The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units — Result Details

Bu Ness Sandstone Formation

Computer Code: BNG Preferred Map Code: notEntered
Status Code: Full
Age range: Mid Devonian Epoch (DM) — Mid Devonian Epoch (DM)
Lithological Description: Grey to buff red-stained arkosic sandstone, pebbly grit and conglomerate, siltstone and mudstone.
Definition of Lower Boundary: Drawn at the base of the Bu Ness Sandstone Formation where sandstone alternating with siltstone conformably rests upon thin co-sets of sandstone and thick co-sets of fine-grained sediments of the Observatory Sandstone Formation.
Definition of Upper Boundary: Drawn at the conformable upward passage of Upper Pebbly Grit of the Bu Ness Sandstone Formation, which is not overlain.
Thickness: c.200m
Geographical Limits: Fair Isle, Shetland Islands.
Parent Unit: Fair Isle Group (FIL)
Previous Name(s): Bu Ness Group [Obsolete Name and Code: Use BNG] (-1368)
Alternative Name(s): none recorded or not applicable
Stratotypes:
Type Area  Fair Isle. A small island 4.8km long and 3.2km wide, situated halfway between the island groups of Shetland and Orkney. 124km northeast of Duncansby Head on the Scottish Mainland. 
Reference(s):
Mykura, W, 1970. The Old Red Sandstone sediments of Fair Isle, Shetland Islands, Bulletin of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, No.41. 
House, M R, Richardson, J B, Chaloner, W G, Allen, J R L, Holland, C H and Westoll, T S. 1977. A Correlation of Devonian rocks of the British Isles. Geological Society of London, Special Report No.8, Scottish Academic Press, Edinburgh. 
1:50K maps on which the lithostratigraphical unit is found, and map code used:
S126 S123 S124