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Joe Rogers
200697491
Student ID
University of Leeds
Joe Rogers
200697491
University of Leeds
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
_SOEE _ _ _ _
Abstract
Module Code
Deadline Date
Date Submitted
this to
work
Yes
The
mapping area covers a 10km2 Isarea
thelate?
west of Torver
and No
Module
Name
Coniston. The northern section is made
of have
~2km
Doup
you
anpyro/volcanoclastic
extension? Yes
Module
No of sedimentary rocks.
deposits uncomfortably overlaying ~2km
Declaration
Deposition
of
the
volcanics
came Isfrom
arc-volcanism,
producing
this group
work?
Yes
explosive pyroclastic flows, volcanic bombs and
No ash fall deposits. This is
due to the closure of the Iapetus Ocean between the Mid-Late
Ordovician.
This
was
followed
by
period
of
sedimentation,
the University and that it is my responsibility to be aware of the Universitys regulations on plagiarism. I re-confrm my consent to t
the major fold through the district, the Westmoorland Monocline. Late
Devensian glaciation and lesser glacial periods beforehand eroded the
Full Name
topography to present day geomorphology. This left behind an
Put added
your fullto
name
the box.superficial
abundance of glacial till, which was
by in
further
deposits in the Holocene.
Joe Rogers
200697491
University of Leeds
Table of Contents
1. Introduction..................................................................................1
2. Methodology.................................................................................3
3. Mappable Units.............................................................................4
3.1. Back Quarry Formation--------------------------------------------------------------4
3.2. Bursting Stone Formation-----------------------------------------------------------5
3.3. Twin Crags Formation----------------------------------------------------------------6
3.4. Booth How Formation----------------------------------------------------------------7
3.5. Timley Formation----------------------------------------------------------------------8
3.6. Three Gills Formation----------------------------------------------------------------9
3.7. Tranearth Formation----------------------------------------------------------------11
3.8. New Intake Formation--------------------------------------------------------------11
3.9. Wide Close Formation--------------------------------------------------------------13
3.10. Bleathwaite Formation-----------------------------------------------------------15
4. Structure....................................................................................18
4.1. Stereonet Data-----------------------------------------------------------------------18
4.1. Faulting---------------------------------------------------------------------------------22
4.2. Folding----------------------------------------------------------------------------------23
5. Quaternary Geology.....................................................................25
5.1. Superficial Deposits-----------------------------------------------------------------25
5.2. Glaciation------------------------------------------------------------------------------25
5.3. Applied Geology----------------------------------------------------------------------27
6. Discussion ..................................................................................29
7. Conclusion..................................................................................34
Bibliography...................................................................................35
Appendices.....................................................................................41
Joe Rogers
200697491
University of Leeds
1.
Introduction
The Lake District National Park is a mountainous region located in Cumbria,
North West England (fgure 1.1). The geology and landscape was shaped by the
closure of the Iapetus palaeo-ocean, which existed from end Neoproterozoic to
early Paleozoic times (600-400 Ma). Then it was situated in the southern
hemisphere between the palaeocontinents of Laurentia, Baltica and Avalonia.
Eventual ocean closure came about from the Acadian, Taconic and, most
influentially, the Caledonian orogenies.
During the Ordovician (460 Ma), the Laurentian continental plate which held
Laurentia began subducting beneath Avalonia, creating arc volcanism from
Eastern Ireland through to Belgium (Pharaoh et al., 2009). As a consequence
large amounts of explosive volcanism caused pyroclastic and magma flows in
sub-aerial, sub-marine and lacustrine settings (Branney, 1988). As the Iapetus
oceanic crust continued to subduct, magmatism continued, producing up to 8 km
of deposits (Ortega et al., 2010). Calderas formed, and some (like the Scafell
Caldera)
were
important in producing
depositional
environments
for pyroclastics (Millward, 2004). Finally, a large granite body was emplaced
under the Scafell and Haweswater calderas (Branney & Soper, 1988). These
volcanics comprise the Borrowdale Volcanic Group, approximately 450Ma in age.
Immense mass created by crustal thickening associated with the evolution of a
mountain belt from the Taconic Orogeny, caused lithospheric flexure and thus
created accommodation space. This also forced the eastern edge of Laurentia to
fold gradually downward and be heavily faulted as it collided with the island arc.
Over time the basin deepened due to thermal contraction from the cooling of the
batholith feeding the arc volcanism. This isostatic decrease is shown in the
biostratigraphy. These marine conditions engulfed the foreland basin, migrating
southward across the Lake District during the fnal stages in the closure of the
Iapetus Ocean (Kneller, 1991; Hughes et al., 1993). This basin was flled between
~450 400Ma, creating the Windermere Supergroup.
In more recent geological time, ice ages that spread to latitudes which would
have covered the Lake District region in glacial ice have carved away at the
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200697491
University of Leeds
Figure 1.1. Location of the field area relative to the United Kingdom
(Google Inc., 2014).
Joe Rogers
200697491
University of Leeds
2.
Methodology
The aims of the mapping project were to produce a geologic map of a region
12km West of Coniston, North-West England, thus determining a geological
history of the area. During a period of 42 days from the 25 th May - 5th July 2014,
research was undertaken over a 10km 2 study area by using mapping skills
acquired from previous feld training exercises. Geological mapping with fled
equipment
helped
identify
observations,
followed
by
justifed
personal
Once the area had been mapped, notebook information and data coupled with
feld slip maps were taken away to produce this report and a fair copy map of the
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200697491
University of Leeds
Coniston area. ArcGIS software (Esri, 2013) was used when producing the map,
CorelDRAW (Corel Corporation, 2011) for diagrams and the VisibleGeology app
(MATLAB, 2014) for structural readings.
3.
Mappable Units
3.1.
Back Quarry Formation
The outcrop seen at grid reference NC: 3277 4981 was a 10m
x 15m block. The average size for this unit is unmeasurable,
but exceptionally large. There is a possible outcrop pattern,
jagged and broken almost cleaved. At outcrop scale, the
colour is weathered grey. Beds are 10s of cm in scale.
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200697491
University of Leeds
deposited conditions were sufficiently hot enough to weld the tephra together.
The consolidated volcanic ash from eruption makes it a tuff. The eustatic texture
suggests that the rock is extrusive, with the famme advocating a pyroclastic
flow deposit.
From this information, the rock is translated as a dacitic lapilli-tuff. The
environment of deposition is portrayed as an explosive volcanic eruption, leading
to a pyroclastic flow into a sub-aerial setting. According to published literature
this is known as the Lag Bank Formation, formally the Lag Bank Tuffs of Mitchell
(1956b) interpreted as an ignimbrite.
3.2
Bursting Stone Formation
The outcrop seen at grid reference NC: 3277 4976 was
of a 3m x 3m standing proud from the landscape. The
average
size
for
this
unit
is
unmeasurable,
but
weathered grey. Beds are 10s of cm in scale. The contact is conformable with the
Figure 3.2. Hand Specimen of Back
Quarry Formation.
Hand specimen colour is a light green with medium sand to silt sized grains.
The grains are a mixture of subrounded and angular. It is moderately sorted, with
very tight packing giving low porosity. The mineralogy of the rock is made up of
reworked grains from the volcanics, Quartz, amphibole, feldspar, lithic and
pyroclastic fragments. An abundance of sedimentary structures are seen,
particularly at the contact with the Booth How Formation. Some of these consist
of dropstones, antidunes, flame structures where it has injected into the
sediment above as well as other soft sediment deformation.
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200697491
University of Leeds
Chlorite
altered from
Amphibole
The primary minerals of the Bursting Stone Formation are plagioclase and
quartz. Accessory minerals are probably orthoclase and some amphibole,
however it is difficult to ascertain as erosion has worn away the minerals leaving
only the hardest behind. From this mineral assemblage and proportions, the rock
has been interpreted as being sedimentary and volcaniclastic. The abundance
and varying sedimentary structures such as dropstone features and soft
sediment
deformation
suggest
that
deposition
occurred
in
an
aqueous
environment. This is further justifed by the size and shape of the clasts, which
appear to have been reworked by fluid action.
From this information, the rock is translated as a volcanoclastic sandstone.
The environment of deposition is portrayed as sub-aqueously deposited volcanic
sediment, reworked from existing pyroclastic rocks. According to published
Joe Rogers
200697491
University of Leeds
literature this is known as the Seathwaite Fell Formation, formally the Seathwaite
Fell Tuffs of Oliver (1961) interpreted as a volcaniclastic sandstone and siltstone,
with intercalations of pyroclastic lithofacies and penecontemporaneous sills
(Millward et al., 2000).
3.3
Twin Crag Formation
The outcrop seen at grid reference NC: 3283 4981 was
~25m x 25m standing proud from the landscape. The average
size outcrop for this unit cannot be measured as rather than
being many small outcrops it is one large exposed crag. The
pattern of outcrop is just the shape of the crag. At outcrop
scale, the colour is weathered light green/grey. There are no
Figure 3.4. Hand Specimen of the
Twin Crag Formation.
3.4
Booth How Formation
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200697491
University of Leeds
The outcrop seen at grid reference NC: 3283 4971 was a 4m x 2m block. The
average size for this unit is unmeasurable, but exceptionally large. There is no
pattern of outcrop it protrudes out commonly. At outcrop scale, the colour is
weathered grey. Beds are 10s of cm in scale. The contact is conformable with the
Bursting Stone (3.2) and seen contacts can be mapped along the boundary in
higher topography but inferred in the low lying bog areas.
Figure 3.5. Hand Specimen of the
Booth How Formation.
3.5
8
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200697491
University of Leeds
Timley Formation
The outcrop seen at grid reference NC: 3284 4971 was of a 5m x
3m block weathered out Timley Knott about 1.5m. This is roughly
the average size outcrop for this unit. The pattern of outcrop is pitted ridges
running with strike downdip. At outcrop scale, the colour is brown. Beds are ~
20cm. The contact is unconformable with the Booth How (3.4) and many seen
contacts can be mapped due to the close proximity of individual outcrops.
Hand specimen colour is matt grey in some beds but dirty brown in others. It is
interbedded, with the grey beds clastic rock with a silt grain size. The dirty brown
beds contain carbonates. Grains are subangular with low sphericity. It is poorly
sorted, with tight packing giving it low porosity. The mineralogy of the rock is
composed of quartz, feldspar and other rock and lithic fragments, with the
carbonate fragments making up the rest. No sedimentary structures are seen.
The pitted weathering pattern in some layers suggests limestone erosion. The
dominate grain size in others is silt making it a siltstone. Crinoid columnals and
disarticulated brachiopods suggest a marine environment. The overall carbonate
content hints a carbonate platform shallow marine, warm conditions. The
interbedded layers show times of organic life separated by clastic input.
From this information, the rock is translated as an interbedded limestone and
siltstone. The environment of deposition is portrayed as an equatorial, shallow
marine, shelf environment. According to published literature this is known as the
Kirkley Bank Formation (Scott & Kneller, 1990), interpreted as a calcareous
siltstone and mudstone.
3.6
Three Gills Formation
The outcrop seen at grid reference NC: 3277 4962 was of a
10m x 3m block weathered out of the hillside along Torver Beck
by about 0.5m. The average size for this unit cannot be
determined as outcrop size varies greatly. The pattern of
outcrop is generally mounds weathered out of the landscape.
At outcrop scale, the colour is light grey. Beds are ~ 15cm. The
9
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200697491
University of Leeds
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200697491
University of Leeds
3.7
Tranearth Formation
The outcrop seen at grid reference NC: 3281 4959 was of a 7m x
1.5m block weathered out of the hillside by about 1m. The average
size for this unit is difficult to determine, as general weathered
outcrops are ~8m x 1m x 1m, however much of the exposure can
be seen in the quarried areas. The pattern of outcrop is that most
of the area this unit covers is covered in quaternary deposits, but
exposure is seen where streams cut through the
Figure 3.8. Hand Specimen
of the Tranearth Formation.
the Three Gills Formation (3.6) although at no point could be mapped as seen, so
this is inferred from the patterns seen previously of facies change and structural
data.
Hand specimen colour is blue-grey, clastic rock with grain size variations from
a fne sand to silt. In some areas it is very fne grained, like clay. These grains are
subangular with low sphericity. It is poorly sorted, with tight packing giving it low
porosity. There are no fossils within the rock. There are an abundance of
sedimentary structures in this unit, such as millimetre scale planar laminations,
cross bedding, asymmetrical ripples, herringbone cross stratifcation, load casts,
convolute bedding and antidunes.
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200697491
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The average grain size throughout the rock is silt making it a siltstone. The
layers of coarser grains show laminations. These laminations are possible lowdensity turbidity currents. The lack of bioturbation suggests an anoxic, deep
marine setting.
From this information, the rock is translated as a laminated siltstone. The
environment of deposition is portrayed as a deep, shelf environment with
sediment input from minor turbidity currents. According to published literature
this is known as the Brathay Formation (Kneller, 1990a) interpreted as graptolitic
laminated siltstone. Although literature discusses graptolite fauna extensively,
particularly monograptus parultimus, none were witnessed in the study area
despite signifcant excavation.
3.8
New Intake Formation
The outcrop seen at grid reference NC: 3286 4962 was of
a 12m x 2.5m block standing proud by about 2m from the
ground. This is the average size and shape for most of the
outcrops seen in this unit. This has the most consistent, very
regular outcrop pattern of proud - but smoothed - sandstone ridges parallel to
strike, all dipping down topography. There is a
Figure 3.9. Hand Specimen of the
New Intake Formation.
Long Haws, New Intake and Little Arrow intake down to Torver Beck. After this,
the trend continues but on a smaller scale. At outcrop scale, the colour is light
brown. Beds fne upwards: ranging in size from 10cm to 2m. The contact is
conformable with the Tranearth Formation (3.7) although at no point could be
mapped as seen, so this is inferred from the patterns seen previously of facies
change and structural data.
Hand specimen colour is blue-grey, clastic rock with grain size variations from
a medium sand to silt. In some areas it is very fne grained, like clay. These
grains are subangular with low sphericity. It is poorly sorted, with tight packing
giving it low porosity. The mineralogy of the rock is composed of Quartz, Feldspar
and other rock and lithic fragments. The modal percentage of each component is
30% Lithics, 50% Quartz, 10% Feldspar and 10% unidentifable rock fragments.
12
Joe Rogers
200697491
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There are no fossils within the rock. There are an abundance of sedimentary
structures in this unit, such as millimetre scale planar laminations, cross bedding,
asymmetrical ripples, herringbone cross stratifcation, load casts, convolute
bedding and antidunes.
Using a QFL diagram shows that this rock is a litharenite. The environment of
deposition is shown by a sedimentary log taken at NC: 3285, 4960 shows the
different layers of the Bouma sequence seen in this unit. It shows the Bouma
layers A-B-C. A represents a high energy environment. This is shown by the
graded bedding. B displays the upper flow regime, hence the tool marks. C
shows the lower flow regime .This is seen due to the presence of climbing
ripples. Soft sediment deformation in the form of slump and dish and pillar
structures hint that dewatering was occurred on a steep slope with fast
sedimentation rates.
The environment of deposition is portrayed as a turbidity current at its proximal
stage. According to published literature this is known as the Birk Riggs Formation
(Kneller, 1990a) interpreted as sandstone, siltstone and mudstone turbidites.
Figure 3.10. QFL diagram showing the position of the New Intake
Formation.
13
Figure 3.?. Sedimentary log through the New Intake formation at NC: 3285
4960.
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3.9
200697491
University of Leeds
Figure 3.11. Sedimentary log through the New Intake Formation at NC:
3285 4960.
14
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200697491
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Bedding and cleavage is difficult to measure due to the poor nature of the
outcrop. This pattern follows the strike of the valleys. Outcrop colour is a heavily
weathered grey and beds are ~15cm in size. The contact is conformable with the
New Intake Formation (3.8), but not seen. It is at its clearest in the valley areas
where one side is New Intake whereas the other is Wide Close and this follows
the structural readings for both units. The unit is almost identical to the
Tranearth Formation (3.7) but can be distinguished between by the size and
abundance of planar laminations which is greater in the latter. No other units are
of this colour with laminations.
Hand specimen colour is tarnished grey, clastic rock with silt grain size. These
grains are subangular with low sphericity. It is poorly sorted, with tight packing
giving it low porosity. There are no fossils seen within the rock, clearly no
bioturbation. Sedimentary structures are seen, mainly millimetre scale planar
laminations being the distinctive feature in this unit as well as the kinked
cleavage.
The average grain size throughout the rock is silt making it a siltstone. The
layers of coarser grains show laminations. These laminations are possible lowdensity turbidity currents. The lack of bioturbation suggests an anoxic, deep
marine setting. Kinked bands suggest sandstone-shale sequences, similar to
cyclic sequences seen in the turbidite sequences, siltstone beds are banded
across the landscape then where there are spaces between outcrops down dip,
this could be where the mud layers have eroded away.
From this information, the rock is translated as a laminated siltstone. The
environment of deposition is portrayed as a deep, shelf environment with
sediment input from minor turbidity currents. According to published literature
15
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200697491
University of Leeds
3.10
Bleathwaite Formation
The outcrop as seen at grid reference NC: 3290 4954 was
of a 10m x 2m block standing proud by about 1.5m from
the ground. This is the average size and shape for most of
the outcrops seen in this unit. There is a regular outcrop
pattern of proud - but smoothed - sandstone ridges parallel
to strike, all dipping down topography. At outcrop scale, the colour is dark brown.
Figure 3.13. Hand Specimen of the
Bleathwaite Formation.
mapped as seen, so this is inferred from the patterns seen previously of facies
change and structural data. The unit is very similar to that of the New Intake
Formation (3.7) but can be distinguished by the smaller grain size. All other units
are different in colour and therefore easy to tell apart.
Hand specimen colour is metallic grey, clastic rock with grain size variations
from a fne sand to silt. In some areas it is very fne grained, like clay. These
grains are subangular with low sphericity. It is poorly sorted, with tight packing
giving it low porosity. The mineralogy of the rock is composed of quartz, feldspar,
and other rock and lithic fragments. There are no fossils within the rock. Few
sedimentary structures are seen, but millimetre scale planar laminations, groove
marks and what could be ripple marks at the base of some beds are present.
Using a QFL diagram shows that this rock is a sublitharenite. The environment
of deposition is shown by a sedimentary log taken at NC: 3294 4955 shows the
different layers of the Bouma sequence seen in this unit. It shows the Bouma
layers A-B.
From this information, the rock is translated as a turbidite sequence. The
environment of deposition is portrayed as a high density turbidity current at its
16
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200697491
University of Leeds
17
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200697491
University of Leeds
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200697491
University of Leeds
4.
Structure
The Lower Palaeozoic rocks of the Lake District record the Early Palaeozoic
history of the northern margin of Eastern Avalonia. This microcontinent rifted
from Gondwana and drifted north from the high southerly latitudes during the
Ordovician and early Silurian (about 60S to 30S; Torsvik & Trench, 1991).
Structures now preserved in the region record events at the continental margin
during that migration (Millward et al., 2000).
Stereonet Data
Figure 4.1. Stereonet showing the principal bedding direction of the Back Quarry
Formation: 056/55 SE.
Figure 4.2. Stereonet showing the principal bedding direction of the Bursting Stone
Formation: 052/63 SE.
19
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200697491
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Figure 4.3. Stereonet showing the principal bedding direction of the Booth How
Formation: 050/46 SE.
Figure 4.4. Stereonet showing the principal bedding direction of the Timley
Formation: 042/45 SE.
Figure 4.5. Stereonet showing the principal bedding direction of the Three Gills
Formation: 043/44 SE.
20
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200697491
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Figure 4.6. Stereonet showing the principal bedding direction of the Tranearth
Formation: 041/41 SE.
Figure 4.7. Stereonet showing the principal bedding direction of the New Intake
Formation: 049/45 SE.
Figure 4.8. Stereonet showing the principal bedding direction of the Wide Close
Formation: 051/51 SE.
21
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200697491
University of Leeds
Figure 4.9. Stereonet showing the principal bedding direction of the Bleathwaite
Formation: 055/54 SE.
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200697491
University of Leeds
4.2
Faulting
The complex fault pattern of the Lake District has a polyphase evolution
involving reactivation of some volcanotectonic faults, Acadian deformation and
later, Late Palaeozoic extensional tectonism (Millward et al., 2000).
The faults in the northern part of the mapping area are a consequence of the
thermal contraction of the Lake District batholith (Branney & Soper, 1988). Most
of these measured the study area downthrow to the west - corresponding with
the location of the batholith. In the north-east part of the mapping area there is
an extensive section of faulting. These faults run through from the Bursting
Stone Formation, down stratigraphy before ending in the Three Gills Formation.
These faults run directly through gullies carved by streams, which hint at a point
of weakness. The average strike of these faults was ~325. The throw on the
faults averages at 50m, leaving the stratigraphy - particularly in the Timley
Formation - severely distorted. Some appear to have formed conjugate faults, for
example at NC: 3285 4971. Others have joined into other faults to make a
complex fault web. Some faults in this area then continue on up stratigraphy into
the largest fault mapped in the area, frst seen at NC 3280 4978. This fault runs
at ~25 through a large proportion of rock units, seen from the Bursting Stone
Formation down into the Three Gills Formation. Further up dip, at NC: 3276 4972
another fault runs parallel along the same strike as before, like a sister fault.
The density of faults over the mapping area varies, with the large proportion
situated in the northern section around the volcanic units, whereas in the
23
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200697491
University of Leeds
sedimentary faulting is far sparser. It is only seen in some areas dotted across
the unit boundaries.
The fault system appears to be normal, with some oblique motion which is to
be expected as real faults do not coincide exactly to models created in the
classroom.
It is difficult to infer relative movement on the faults in certain parts of the
mapping area, as there is signifcant erosion in both the siltstone dominated
beds such as the Three Gills and Wide Close Formations, as well as the limestone
interbedded Timley Formation.
Quartz veins, which are identifable by their white colour with strong vitreous
lustre, coupled with the ability to scratch a hand lens - are seen in areas of
structural extension. This fluid fll occupies accommodated space, particularly in
areas of faulting. For example, at NC: 3285 4972, quartz veins are abundant
within 5-10m of a mapped fault, lying parallel to the fold axis.
Literature states the presence of the Park Gill Thrust. A thrust fault which
gently ramps down-sequence, lying close to the Coniston Group (Millward et al.,
2000). Despite this, in the feld no evidence was seen of such fault. Some quartz
veins were witnessed but not enough to justify a fault. This is not surprising, as it
is stated that this thrust rarely produces any stratigraphical offset.
4.3
Folding
Although no folds were seen intra-unit, there is evidence
for large scale folding across a regional scale. Within the
Bursting Stone formation, there are evidence of minor
folds (see fgure 4.12.) These folds show vergence,
suggesting that the unit is located on the south-east facing
limb of a fold. The limbs of the minor fold are parasitic (see
fgure 4.13.), short wavelength folds formed within a larger
wavelength fold structure - normally associated with
differences in bed thickness.
24
Figure
4.31.
Photograph of minor
fold verging NW at
NC:3264
4951,
looking 176.
Joe Rogers
200697491
University of Leeds
Figure 4.32. Sketch of a parasitic minor fold at NC: 3272 4976. This shows a vergence
direction to the NW.
25
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200697491
University of Leeds
5.
Quaternary Geology
5.1
Superficial Deposits
Superfcial deposits have too been mapped along with bedrock geology. These
unconsolidated sediments overlay signifcant proportions of the study area.
Till is widely distributed over the mapping
area. It is extremely poorly sorted and contains
some very large clasts, which can be traced to
other units in the mapping area. It makes up a
majority of the bogs found in the central area,
where the steep mountainous north has a break
in slope before flattening out. Peat is only found
in one area at NC: 3284 4966 in the boggy flat
central region. The lack of exposure limits an
approximation
of
peat
land
coverage;
this
26
Figure
5.1.
Photograph
of
exposed section of glacial till,
note the unsorted randomly
sized clasts at NC:3285 4978,
looking 354.
Joe Rogers
200697491
University of Leeds
5.2
Glaciation
Over time the Lake District has been heavily glaciated in various Ice Ages
producing a characteristic geomorphology of wide U-shaped valleys, steep ridges
with Englands highest mountain and deepest and longest lakes.
5.2.
of
27
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200697491
University of Leeds
they are
situated
been
28
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200697491
University of Leeds
Figure 5.6. Satellite image of the eastern mapping area it shows the
steep glaciated topography in the background down into the smooth low
lying foreland (Google Inc., 2014).
5.3
Applied Geology
There is ample evidence of economic geological activity in the study area.
Disused quarries are scattered across the map in many of the units - both
volcanic and sediment. The largest of which is Bursting Stone Quarry located at
NC: 3279 4973. Green, fne-grained slate of the Bursting Stone Formation is
quarried along its cleavage. Slate was formed across wide areas of the Coniston
district during the Acadian orogeny, when an intense cleavage was imposed on
many of the rocks (Millward et al., 2000). Other slates of blue-grey colour are
found within the Windermere Supergroup units (see fgure 5.7. for quarry
locations). Even and regular cleavage occurs in the fne grained and lithologically
uniform sediments and is quarried at: NC: 3269 4955 and NC: 3272 4958 in the
Three Gills Formation; NC: 3289 4969; NC: 3279 4960 and NR: 3280 4961 in the
Tranearth Formation; NC: 3283 4952 in the Wide Close Formation; NC: 3293 4955
in the Bleathwaite Formation.
Old mining equipment such as cables and tracks are found along the eastern
footpath to the summit of The Old Man. There is also a cave further along this
path leading into the northern side at NC: 3275 4980, which is likely to be
attributed to the former Coniston copper mines. Other minerals were too
extracted by various companies over the years; the primary minerals found at
Coniston are: arsenopyrite; chalcopyrite; iron pyrites; malachite; tennantite and
tetrahedrite (Mineexplorer, 2011).
29
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University of Leeds
6.
Discussion
The Lake District lies immediately south of the line of closure of the Iapetus
Ocean. In Ordovician times, this separated the continents of Laurentia to the
north from Avalonia-Gondwana to the south. This closure (seen in fgure 6.1)
started the formation of the lithologies and structure of the mapping area by,
frstly, subducting oceanic crust forming a major volcanic province of arc
volcanism. Regional uplift from a deep oceanic to subaerial environment took
place prior to building of the frst volcanoes. Uplift may have been the inevitable
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University of Leeds
in. A log (fgure 3.3.) through the Booth How Formation proves a subaqueous
pyroclastic flow deposit, which is further strengthened by dropstone features.
working through
formations.
Subsidence associated with eruptions in the Duddon Basin produced a
widespread basin in which fluvial and lacustrine sedimentation dominated.
Contemporaneous volcanic activity continued in a reduced form, with the influx
of eruption-generated gravity flows, and beds of ash fall tuff (Millward et al.,
2000). This is shown in the mapping area by the Back Quarry & Booth How
Formations which are both tuffs, with the fnal unit, the Bursting Stone Formation,
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Figure 6.3. Synoptic structural map of the Ambleside district.
Centre of field area marked by star (Millward et al., 2000).
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University of Leeds
basin migrating southward across the Lake District during the fnal stages of the
closure of the Iapetus Ocean (Kneller, 1991; King, 1992).
With late Ordovician cessation of volcanism and deformation of the Acadian
Orogeny, (Soper et al., 1987) came deposition within the Windermere Basin.
Sedimentation began in the Caradoc, ~455 Ma and lasted until the Pridoli, ~ 419
Ma, terminated by erosion. The rate of sediment accumulation accelerated with
time due to the increasing proximity of the Avalon mountain belt. This
sedimentation formed the Windermere Supergroup, a sequence of folded and
cleaved, predominantly marine sedimentary rocks, which unconformably overlies
the Borrowdale Volcanic Group (Millward et al. 2000). In the initial shallow
waters, carbonate facies developed creating the Dent Group (a subgroup of the
Windermere Supergroup). This primary carbonate facies is represented in the
study area by the Timley Formation. This was followed by deepening water
deposits represented by the Stockdale group, a series of mud and siltstones,
which display a sedimentation rate high enough to preserve annual variation.
This variation is seen in the laminations of the Tranearth, New Intake and Wide
Close Formations. Finally, a series of sediment gravity currents flowed into the
basin swamping the siltstones beneath. This created a series of sandy turbidites
known as the Coniston Group. The turbidite sequence is just seen in the mapping
area at the southern edge as the youngest unit, the Bleathwaite Formation.
The variation in graptolite fauna is pragmatic in distinguishing between
separate units within the Dent and Stockdale groups. The abundance of different
species can be used to split rock units into graptolite zones. However, it the feld
area no graptolite fossils were recovered only a large array of brachiopods.
About two million years ago, the Lake District was a mountain massif broken
by river valleys radiating outwards from the centre. A period of climatic
oscillations led to a series of ice ages during which the ice flowed out from the
central core, following the river valleys, deepening and widening them, and
depositing streamlined till and other depositional features on the lower land
(Royal Geographical Society, 2014) (see fgure 6.5 for ice movement direction).
The last glacial period in Britain and Ireland was the Devensian glaciation;
~110,000 - 12,000 years ago (Clayton, 2006). This shaped the glacial
geomorphology and features glaciation features such as striations and U-shaped
valleys seen in the feld area.
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The dominant deposit resulting from the Late Devensian glaciation is till, now
forming extensive, featureless spreads (British Geological Survey, 1998; Chapter
12). These spreads are mapped extensively as superfcial deposits covering the
sediment members in the study area.
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University of Leeds
Conclusion
The bedrock geology of the Coniston mapping area is dominated by two
distinct lithological groups. The northern area is primarily made up of volcanic
formations of both ignimbrite and volcaniclastic rocks. The latter is intruded by
other igneous provinces in the far north-east. The southern area is comprised of
sediment members ranging from mudstone to sandstone, with the presence of
turbidite sequences in the extreme south. The two groups are separated by an
angular unconformity below the Booth How Formation.
The volcanic group was deposited in a mixture of sub-aqueous, sub-aerial and
lacustrine environments as pyroclastic flow and ash fall deposits, with some
reworked into volcaniclastics before being deformed to a shallow dip. The
sediment formations were initially deposited in a shallow marine, shelf
environment as calcareous siltstone before marine transgression and regression
led to variations in depth of marine depositional environments, varying from
mudstone, siltstone to sandstone. High-density, sediment laden currents flowing
down dip into deep marine abyssal settings resulted in the turbidite sequences.
Sedimentation is continuous; however the fluctuating rate of clastic influx from
source affects what and how much can be deposited in these environments.
Regional deformation occurred in two separate phases. The initial developed
post deposition of the volcanic group.
The major fault system which trends NW/SE was created either due to thermal
contraction of the cooling Lake District Batholith, continuing fore-arc subduction
or plate collision of the Acadian Orogeny. The direction of motion of the faults is
an oblique-slip movement.
The geomorphology of the area was shaped by preceding glacial events, but
predominantly by the late Devensian ice age. It has shaped the landscape into
characteristic U-shaped valleys with associated cirques and hanging valleys.
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The superfcial geology of the mapping area covers a majority of the sediment
group and signifcant parts of the volcanic in lower topography areas. Glacial till,
a remnant of previous glaciation, is stricken over the low lying sediments in the
southern areas and covers the volcaniclastics in the west. Localised peat and
alluvium at river banks is too seen.
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Mineralizing
Event
Associated
with
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Magmatism.
at:
http://www.rgs.org/OurWork/Schools/Fieldwork+and+local+learning . (Accessed
9th December 2014)
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Software Used
Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Visible Geology Stereonet, Sedilog, ArcGIS,
CorelDraw, Google Earth.
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Appendix
Map, Cross-section, Stratigraphic Column, Field Slips
Documents kept separate.
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