British Upper Jurassic stratigraphy (Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian)

J.K. Wright, Department of Geology, Royal Holloway, University of London.

and

B.M. Cox, Formerly of the British Geological Survey, Keyworth.

GCR Editor: D. Skevington

Published by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Monkstone House, City Road, Peterborough, PE1 1JY, UK

First edition 2001

© 2001 Joint Nature Conservation Committee

Typeset in 10/12pt Garamond ITC by JNCC

Printed in Great Britain by CLE Print Limited on Huntsman Velvet 100 gsm.

ISBN 1 86107 482 4.

Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the UK Copyright Designs and Patents Act, 1988, this publication may not be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction only in accordance with the terms of the licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency in the UK, or in accordance with the terms and licences issued by the appropriate Reproduction Rights Organization outside the UK. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the terms stated here should be sent to the GCR Team, JNCC.

The publisher makes no representation, express or implied, with regard to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and cannot accept any legal responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions that may be made.

British Geological Survey Copyright protected materials

1. The copyright of materials derived from the British Geological Survey's work is vested in the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC; IPR 13–2C). No part of these materials (geological maps, charts, plans, diagrams, graphs, cross-sections, figures, sketch maps, tables, photographs) may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, in advance.

2. To ensure that copyright infringements do not arise, permission has to be obtained from the copyright owner. In the case of BGS maps this includes both BGS and the Ordnance Survey. Most BGS geological maps make use of Ordnance Survey topography (Crown Copyright), and this is acknowledged on BGS maps. Reproduction of Ordnance Survey materials may be independently permitted by the licences issued by Ordnance Survey to many users. Users who do not have an Ordnance Survey licence to reproduce the topography must make their own arrangments with the Ordnance Survey Copyright Branch, Romsey Road, Southampton SO9 4DH (Tel. 01703 792913).

3. Permission to reproduce BGS materials must be sought in writing from the Intellectual Property Rights Manager, British Geological Survey Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG (Tel. 0115 936 3331).

The National Grid is used on diagrams with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, © Crown copyright licence no. GD 27254X/01/00.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Recommended example citations

Wright, J.K. and Cox, B.M. (2001) British Upper Jurassic Stratigrapby (Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian), Geological Conservation Review Series No. 21, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.

Cox, B.M. (2001) General introduction to Oxfordian and Kimmeridgian stratigraphy. In British Upper Jurassic Stratigraphy (Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian), Geological Conservation Review Series No. 21, (J.K. Wright and B.M. Cox), Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, pp. 1–10.

Wright, J.K. (2001) Osmington. In British Upper Jurassic Stratigrapby (Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian), Geological Conservation Review Series No. 21, Q.K. Wright and B.M. Cox), Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, pp. 18–30.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Access to the countryside

Foreword N.V. Ellis

1 General introduction to Oxfordian and Kimmeridgian stratigraphy B.M. Cox

Introduction

Palaeoenvironment and palaeogeography

The Oxfordian–Kimmeridgian outcrop

Stratigraphical nomenclature

Upper Jurassic fauna

GCR site selection

Volume structure

2 Upper Jurassic stratigraphy from Dorset to Oxford

Introduction J.K. Wright

Osmington J.K. Wright

Black Head B.M. Cox

Ringstead B.M. Cox

Sandsfoot J.K. Wright

East Fleet–Small Mouth B.M. Cox

East Fleet J.K. Wright

Lynch Cove J.K. Wright

Tyneham Cap–Hounstout B.M. Cox

Blind Lane B.M. Cox

Westbury J.K. Wright

Steeple Ashton J.K. Wright

Seend Cleeve J.K Wright

Old Town, Swindon B.M. Cox

Shellingford Crossroads J.K. Wright

Lamb and Flag J.K. Wright

Dry Sandford J.K. Wright

Cumnor J.K. Wright

Littlemore Railway Cutting J.K. Wright

Cross Roads Quarry J.K. Wright

Magdalen Quarry J.K. Wright

Lye Hill Quarry J.K. Wright

Littleworth Brick Pit B.M. Cox

3 Upper Jurassic stratigraphy in the East Midlands

Introduction B.M. Cox

Upware South Pit J.K. Wright

Dimmock's Cote Quarry J.K. Wright

Warboys Clay Pit J.K. Wright

Roslyn Hole B.M. Cox

South Ferriby B.M. Cox

4 Upper Jurassic stratigraphy in North Yorkshire

Introduction J.K. Wright

Speeton Sands B.M. Cox

Filey Brigg J.K. Wright

Tenants' Cliff Cayton Bay J.K. Wright

Cornelian Bay J.K. Wright

Hackness Head J.K. Wright

Betton Farm J.K. Wright

Spikers Hill J.K. Wright

Newbridge J.K. Wright

Green Lane Pit and Golden Hill Pit B.M. Cox

Shaw's Gate Quarry J.K Wright

Snape Hill J.K. Wright

Nunnington J.K. Wright

Wath Quarry, Hovingham J.K. Wright

5 Upper Jurassic stratigraphy in Scotland

Introduction J.K. Wright

Balintore J.K. Wright

Brora J.K. Wright

Helmsdale B.M. Cox

Staffin J.K. Wright

Kildorais B.M. Cox

North Elgol Coast J.K. Wright

References

Glossary

Fossil index

General index

Acknowledgements

First drafts of the Oxfordian site reports were prepared by Mr C. Makinson (formerly of the Nature Conservancy Council, Geological Conservation Review Unit) whose contribution is gratefully acknowledged. JKW thanks Professor J.H. Callomon and Drs A.L. Coe and K.N. Page for contributions made during a visit to the Osmington site. Professors B.A. Matyja and A. Wierzbowski have accompanied JKW during several site visits; their ideas have contributed to some of the views expressed herein. The Oxfordian ammonites were photographed by Mr K. Denyer and Mr K. D'Souza. BMC thanks Professor J.H. Callomon and Dr P.B. Wignall for discussion of the South Ferriby site, and Mr M.G. Sumbler for his critical reading of initial drafts.

Both authors thank Dr R.W. Gallois, who read the entire typescript and made numerous valuable suggestions, and the GCR Editor, Dr D. Skevington, for his feedback throughout the project.

Thanks are also due to the GCR Publication Production Team: Mr N.V. Ellis, Publications Manager; Miss A.J. Carter and Mr N.K. Cousins (Production Editors). The diagrams were produced by Xipress IT Solutions of Newmarket by Drs S. White and C. Pamplin.

Where content of illustrations has been replicated or modified from the work of others appropriate acknowledgements are given in the captions. Photographs are accredited in the captions. Photographs from the British Geological Survey collection are reproduced by kind permission of the Director, British Geological Survey (© NERC, all rights reserved; IPR/13–2C). The National Grid is used on diagrams with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office,

Crown copyright licence no. GD 27254X/01/00.

Access to the countryside

This volume is not intended for use as a field guide. The description or mention of any site should not be taken as an indication that access to a site is open. Most sites described are in private ownership, and their inclusion herein is solely for the purpose of justifying their conservation. Their description or appearance on a map in this work should not be construed as an invitation to visit. Prior consent for visits should always be obtained from the landowner and/or occupier.

Information on conservation matters, including site ownership, relating to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or National Nature Reserves (NNRs) in particular counties or districts may be obtained from the relevant country conservation agency headquarters listed below:

Countryside Council for Wales, Plas Penrhos, Ffordd Penrhos, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2LQ.

English Nature, Northminster House, Peterborough PE1 1UA.

Scottish Natural Heritage, 12 Hope Terrace, Edinburgh EH9 2AS.

Foreword

There is such a diversity of rocks, minerals, fossils and landforms packed into the piece of the Earth's crust we call 'Britain', that it is difficult not to be impressed by the long, complex history of geological change to which they are testimony. But if we are to improve our understanding of the nature of the geological forces that have shaped our islands, and further unravel their history in 'deep time', we must ensure that the most scientifically important of Britain's geological localities are conserved for future generations to study, research and enjoy. Moreover, as an educational field resource and as training grounds for new generations of geologists on which to hone their skills, it is essential that such sites continue to remain available for study. The first step in achieving this goal is to identify the key sites. This is the aim of the Geological Conservation Review.

The GCR, launched in 1977, is a world-first in the systematic selection and documentation of a country's best Earth science sites. No other country has attempted such a comprehensive and systematic review of its Earth science sites on anything near the same scale. After over two decades of site evaluation and documentation, we now have an inventory of over 3000 GCR sites, selected for 100 categories covering the entire range of the geological and geomorphological features of Britain.

This volume, detailing the Oxfordian and Kimmeridgian GCR sites, is the 21st to be published in the intended 42 volume GCR series. Not only does it contain the descriptions of key localities that will be conserved for their contribution to our understanding of the Late Jurassic Epoch, but also provides an excellent summary of the succession in Britain and the considerable research that has been undertaken on it. The book will be invaluable as an essential reference book to those engaged in the study of these rocks and will provide a stimulus for further investigation. It will also be helpful to teachers and lecturers and for those people who, in one way or another, have a vested interest in the GCR sites: owners, occupiers, planners, those concerned with the practicalities of site conservation and indeed the local people for whom such sites are an environmental asset. The conservation value of the sites is mostly based on a specialist understanding of the stratigraphical, palaeontological and sedimentological features present and is therefore, of a technical nature. The account of each site ends, however, with a brief summary of the geological interest, framed in less technical language, in order to help the non-specialist. The first chapter of the volume is also aimed at a less specialist audience. This volume is not intended to be a field guide to the sites, nor does it cover the practical problems of their ongoing conservation. Its remit is to put on record the scientific justification for conserving the sites.

This volume deals with the state of knowledge of the sites available at the time of writing, in 1998–2000, and must be seen in this context. Stratigraphy, like any other science, is an ever-developing pursuit with new discoveries being made, and existing models are subject to continual testing and modification as new data comes to light. Increased or hitherto unrecognized significance may be seen in new sites. Indeed, during the progress of the writing work, three new sites have been proposed for the Oxfordian and Kimmeridgian GCR lists, and it is possible that further sites worthy of conservation will be identified in future years. Nevertheless, there is still much more to learn and the sites described in this book are as important today as they have ever been in increasing our knowledge and understanding of the Late Jurassic history of Britain. This account clearly demonstrates the value of British sites for Upper Jurassic stratigraphy, and their important place in Britain's scientific and natural heritage. This, after all, is the raison d'etre of the GCR Series of publications.

N.V. Ellis, GCR Publications Manager November 2000

References