for consultation. 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Forde House, Park Five Business Centre, Harrier Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HU 01392-445271 Fax 01392-445371 Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, 20 College Gardens, Belfast BT9 6BS 028-9066 6595 Fax 028-9066 2835 Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB 01491-838800 Fax 01491-692345 Parent Body Natural Environment Research Council, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, Wiltshire SN2 1EU 01793-411500 Fax 01793-411501 www.nerc.ac.uk ii IR/03/078; Version 0.1 last modified: 17/06/03: 11:45 Acknowledgements A large number of individuals within the Central Belt of Scotland Project have contributed to this report. This assistance has been received at all stages of the study. In addition to the collection of data, many individuals have freely given their advice. Of the many individuals who have contributed to the project I would particularly like to thank the following: Maxine Akhurst, Alison Monaghan, Sarah Arkley, Mike Stephenson and Emrys Phillips. Maxine Akhurst also edited the report. The author would also like to thank the landowners in the Kirkmichael area for allowing access to the rock and superficial exposures. Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................................. III SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................................V 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 PREVIOUS WORK ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 PENWHAPPLE NORTH GROUP .............................................................................................. 2 1.2.1 Lower Camregan Grits Formation (LCRG)............................................................................ 2 1.3 LANARK GROUP ........................................................................................................................ 2 1.3.1 Swanshaw Sandstone Formation (SWAS).............................................................................. 2 1.4 INVERCLYDE GROUP (Tournaisian-Visean).......................................................................... 4 1.4.1 Kinnesswood Formation (KNW)............................................................................................ 4 1.4.2 Ballagan Formation (BGN)..................................................................................................... 5 1.4.3 Clyde Sandstone Formation (CYD)........................................................................................ 7 1.5 STRATHCLYDE GROUP ........................................................................................................... 7 1.5.1 Lawmuir Formation (LWM)...................................................................................................7 2.5 CLACKMANNAN GROUP (UPPER VISEAN-NAMURIAN) ................................................ 9 2.5.1 Lower Limestone Formation (LLGS)..................................................................................... 9 2.5.2 Limestone Coal Formation (LSC)........................................................................................... 9 3. INTRUSIVE IGNEOUS ROCKS ............................................................................................................ 10 3.1 EARLY DEVONIAN ..................................................................................................................10 iii IR/03/078; Version 0.1 last modified: 17/06/03: 11:45 3.1.1 Andesitic sills (A).................................................................................................................. 10 3.1.2 Andesitic Dykes (A).............................................................................................................. 10 3.2 MAFIC INTRUSIONS (Lower Devonian to Palaeocene)........................................................ 11 3.2.1 Quartz-dolerite sills (qD) ...................................................................................................... 11 3.2.2 Basic Dykes .......................................................................................................................... 11 4 STRUCTURE............................................................................................................................................. 12 4.1 DEFORMATION PHASES........................................................................................................ 12 4.2 FAULTS ....................................................................................................................................... 12 5 QUATERNARY ......................................................................................................................................... 13 5.1 LATE DEVENSIAN.................................................................................................................... 13 5.1.1 Till......................................................................................................................................... 14 5.1.2 Meltwater channels ............................................................................................................... 14 5.1.3 Hummocky Glacial Deposits ................................................................................................ 14 5.1.4 Glaciofluvial Sand and Gravel.............................................................................................. 15 5.2 FLANDRIAN ............................................................................................................................... 15 5.2.1 Alluvium and buried channels .............................................................................................. 15 5.2.2 River Terrace Deposits ......................................................................................................... 16 5.2.3 Alluvial Fans......................................................................................................................... 16 5.2.4 Peat........................................................................................................................................ 16 5.3 ARTIFICIAL GROUND.................................................................................................................... 16 5.3.1 Made Ground ........................................................................................................................ 16 5.3.2 Worked Ground .................................................................................................................... 17 5.3.3 Infilled ground ...................................................................................................................... 17 5.3.4 Landscaped ground ............................................................................................................... 17 5.4 SOILS ........................................................................................................................................... 17 6 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................................... 17 FIGURES Figure 1. Solid geology of the Kirkmichael