The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units — Result Details

Counter Head Siltstone Formation

Computer Code: CHST Preferred Map Code: CHST
Status Code: Full
Age range: Pragian Age (DP) — Emsian Age (DE)
Lithological Description: Siltstone with pedogenetic carbonate.
Definition of Lower Boundary: Base of siltstone sequence conformably resting on the red conglomerate sandstones of the Dundarg Formation.
Definition of Upper Boundary: Incoming of the first ripple cross laminate fine-grained micaceous sandstones of the Gamrie Bay Formation.
Thickness: 100m+
Geographical Limits: Counter Head to Gardenstown Seatown on southern Moray Firth coast.
Parent Unit: Crovie Sandstone Group (CRO)
Previous Name(s): East Harbour Formation [Obsolete Name and Code: Use CHST] (-2697)
Counter Head Formation (-782)
Bed 3 (lower part of Crovie Group) [Obsolete Name and Code: Use CHST] (-3298)
Alternative Name(s): none recorded or not applicable
Stratotypes:
Reference Section  Shore section alongside Crovie Village, south of the pier. 
Type Section  Shore section at Counter Head on the southern coast of the Moray Firth, 1900m north east of New Aberdour Church. 
Reference Section  Shore section between the Snook and the Gardenstown Harbour 
Reference(s):
Read, H H, 1923. Geology of the country around Banff, Huntly and Turriff, Lower Banffshire and north-west Aberdeenshire. Memoir of the Geological Survey, Scotland Sheets 86 and 96 (Scotland). 
Archer, R. 1978. Crovie Siltstone Formation on p. 17, West Harbour Formation on p. 35, New Harbour Siltstone Formation on p. 81 and Counter Head equivalent section on p. 85, The Old Red Sandstone outliers of Gamrie and Rhynie, Aberdeenshire, PhD thesis (University of Newcastle upon Tyne). 
Trewin, N H, 1987. Localities 3 and 6, fig.1, p.115 and 118, Old Red Sandstone and Dalradian of Gamrie Bay; localities 6, 7 and 10, fig.1, p.135-138, The Lower Old Red Sandstone of New Aberdour in excursion guide to the geology of the Aberdeen area. Trewin, N H, Kneller, B C and Gillen, C (editors). (Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press). 
Turner, P and Archer, R. 1975. Magnetisation history of Lower Old Red Sandstones from the Gamrie Outlier, Scotland, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol.27, Castle Hill Sandstone, p.242. 
Mykura, W. 1991. Old Red Sandstone. 297-346 in Geology of Scotland (3rd edition, revised). Craig, G Y (editor). Geological Society of London. 
1:50K maps on which the lithostratigraphical unit is found, and map code used:
S096