The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units — Result Details

Golspie Formation

Computer Code: GOLS Preferred Map Code: notEntered
Status Code: Full
Age range: Rhaetian Age (TR) — Hettangian Age (JH)
Lithological Description: The formation typically comprises variegated, mottled mudstone with occasional thin fine-grained sandstone. However, it becomes more sandy towards the south-east of its distribution (e.g. 12/28-1). The mudstones are green, brick red, light grey and yellow, but they become predominantly red-brown with depth. They are occasionally calcareous, variably silty and fissile. Rootlet horizons, highly laminated bituminous mudstone and limestone stringers occur. Sandstones are upward-fining, cemented by authigenic silica, sometimes shelly and display a variety of planar and ripple cross-bedded structures. Clasts of reworked limestone occur near the base of the formation and may be laterally equivalent to the Dunrobin Conglomerate Member onshore.
Definition of Lower Boundary: The base is characterised by a downwards change from mudstone or interbedded sandstone and mudstone to microcrystalline limestone with chert inclusions (Stotfield Calcrete Formation). Where the Stotfield Calcrete Formation is absent (e.g. Well 12/23-1) the boundary is placed at a downward change from dominantly mudstone to dominantly sandstone lithology (Lossiehead Formation). A marked downward decrease in average gamma-ray values and an increase in average velocity occurs at the base of the Golspie Formation.
Definition of Upper Boundary: The upper boundary is characterised by a downward passage from white to pale grey sandstone with siltstone (Mains Formation) to variagated mudstone (Golspie Formation). An increase in average gamma values and a decrease in velocity generally coincides with the boundary.
Thickness: Up to 60 m.
Geographical Limits: Inner Moray Firth, North Sea quadrants 11, 12, 17, 18.
Parent Unit: Dunrobin Bay Group [See Also DRB] (DUNR)
Previous Name(s): 'Varicoloured Unit' Of The Dunrobin Bay Formation (-5105)
Dullan Member (-5106)
Alternative Name(s): Dunrobin Castle Member
Dunrobin Pier Conglomerate Member
Stratotypes:
Type Section  North Sea well 11/30- 1 at 2117-2175 m depth below KB (Turner et al., 1987; Richards et al., 1993. 
Reference Section  North Sea well 12/22- 2 at 1420.5-1487 m depth (Richards et al., 1993). 
Reference Section  North Sea well 12/26- 1 at 1257.5-1295.5 m depth (Richards et al., 1993). 
Reference(s):
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] 
Batten, D J, Trewin, N H and Tudhope, A W, 1986. The Triassic-Jurassic junction at Golspie, Inner Moray Firth Basin. Scottish Journal of Geology, Vol.22, part 1, 85-98. 
Neves, R and Selley, R C. 1975. A review of the Jurassic rocks in north-east Scotland. In: Finstead, K.G. & Selley, R.C. (eds) Proceedings of the Jurassic Northern North Sea Symposium, Stavanger 28-30 September 1975, 5/1-5/21. 
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. 
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.) 
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. 
1:50K maps on which the lithostratigraphical unit is found, and map code used:
none recorded or not applicable