Ellen, R. and Callaghan, E. 2015. Geodiversity Audit of Spireslack and Mainshill Wood Surface Coal Mines. British Geological Survey Commerical Report CR/15/126. 70pp.
Appendix 1
This Appendix summarises details of sites within Spireslack SCM
- Drill hole in limestone pavement, NGR 274758 630557,
[NS 74758 30557] . Hole drilled in limestone to relieve pressure from build-up of water behind the pavement. Economic geology interest. - Sequence of poor-quality coals, siltstone and ironstone nodules, NGR 274913 630591,
[NS 74913 30591] . Sedimentary and stratigraphic interest. - Faulted sequence beneath McDonald seatearth, NGR 275187 630824,
[NS 75187 30824] . Ironstones and mudstones affected by faulting and mineralisation. Structural and sedimentary interest. - Thin dyke, NGR 274748 630432,
[NS 74748 30432] . Another of many thin dykes intruding the Limestone Coal Formation. Igneous interest. - Sequence beneath McDonald seatearth, NGR 274447 630266,
[NS 74447 30266] . Another exposure of the McDonald seatearth and sequence beneath. Sedimentary and stratigraphy interest. - Small displacement fault, NGR 274736 630542,
[NS 74736 30542] . Another example of many low displacement faults cutting the McDonald Limestone, with associated mineralisation. Structural and mineralisation interest. - Fault at western end of Spireslack, NGR 274517 630430,
[NS 74517 30430] . The juxtaposition of the McDonald and the Hurlet Limestone, caused by a fault at the western edge of the site, is observed at this locality. Structural interest. - Index Limestone, NGR 274487 630214,
[NS 74487 30214] . The road surface intersects the trace of the Index Limestone here, allowing hands on access to limited exposures. Sedimentological and palaeontological interest. - Fault juxtaposing Limestone Coal Formation against Lawmuir Formation, NGR 275391 629463, [NS 75391 629463]. The trace of the fault intersects the eroded back wall of the Spireslack SCM, conspicuous by a red staining of the rocks there. Structural interest.
- Large blocks with gigantus productids, NGR 275560 629654,
[NS 75560 29654] . A collection of quarried limestone containing abundant layers of Gigantoproductids, good for teaching purposes. Palaeontological interest. - Large monoliths across Spireslack SCM, NGR 275578 629817,
[NS 75578 29817] . Large rock monoliths containing excellent examples of cross-bedding in sandstones and bioturbation in seatearths — potential for onsite 'geo-trail' marked by these blocks. Sedimentary interest.