British Lower Carboniferous stratigraphy

P.J. Cossey Department of Geology, School of Sciences, Staffordshire University, College Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DE

A.E. Adams Department of Earth Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL

M.A. Purnell Department of Geology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH

M.J. Whiteley Barrisdale Limited, 16 Amberley Gardens, Bedford MK40 3BT

M.A. Whyte Department of Environmental and Geological Sciences, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brookhill, Sheffield S3 7HF

V.P. Wright Department of Earth Sciences, Cardiff University, PO Box 914, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3YE

with contributions from P. Gutteridge (Cambridge Carbonates Limited, Nottingham) N.J. Riley (British Geological Survey, Keyworth) J. Miller (Department of Continuing Education, Edinburgh) G.M. Walkden (Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology, University of Aberdeen)

GCR Editor: L.P. Thomas

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

First edition 2004

0 2004 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 86 107 499 9

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

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.

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Recommended example citations

Cossey, P.J., Adams, A.E., Purnell, M.A., Whiteley, MT, Whyte, M.A. and Wright, V.P. (2004) British Lower Carboniferous Stratigraphy, Geological Conservation Review Series, No. 29, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, 616 pp.

Whiteley, M.J. (2004) Culm Trough. In British Lower Carboniferous Stratigraphy (P.J. Cossey, A.E. Adams, M.A. Purnell, M.J. Whiteley, M.A. Whyte and V.P. Wright), Geological Conservation Review Series, No. 29, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, pp. 477–504.

Cover illustration: Folded marine rocks of the Lower Carboniferous (Arundian) Birnbeck Limestone at the Flat Holm GCR site in the Bristol Channel (see Chapter 9 for further details). Photograph by P.J. Cossey.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Access to the countryside

Preface P.J. Cossey

1 Introduction to British Lower Carboniferous stratigraphy P.J. Cossey and A.E. Adams

Introduction

Scope of this volume

Relevant literature

Structural setting

Stratigraphy

Rationale for GCR site selection

2 Midland Valley Basin M.A. Whyte

Introduction

Cove, Scottish Borders

Barns Ness Coast, East Lothian

East Sands–Buddo Ness, Fife

Randerston Coast, Fife

Elie–Anstruther, Fife

Kinghorn Coast, Fife

Invertiel Quarry, Fife

Kinnesswood, Perth and Kinross

Roscobie Quarry, Fife

Queensferry Shore, City of Edinburgh

Joppa Shore, City of Edinburgh

Bilston Burn, Midlothian

Skolie Burn, West Lothian

Petershill, West Lothian

Gargunnock Burn, Stirling

Touchadam, Stirling

Todholes, Stirling

Corrie Burn, East Dunbartonshire

Ballagan Glen, Stirling

Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire

Waulkmill Glen and Rouken Glen, City of Glasgow

River Calder, South Lanarkshire

Paduff Burn, North Ayrshire

Trearne Quarry, North Ayrshire

Linn Spout, North Ayrshire

Corrie Shore, Arran, North Ayrshire

Bracken Bay–Longhill Point, South Ayrshire

Garpel Water, East Ayrshire

Kennox Water, South Lanarkshire

3 Northumberland Trough M.A. Purnell and P.J. Cossey

Introduction

Kirkbean, Dumfries and Galloway

Ellery Sike, Cumbria

Birky Cleugh, Cumbria

Whitberry Burn, Cumbria

Oakshaw Ford, Cumbria

Redesdale Ironstone Quarry, Northumberland

Tipalt Burn, Northumberland

Brunton Bank Quarry Northumberland

Greenleighton Quarry, Northumberland

Corbridge Limestone Quarry, Northumberland

Roddam Dene, Northumberland

Glebe Quarry Northumberland

Colour Heugh-Bowden Doors, Northumberland

Burnmouth, Scottish Borders

Spittal Shore, Northumberland

Penton Linns, Dumfries and Galloway-Cumbria

4 Lake District Block and Alston Block A.E. Adams and P.J. Cossey

Introduction

Meathop Quarry Cumbria

Skelwith Hill, Cumbria

Iron Pit Spring Quarry, Cumbria

Elliscales Quarry, Cumbria

Barker Scar, Cumbria

Trowbarrow Quarry, Lancashire

Humphrey Head, Cumbria

Yeathouse Quarry Cumbria

Clints and Steelbarrow Quarries, Cumbria

Rogerley Quarry County Durham

5 Stainmore Basin and Askrigg Block P.J. Cossey and A.E. Adams

Introduction

Wasdale Beck, Cumbria

Pinskey Gill, Cumbria

Stone Gill–Scandal Beck, Cumbria

Ash Fell Edge, Cumbria

Little Asby Scar, Cumbria

Janny Wood, Cumbria

Sleightholme Beck, County Durham

How Gill, County Durham

Malham, North Yorkshire

Settle, North Yorkshire

School Share, North Yorkshire

Cracoe Knolls and Swinden Quarry, North Yorkshire

Meal Bank Quarry, North Yorkshire

Pen-y-ghent Gill, North Yorkshire

Whitfield Gill–Mill Gill, North Yorkshire

6 Craven Basin P.J. Cossey, N.J. Riley, A.E. Adams and J. Miller

Introduction

Chatburn Bypass, Lancashire

The Knolls, Lancashire

Salthill and Bellmanpark Quarries, Lancashire

Coplow Quarry, Lancashire

River Hodder, Lancashire

Sykes Quarries, Lancashire

Dowshaw DeIf Quarry, North Yorkshire

Pendle Hill, Lancashire

Saleswheel, Lancashire

Artie Beck, Lancashire

Holywell Bridge, North Yorkshire

Haw Crag, North Yorkshire

Glints Quarry, North Yorkshire

Hambleton Quarry, North Yorkshire

7 Derbyshire Platform, North Staffordshire Basin and Hathern Shelf P.J. Cossey, P Gutteridge, M.A. Purnell, A.E. Adams and G.M. Walkden

Introduction

Wye Valley and Cressbrook Dale, Derbyshire

Duchy Quarry, Derbyshire

Castleton, Derbyshire

Pindale Quarry, Derbyshire

Ricklow Quarry and Monyash Quarry, Derbyshire

National Stone Centre, Derbyshire

Cawdor Quarry, Derbyshire

Baileycroft Quarry, Derbyshire

Dale Quarry, Derbyshire

Dovedale, Derbyshire–Staffordshire

Wetton to Beresford Dale, Staffordshire–Derbyshire

Brown End Quarry, Staffordshire

Caldon Low Quarry, Staffordshire

Cauldon Railway Cutting, Staffordshire

Grace Dieu, Leicestershire

Ticknall Quarries, Derbyshire

Breedon Cloud Quarry Leicestershire

8 North Wales Shelf A.E. Adams and P.J. Cossey

Introduction

Lligwy Bay, Isle of Anglesey, Gwynedd

Tandinas Quarry Isle of Anglesey, Gwynedd

Flagstaff Quarry, Isle of Anglesey, Gwynedd

Trwyn Dwlban, Isle of Anglesey, Gwynedd

Great Orme, Gwynedd

Little Orme, Gwynedd

Pentre-bach Quarries, Clwyd

Eglwyseg Mountain, Clwyd

9 South Wales–Mendip Shelf A.E. Adams, V.P. Wright and P.J. Cossey

Introduction

Llanelly Quarry, Gwent

Clydach Halt Lime Works, Gwent

Blaen Onneu Quarry, Powys

Odynau Tyle'r Bont, Powys

Baltic Quarry, Powys

Cwar yr Ystrad and Hendre, Powys

Blucks Pool–Bullslaughter Bay, Dyfed

Tenby Cliffs, Dyfed

Three Cliffs Bay, Gower, West Glamorgan

Pwlldu Head, Gower, West Glamorgan

Caswell Bay, Gower, West Glamorgan

Bracelet Bay, Gower, West Glamorgan

Ilston Quarry Gower, West Glamorgan

Oystermouth Old Quarry, Gower, West Glamorgan

Tongwynlais Road Section, South Glamorgan

Brofiscin Quarry, Mid Glamorgan

Danygraig, Gwent

Stenders Quarry, Gloucestershire

Scully Grove Quarry, Gloucestershire

Edgehill Sand Quarry, Gloucestershire

Avon Gorge, Bristol, Avon

Burrington Combe, Somerset–Avon

Maesbury Railway Cutting, Somerset

Vallis Vale, Somerset

Cook's Wood Quarry, Somerset

Flat Holm, Bristol Channel

Barnhill Quarry, Avon

10 Culm Trough M.J. Whiteley

Introduction

Fremington Quay, Devon

Park Gate Quarry, Devon

Kersdown Quarry, Devon

Kiln Cottage Quarry, Devon

West Whipcott Quarry, Devon

Stout's Cottage Quarry, Devon

Yeolmbridge Quarry, Cornwall

Viverdon Down Quarry, Cornwall

Spara Bridge, Devon

References

Glossary

Fossil

Index

Acknowledgements

In compiling this account of key sites of importance to the understanding of 'British Lower Carboniferous Stratigraphy' the authors received advice and support from a great many colleagues. Grateful thanks are therefore extended to all those who gave help, either in the site selection process, in literature gathering, in the supply of illustrations or previously unpublished information, in reading early draft material for this volume, or with copyright issues. These include N. Aitkenhead, J. Alexander, R.S. Arthurton, T Bain, J. Benson, S. Campbell, H. Chalk, J.I. Chisholm, C.J. Cleal, F.W. Cope, B. Cox, R. Crosby, P.F. Dagger, J.R. Davies, S.K. Donovan, A.C. Dunham, T.D. Ford, D.V. Frost, R.L. Gawthorpe, D.C. Greig, P. Gutteridge, A.C. Higgins, A.V. Hodgson, S. Howells, G.A.L. Johnson, G. Kelling, M.R. Leeder, D. Lewis, A. Ludford, C. MacFadyen, K. Maguire, I. Metcalfe, J. Miller, M. Mitchell, N. Morgan, P.G. Morris, D.J.C. Mundy, J.R. Nudds, T. Palmer, D. Owen-Roberts, B. Owens, J. Pattison, P. Phillips, N.A.H. Pickard, G. Power, J.E. Prentice, W.H.C. Ramsbottom, R. Riding, N.J. Riley, W.B. Scott, E.B. Selwood, J. Shirley, J.G.O. Smart, I.D. Somerville, D.I. Steward, J.M. Thomas, J.W. Tilsley, A.E. Timms, B.R. Turner, W.J. Varker and G.M. Walkden.

The authors are specially indebted to N.J. Riley of the British Geological Survey who refereed the entire manuscript prior to publication and who made valuable suggestions that have led to its improvement. Thanks are also due to the GCR Publication Production team: N.V. Ellis (Publications Manager), E.L. Durham, A.J. Carter, N. Cousins (Production Editors), W.A. Wimbledon (formerly head of the GCR unit), and the GCR Editor L.P. Thomas for their professional guidance as the work was being undertaken; and to J S Publications (S. White and C. Pamplin) for the production of the artwork for the book.

In addition, the senior author expresses his sincere thanks to his co-authors for their various contributions; staff at Staffordshire University in the Thompson Library and in the School of Sciences (especially G. Barlow, M. Jennings, J. Sims, G. Skerratt, A. Willits and members of the Geology staff team) for their help and support as the volume was in preparation; and to Rosie Tiffany for her support, patience and encouragement during the entire course of the project, for without it this volume would surely never have been completed.

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, Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DW.

English Nature, Northminster House, Peterborough PE1 1UA.

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

Preface

Britain has often been referred to as the birthplace of modern geology and its islands are considered to include the greatest diversity of geological phenomena of any country of equivalent size on Earth. It is therefore no surprise that British geological sites have been particularly influential in the development of the Earth sciences, and that some of the oldest and the most fundamental of geological principles were originally established within the British Isles. Subsequently, these sites have been important in many areas: in the training of countless generations of geologists, as a test-bed for the development of new geological concepts and theories, and in the unravelling of many colourful pages in Earth history. Others have proved critical in the definition of geological time periods now recognized throughout the world. In fact the 'Carboniferous' was the first of the modern 'systems' to be named. The name was proposed by William Daniel Conybeare and William Phillips from British successions in 1822.

In order to learn more about Britain's rich Earth science heritage it is clear that the most important geological localities need to be documented and effectively conserved for the use of future generations. The launch of the Geological Conservation Review (GCR) in 1977 marked a significant stage in the development of a coherent geological conservation strategy in Britain. No other country has attempted a systematic and comprehensive review of its Earth science sites on anything like the same scale. The primary objective of the GCR was to identify a series of sites that would represent the key features of British geology and geomorphology. This ambitious site assessment and selection programme involved a widespread consultation process (with scientists from higher education, government, industry and the voluntary sector) and the consideration of many hundreds of sites, until a consensus was reached among collaborating specialists about which British sites were of sufficient geological interest to justify conservation.

To ensure that the original GCR site assessments were based on a firm logical and scientific foundation, the range of scientific interest was based upon around 100 subject 'blocks', reflecting the natural divisions of stratigraphy, palaeontology, igneous petrology, mineralogy, structural and metamorphic geology, and geomorphology. The 'Dinantian of Scotland', the 'Dinantian of northern England and North Wales', the 'Dinantian of southern England and South Wales', the 'Dinantian of Devon and Cornwall', and the 'Namurian' were five of these blocks. Each of these blocks (but only a part of the Namurian Block; see page 6) is considered in the present volume on 'British Lower Carboniferous Stratigraphy'.

This volume summarizes the results of the GCR assessment and selection programme of British Lower Carboniferous sites conducted in the late 1970s and 1980s. The minimum criterion for site selection was that sites should offer the finest and/or the most representative sequence/feature for illustrating a particular aspect of British Lower Carboniferous stratigraphy. The resulting Lower Carboniferous GCR sites are thus, at the very least, of national scientific importance and many of these include features regarded as either 'classic' (i.e. a 'textbook example') or simply 'unique'. Some are, in addition, visually spectacular. Others, such as the stratotype sites, have a particularly high international conservation value and are of considerable importance to the global geological community.

These GCR sites have been used as building blocks for establishing a new set of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). If no additional features of special scientific interest were recognized at, or adjacent to the GCR site, a proposal will have been made to notify the site as a geological SSSI for its Lower Carboniferous interest alone. If, however, other features of special scientific interest (either geological or biological) had been recognized at, or adjacent to the Lower Carboniferous GCR site, a composite SSSI would have been proposed, perhaps made up of several overlapping GCR sites and/or areas of special biological interest. Despite the heterogenous nature of such composite sites, it is important to remember that their Lower Carboniferous interest alone would be sufficient justification of their SSSI status. Details of the Lower Carboniferous GCR sites identified in this survey have been sent to the appropriate national conservation agency (English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage, Countryside Council for Wales), whose governing bodies are responsible for their notification as SSSIs.

This volume is not intended to be a field guide to British Lower Carboniferous sites, nor does it address any practical problems concerning their future conservation. Its remit is to put on record the scientific justification for conserving the sites, documenting and evaluating the significance of the features found there, and placing them in a wider stratigraphic context. The volume records details of our knowledge of sites available at the time of writing, in 1998–2001, and must be seen in this context. Each site report begins with a general 'Introduction' in which summary statements relating to site geology, location, literature and the site's importance are presented. Detailed 'Description' and 'Interpretation' sections then follow; these sections being unavoidably couched in technical language, because the conservation value of each site is mostly based on a specialist understanding of the stratigraphical, sedimentological and palaeontological features present. The depth of the interpretation varies considerably across the sites, as over the years, some have been more thoroughly investigated than others. Each site report ends with a 'Conclusions' section which is, wherever possible, cast in less technical language, in order to help the layman.

Finally, it should be emphasized that this volume does not provide a 'fixed list' of important Lower Carboniferous sites. Stratigraphy, like any other science, is a rapidly evolving subject and progressive developments in our understanding of Lower Carboniferous stratigraphy, arising perhaps from new discoveries or the formulation of new concepts, may require changes to the Lower Carboniferous GCR site network in the future. Indeed, during the writing of this volume six new sites have been proposed for addition to the GCR site list (mostly in the north of England) and proposals to modify the boundaries to a further 18 existing GCR sites are planned to accommodate such new developments. In addition, it is anticipated that further sites of importance will be identified in the future. Nevertheless, there is still much to learn about the GCR sites documented here, many of which are as important today — in increasing our knowledge and understanding of Lower Carboniferous geology — as they were when they were first selected. It is the authors' view that these sites will, undoubtedly, provide the core of the Lower Carboniferous GCR site network for many years to come. We therefore hope that this account will clearly demonstrate the value of British sites to Lower Carboniferous stratigraphy and the importance of the sites within the wider context of Britain's outstanding scientific and natural heritage.

References