Computer Code: |
MGW |
Preferred Map Code: |
MGW |
Status Code: |
Full |
Age range: |
Devensian Stage (QD)
— Devensian Stage (QD) |
Lithological Description: |
Sand and gravel, coarsening upwards from pale brown fine-grained sand, with low-angle cross stratificationand ripple-drift cross lamination, to pebbly sand disposed in planar deltaic foresets (dip towards the south), and capped by gravel deltaic topsets. Clasts comprise local Lake District igneous and metamorphic rock-types together with some red and yellow sandstone, and coal. Forming flat-topped plateaux some 20m above the surrounding, poorly drained ground underlain by the Holmeside Clay Member. |
Definition of Lower Boundary: |
Sharp, undulating, erosional boundary with underlying moderate to reddish brown thinly interbedded clay and silt of the Holmeside Clay Member of the Aikbank Farm Glacigenic Formation. |
Definition of Upper Boundary: |
Either not overlain, or partially overlain by Flandrian peat or alluvial deposits. |
Thickness: |
About 9m |
Geographical Limits: |
Lower Wasdale, West Cumbria, inland of the limit of ice of the Irish Sea Ice Stream during the "Gosforth Oscillation". |
Parent Unit: |
Aikbank Farm Glacigenic Formation (AIK)
|
Previous Name(s): |
none recorded or not applicable
|
Alternative Name(s): |
Glaciofluvial deltaic (and/or subaqueous fan) deposits
|
Stratotypes: |
Reference Section |
BGS registered borehole SD19NW11 (Aikbank Farm Borehole 1), from 1.06 to 9.91m depth. Nirex, 1997. |
Type Section |
BGS registered borehole SD19NW12 (Aikbank Farm Borehole 2), from 1.5 to 10.06m depth. Nirex, 1997. |
Reference(s): |
Huddart, D. 1991. The glacial history and glacial deposits of the north and west Cumbrian lowlands, 151-167 in Ehlers, J, Gibbard, P L and Rose, J (editors), Glacial deposits in Great Britain and Ireland. [London: Balkema.] |
Merrit, J W and Auton, C A. 2000. An outline of the lithostratigraphy and depositional history of Quaternary deposits in the Sellafield district, west Cumbria. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society, Vol.53, 129-154 |
Merritt, J W and Auton, C A. 1997. Quaternary lithostratigraphy of the Sellafield district. Nirex Science Report SA/97/045 (Issue 2.0). [Report prepared for UK Nirex Ltd. 69pp, 5 tables, 20 figures, 14 enclosures and one appendix.] |
Akhurst, M C, Chadwick, R A, Holliday, D W, McCormac, M, McMillan, A A, Millward, D, Young, B, Ambrose, K, Auton, C A, Barclay, W J, Barnes, R P, Beddoe-Stephens, B, James, J C W, Johnson, H, Jones, N S, Glover, B W, Hawkins, M P, Kimbell, G S, MacPherson, K A T, Merritt, J W, Milodowski, A E, Riley, N J, Robins, N S, Stone, P, and Wingfield, R T R. 1997. The geology of the west Cumbria district. Memoir of the British Geological Survey, Sheets 28, 37 and 47 (England and Wales). 138pp. |
Trotter, F M, Hollingworth, S E, Eastwood T and Rose, W C C. 1937. Gosforth District. Geological Survey Memoir, England and Wales, Sheet 37. |
1:50K maps on which the lithostratigraphical unit is found, and map code used: |
none recorded or not applicable |