Stephenson, D., Loughlin, S.C., Millward, D., Waters, C.N. & Williamson, I.T. 2003. Carboniferous and Permian Igneous Rocks of Great Britain North of the Variscan Front. Geological Conservation Review Series, No. 27, JNCC, Peterborough, ISBN 1 86107 497 2.
The original source material for these web pages has been made available by the JNCC under the Open Government Licence 3.0. Full details in the JNCC Open Data Policy
D. Stephenson*, S.C. Loughlin*, D. Millward*, C.N. Waters+ and I.T. Williamson+
*British Geological Survey, Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3LA.
+British Geological Survey, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 SGG.
GCR Editor: D. Palmer
Published by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Monkstone House, City Road, Peterborough, PE1 1JY, UK
First edition 2003
© 2003 Joint Nature Conservation Committee
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ISBN 1 86107 497 2
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Recommended example citations
Stephenson, D., Loughlin, S.C., Millward, D., Waters, C.N. and Williamson, I.T. (2003) Carboniferous and Permian Igneous Rocks of Great Britain North of the Variscan Front, Geological Conservation Review Series, No. 27, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.
Upton, B.G.J. (2003) Arthur's Seat Volcano, City of Edinburgh. In Carboniferous and Permian Igneous Rocks of Great Britain North of the Variscan Front (D. Stephenson, S.C. Loughlin, D. Millward, C.N. Waters and I.T. Williamson), Geological Conservation Review Series, No. 27, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, pp. 64–74.
List of contributors
Acknowledgements
Access to the countryside
Preface N.V. Ellis
1 Carboniferous and Permian igneous rocks of Great Britain north of the Variscan Front: an introduction
Introduction D. Stephenson
GCR site selection D. Stephenson
Tectonic setting and evolution K.M. Goodenough, D. Stephenson and S.C. Loughlin
Magma source and evolution D. Stephenson, S.C. Loughlin, D. Millward and C.N. Waters
Xenoliths and megacrysts D. Stephenson
2 Dinantian volcanic rocks of the Midland Valley of Scotland and adjacent areas
Introduction D. Stephenson
North Berwick Coast, East Lothian B.G.J. Upton
Garleton Hills, East Lothian I.T. Williamson
Traprain Law, East Lothian I.T. Williamson and D. Millward
Arthur's Seat Volcano, City of Edinburgh B.G.J. Upton
Burntisland to Kinghorn Coast, Fife D.G. Woodhall
Touch, Fintry and Gargunnock Hills, Stirling I.T. Williamson
Campsie Fells, Stirling and East Dunbartonshire J.G. MacDonald
Dumbarton Rock, West Dunbartonshire J.G. MacDonald
Dunrod Hill, Inverclyde D. Stephenson
Machrihanish Coast and South Kintyre, Argyll and Bute I.T. Williamson
Heads of Ayr, South Ayrshire I.T. Williamson and A.A. Monaghan
3 Dinantian volcanic rocks of the Northumberland, Solway and Tweed basins
Introduction D. Millward and I.T. Williamson
Gill Beck, Cumbria D. Millward
Bothel Craggs Quarry, Cumbria D. Millward
Little Mell Fell Quarry Cumbria D. Millward
Langholm-Newcastleton Hills, Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Border. I.T. Williamson
Lintmill Railway Cutting, Scottish Borders I.T. Williamson
Hareheugh Craigs, Scottish Borders I.T. Williamson
Cottonshope Head Quarry Northumberland D. Millward
Kershope Bridge, Scottish Borders I.T. Williamson
River Esk, Glencartholm, Dumfries and Galloway I.T. Williamson
4 Silesian and Early Permian volcanic rocks of Scotland
Introduction D. Stephenson
East Fife Coast, Fife I.T. Williamson
Howford Bridge, East Ayrshire I.T. Williamson
Carron Water, Dumfries and Galloway I.T. Williamson
5 Alkaline basic sills and dykes of Scotland
Introduction D. Stephenson
South Queensferry to Hound Point, City of Edinburgh S.C. Loughlin and I.T. Williamson
Ardrossan to Saltcoats Coast, North Ayrshire J.G. MacDonald
Lugar, East Ayrshire I.T. Williamson
Benbeoch, East Ayrshire J.G. MacDonald
Craighead Quarry, South Lanarkshire J.G. MacDonald
Dubh Loch, Isle of Colonsay, Argyll and Bute B.G.J. Upton
6 Tholeiitic sills and dykes of Scotland and northern England
Introduction S.C. Loughlin and D. Stephenson
North Queensferry Road Cuttings, Fife S.C. Loughlin
Wallstale, Stirling S.C. Loughlin
Lomond Hills, Fife S.C. Loughlin
Gloom Hill, Dollar, Clackmannan S.C. Loughlin
Mollinsburn Cuttings, North Lanarkshire S.C. Loughlin
Corsiehill Quarry, Perth and Kinross D. Stephenson
Whin Sill Exposures in Upper Teesdale, County Durham S.C. Loughlin
Steel Rigg to Sewingshields Crags, Northumberland S.C. Loughlin
Longhoughton Quarry, Northumberland S.C. Loughlin
Cullernose Point to Castle Point, Northumberland S.C. Loughlin
Budle Point to Harkess Rocks, Northumberland S.C. Loughlin and D. Stephenson
Greenfoot Quarry, County Durham S.C. Loughlin
Holy Island, Northumberland S.C. Loughlin and D. Stephenson
Wydon, Northumberland S.C. Loughlin
7 Carboniferous and Permian igneous rocks of central England and the Welsh Borderland
Introduction C.N. Waters
Litton Mill Railway Cutting, Derbyshire C.N. Waters
Water Swallows Quarry, Derbyshire C.N. Waters
Tideswell Dale, Derbyshire C.N. Waters
Calton Hill, Derbyshire C.N. Waters
Clee Hill Quarries, Shropshire W.J. Barclay
Barrow Hill, Dudley C.N. Waters
Middle Hope, North Somerset V.P. Wright and P.J. Cossey
Spring Cove, North Somerset C.N. Waters
Golden Hill Quarry, Monmouthshire R.E. Bevins
References
Glossary
Index
William J. Barclay British Geological Survey, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG.
Richard E. Bevins Department of Geology, National Museum of Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF1 3NP.
Patrick J. Cossey School of Sciences, Staffordshire University College Road, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire ST4 2DE.
Kathryn M. Goodenough British Geological Survey, Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3LA.
Susan C. Loughlin British Geological Survey, Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3LA.
James G. MacDonald Department of Adult and Continuing Education, University of Glasgow, 59 Oakfield Avenue, Glasgow G12 8LW.
David Millward British Geological Survey, Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3LA.
Alison A. Monaghan British Geological Survey, Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3LA.
David Stephenson British Geological Survey, Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3LA.
Brian G.J. Upton Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Edinburgh, The Grant Institute, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JW. Colin N Waters British Geological Survey, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG.
Ian T. Williamson formerly British Geological Survey, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG.
Derek G. Woodhall formerly British Geological Survey, Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3LA.
V. Paul Wright Department of Earth Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3YE.
This volume is the combined work of the 13 authors listed on page xi. Individual chapters have been compiled by the authors of the relevant chapter introductions and have been edited by D. Stephenson (chapters 2, 4, 5 and 6), K.M. Goodenough (Chapter 1 and introduction to Chapter 2), D. Millward (Chapter 3, introductions to chapters 4 and 5) and C.N. Waters (Chapter 7). Overall compilation and editing is by D. Stephenson and K.M. Goodenough. The GCR editor was D. Palmer and the referee was C.H. Emeleus, whose perceptive comments were responsible for much improvement during the later stages of preparation. The project was cofunded by JNCC and BGS and has been managed by N.V. Ellis for JNCC and D.J. Fettes and M. Smith for BGS.
The initial site selection and site documentation for this volume was by C.H. Emeleus, R. Macdonald, D. O'Halloran and I.T. Williamson and subsequent information and assistance has been provided by M. Murphy (for English Nature) and R. Threadgould, K.M. Goodenough and C. Bond (for Scottish Natural Heritage). Diagrams were drafted by S.C. White and C.F. Pamplin Q S Publications, Newmarket), the references were compiled by A. Muir and L.B. Gray, and the index was prepared by B.J. Amos. The production editor was E. Durham (JNCC). Photographs were scanned and prepared by T. Bain (BGS, Edinburgh). Photographs from the BGS collection are reproduced by kind permission of the Director, BGS NERC; all rights reserved (PR/23–27).
Several people have helped with advice on the stratigraphical framework to the magmatism, notably M.A.E. Browne on the Midland Valley of Scotland, A.A. McMillan on the Solway Basin and B. Young on northern England. WA. Read and M.A.E. Browne are also thanked for allowing sight of their text being prepared for the forthcoming fourth edition of The Geology of Scotland, which has been particularly useful for its summary of current ideas on palaeogeography and tectonic development. Several studies of radiometric ages were in progress at the time of compilation of this volume and the following are thanked for their permission to quote extensively from their unpublished work: M.A. Hamilton, A.A. Monaghan, D.G. Pearson, M.S. Pringle and M. Timmerman. D.T. Moffat allowed unpublished work on the diatreme at Golden Hill Quarry to be incorporated in that site report. B. Young provided information on mineralization associated with the Whin Sill-complex and contributed much helpful discussion on various aspects of the complex. Particular thanks are also due to B.G.J. Upton for his advice and inspiration over many years and for much discussion during the joint compilation (with D.S.) of a contribution to The Geology of Scotland, some results of which will be inevitably duplicated in this volume.
Finally, on behalf of all of the site report authors, we would like to record our thanks to the owners and managers of land and quarries who have allowed access to the sites, either during previous work or specifically for the GCR exercise.
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.
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, further unravel their history in 'deep time' and learn more of the history of life on Earth, 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, both at national and local levels.
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, describing the Carboniferous and Permian igneous rocks of Great Britain, is the 27th 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 igneous of rocks of this age, but also provides an excellent summary of the petrological features and palaeogeographical significance to be found in them, and it outlines the research that has been undertaken on them. 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 in this book 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, used in conjunction with the glossary, is also aimed at a less specialized 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 1998–2001, and must be seen in this context. Geology, 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 come to light. Increased or hitherto unrecognized significance may be seen in new sites, and it is possible that further sites worthy of conservation will be identified in future years.
There is still much more to learn and the sites described in this volume are as important today as they have ever been in increasing our knowledge and understanding of the geological history of Britain. This account clearly demonstrates the value of these sites for research, and their important place in Britain's scientific and natural heritage. This, after all, is the raison d'être of the GCR Series of publications.
N.V. Ellis, GCR Publications Manager May 2002