EDC 34: Baldow Glen, Lennoxtown

Grid reference: NS 61526, 77489

Site type: Natural section

Site ownership: Not known (Managed by Forestry Commission)

Current use: Private Country (Forestry)

Field surveyor: Mike Browne

Current geological designations: None

Date visited: 14th April 2009

Site map

(Figure 34) Glen Baldow Location Map

Summary description

Wooded glen with steep banks revealing exposures mainly of beds of mudstone belonging to the Lower Limestone Formation (and top of the Lawmuir Formation). The Hurlet Limestone seems to have been quarried out (with compacted waste visible) but the underlying Hurlet Coal is exposed showing good cleat (joints).

Thin beds of ironstone and nodules of ironstone occur along with exposure of the Blackhall Limestone which here is crinoidal.

EDC 34: Stratigraphy and rock types

Age: Lower Carboniferous Formation: Lower Limestone Formation Rock type: Sedimentary Rock Cycles of the Clackmannan Group Type Age: Lower Carboniferous Formation: Lawmuir Formation

Rock type: Sedimentary Rock Cycles of the Strathclyde Group Type

Age: Lower Carboniferous Formation: Blackhall Limestone, Lower Limestone Formation

Rock type: Limestone

Age: Lower Carboniferous Formation: Hurlet Limestone, Alum Shale and Hurlet Coal

Rock type: Limestone, mudstone and coal

Age: Lower Carboniferous Formation: Baldernock Limestone, Lawmuir Formation

Rock type: Limestone

Age: Lower Carboniferous Formation: Balgrochan Beds, Lawmuir Formation

Rock type: Mudstone (marine band)

Assessment of site value

Access and safety

Aspect/Description

Road access and parking Parking possible near Newlands Farm to the SW, walking along forest tracks to the site

Safety of access Walking on forest tracks, then off-path and up to 15 m deep valley. Beware of felling

Safety of exposure Low risk of rock fall, possible slips on steep valley sides and deep boggy patches.

Permission to visit None sought

Current condition Okay

Current conflicting activities Forest felling,

Restricting conditions None known

Nature of exposure Stream section

Culture, heritage & economic

Historic, archaeological & literary associations None known. Rating: 0.

Aesthetic landscape. Rating: 2.

History of earth sciences None known. Rating: 0.

Economic geology Coal and limestone workings. Rating: 4.

EDC 34: Geoscientific merit

EDC 34: Baldow Glen, Lennoxtown. Geoscientific merit.

Total Geoscientific merit score 45

Current site value

Community. Rating: 8.

Education Relevant to anyone interested in coal, mudstone and ironstone as minerals. Rating: 3.

Fragility and potential use of the site

Fragility Weathering and erosion only

Potential use Guided walk

Geodiversity value

Access is a limiting factor (from informal bike trail) but ok for looking at lithologies described under education. Rating: 6.

Photographs

(Photo 205) View towards the bing at the former colliery at Newlands from the car park on the gated road. Looking east.

(Photo 206) Close-up of the bing at the former colliery at Newlands.

(Photo 207) Snatch quarry for track bases. The quarry is in sandstone with siltstone and mudstone beds belonging to the Lower Limestone Formation above the Blackhall Limestone. View looking southeast towards the small section displaying a fault.

(Photo 208) Close-up of a small eastward trending fault in the snatch quarry, cutting through sandstone with siltstone and mudstone beds of the Lower Limestone Formation.

(Photo 209) Small stream section displaying mudstones overlying a thin coal seam on top of seatclay with backfill of old workings to the left. The units are likely to be the Hurlet Coal and the Alum Shale. The sedimentary sequence is thought to belong either to the top of the Lawmuir Formation or basal part of the Lower Limestone Formation.

(Photo 210) Close-up of laminated mudstones overlying a thin coal seam with closely spaced cleat on seatclay; possibly representing the Hurlet Coal and Alum Shale.

(Photo 211) Stream outcrop of bedded crinoidal limestone. Blackhall Limestone, Lower Limestone Formation.

(Photo 212) Close-up of the bedded crinoidal limestone. White flecks are crinoidal fragments. Blackhall Limestone, Lower Limestone Formation.

(Photo 213) Small river bank section through mudstones with reddish brown ironstone beds, Lower Limestone Formation above the Blackhall Limestone.

Bibliography