The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units — Result Details

Burton Formation

Computer Code: BURT Preferred Map Code: notEntered
Status Code: Full
Age range: Pliensbachian Age (JE) — Pliensbachian Age (JE)
Lithological Description: Dark grey to reddish grey, soft, slightly carbonaceous, non-calcareous mudstones. Ooliths locally occur in the mudstones in the upper part. Thin, varicoloured, very fine- to coarse-grained, argillaceous sandstones occur locally, and may be kaolinitic and/or calcareous.
Definition of Lower Boundary: The lower boundary is defined by a downward change from mudstones to interbedded sandstones and siltstones (Amundsen Formation). A weak downward decrease in gamma values and increase in velocity occurs across the boundary.
Definition of Upper Boundary: The upper boundary is typically characterised by a downward change from siltstone or sandstone (Cook Formation) to mudstone and a distinct down-section increase in gamma values and decrease in velocity. Locally development of sandstone in the Burton Formation (e.g. 3/4-8) makes the boundary difficult to locate. Local anomalously high gamma values in the Cook Formation mean that the boundary is best defined by the down-section decrease in velocity on wireline logs.
Thickness: Up to 65 m, but absent on some structural highs.
Geographical Limits: East Shetland Basin and eastwards into the Viking Graben. North Sea quadrants 2, 3, 210, and 211.
Parent Unit: Dunlin Group (DUNL)
Previous Name(s): Burton Sub-Unit (-5181)
Dunlin Siltstone Member (-5175)
Alternative Name(s): none recorded or not applicable
Stratotypes:
Type Section  North Sea well 211/29- 3 between 2950.5 and 2993 m below KB (Deegan and Scull, 1977). 
Reference Section  North Sea well 211/18a- 24 between 3704.5 m and 3737 m (Richards et al., 1993). 
Reference Section  North Sea well 211/27- 4A between 3769 and 3787.5 m (Richards et al., 1993). 
Reference Section  North Sea well 3/04- 8 between 3526.5 and 3590 m (Richards et al., 1993). 
Reference(s):
Deegan, C E and Scull, B J. 1977. A standard lithostratigraphic nomenclature for the Central and Northern North Sea. Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences, 77/25; NPD Bulletin No.1. 
Bowen, J M. 1975. The Brent Oil-Field. In: Woodland, A W (ed.) Petroleum and the contineental shelf of North-West Europe, 353-361. [Heyden & Son, London] 
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. 
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.) 
1:50K maps on which the lithostratigraphical unit is found, and map code used:
none recorded or not applicable