The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units — Result Details

Beatrice Formation

Computer Code: BETR Preferred Map Code: notEntered
Status Code: Full
Age range: Callovian Age (JC) — Callovian Age (JC)
Lithological Description: Fine- medium-grained sandstones interbedded with subordinate, shelly mudstones. Successions are mainly upward-coarsening units (5-7 in number). Local upward-fining units occur. In general an upward coarsening unit comprises dark grey, micaceous, carbonaceous and pyritic mudstones, locally with shell debris, through grey and brown, fine-grained, flaser-bedded and ripple-laminated silty sandstone to clean, fine- to medium-grained, locally oolitic, cross-bedded or parallel-laminated sandstones. A thin lignitic coal may also occur. Bioturbation is common and shells and Rhaxella spicules occur at many levels. Phosphatic nodules are also present at some intervals.
Definition of Lower Boundary: The lower boundary is placed at the top of a thin unit of coal bearing mudstone (Brora Coal Formation). Where the Brora Coal is missing, there is a downward change from fine to medium grained, upward coarsening units of sandstones with subordinate mudstones to siltstones with sandstone (Orin Formation), calcareous, shelly mudstones (Lady's Walk Formation), interbedded sandstone, siltstone and mudstone (Mains Formation), variegated, mottled mudstones with thin sandstones (Golspie Formation) or Triassic sandstones (Lossiehead Formation).
Definition of Upper Boundary: The upper boundary is defined by a downward change from mudstone (Heather Formation) to sandstones and by a sharp down-section decrease in gamma values and increased velocity.
Thickness: 0 to c. 60 m.
Geographical Limits: Inner Moray Firth, North Sea quadrants 11, 12, 17, 19.
Parent Unit: Fladen Group (FLDN)
Previous Name(s): Farclas Sand Member (-5214)
Fiddich Sand Member (-5215)
Brora Formation (-5212)
Burghie Shale Member (-5213)
Alternative Name(s): none recorded or not applicable
Stratotypes:
Type Section  North Sea well 11/30a- 8 between 2095 and 2156 m below KB (Richards et al., 1993). 
Reference Section  North Sea well 11/25- 1 between 2921 m and 2975 m (Richards et al., 1993). 
Reference Section  North Sea well 12/22- 2 between 1350.5 m and 1379 m (Richards et al., 1993). 
Reference Section  North Sea well 11/21- 2 between 2136.5 m and 2185 m (Richards et al., 1993). 
Reference(s):
Waters, C N, Gillespie, M R, Smith, K, Auton, C A, Floyd, J D, Leslie, A G, Millward, D, Mitchell, W I, McMillan, A A, Stone, P, Barron, A J M, Dean, M T, Hopson, P M, Krabbendam, M, Browne, M A E, Stephenson, D, Akhurst, M C, and Barnes, R P. 2007. Stratigraphical Chart of the United Kingdom: Northern Britain. (British Geological Survey.) 
Stevens, V. 1991. The Beatrice Field, Block 11/30a, UK North Sea. In: Abbotts, I L (ed.) United Kingdom oil and gas fields 25 years commemorative volume. Memoir of the Geological Society, London, 14, 245-252. 
Richards, P C, Lott, G K, Johnson, H, Knox, R W O'B. and Riding, J B. 1993. 3. Jurassic of the Central and Northern North Sea. In: Knox, R W O'B and Cordey, W G (eds.). Lithostratigraphic nomenclature of the UK North Sea. British Geological Survey, Nottingham. 
Andrews, I J, and Brown, S. 1987. Stratigraphic evolution of the Jurassic, Moray Firth. In: Brooks, J, and Glennie, K W (eds.). Petroleum Geology of North West Europe, 785-795. [Graham and Trotman, London] 
1:50K maps on which the lithostratigraphical unit is found, and map code used:
none recorded or not applicable