The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units — Result Details

Hanborough Gravel Member

Computer Code: HAN Preferred Map Code: notEntered
Status Code: Full
Age range: Mid Pleistocene (QPM) — Mid Pleistocene (QPM)
Lithological Description: Predominantly cold phase sands and gravels that underlie the Hanborough or Fourth Terrace of BGS Maps. Dominated by clasts of Middle Jurassic limestone, though at many localities pervasively decalcified, leaving a remaine deposit dominated by "Bunter" quartz/quartzite. Temperature indicators such as straight-tusked elephant occur in lower part, probably derived from earlier sediments of MIS 11 date. Mid Pleistocene (MI Stage 11 to 10).
Definition of Lower Boundary: Unconformable, commonly channelled base, resting on Jurassic bedrock.
Definition of Upper Boundary: Ground surface.
Thickness: 0 to c. 6 m.
Geographical Limits: Upper Thames catchment, i.e. River Thames and most tributaries (excluding the River Thame) upstream of the Goring Gap. Well developed in the lower Evenlode around the type locality, and less well developed along the lower Cherwell, and also along the main valley of the Upper Thames (i.e. upstream of the Goring Gap).
Parent Unit: Upper Thames Valley Formation (UTMS)
Previous Name(s): Fourth, High Or 100-Foot Terrace Deposits (-949)
Hanborough [Gravel] Formation (-950)
Fourth or Hanborough Terrace Deposits [Obsolete Name and Code: Use HAN] (-4695)
Hanborough Terrace Deposits [Obsolete Name and Code: Use HAN] (-4696)
Handborough Terrace Deposits [Obsolete Name and Code: Use HAN] (-4081)
Fourth Terrace Deposits [Obsolete Name and Code: Use CRTD, HAN] (-3961)
Hanborough Member [Obsolete Name and Code: Use HAN] (-304)
Alternative Name(s): none recorded or not applicable
Stratotypes:
Type Section  Long Hanborough Gravel Pit, south of Long Hanborough. Bridgland, 1994. 
Reference(s):
Bridgland, D R. 1994. Quaternary of the Thames. Geological Conservation Review Series No.7. (Peterborough: Joint Nature Conservation Committee.) 
Corser, C E. 1981a. The sand and gravel resources of the country between Wallingford and Goring, Oxfordshire. Description of 1:25000 Sheet SU68 and part of SU58. Mineral Assessment Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences, 64. 
Pocock, T I. 1908. The geology of the country around Oxford, Second edition. Memoir of the Geological Survey of Great Britain. 
Robson, P. 1975. The sand and gravel resources of the Thames Valley, the country around Cricklade, Wiltshire: Description of 1:25000 resource sheets SU09/19 and parts of SP00/10. Mineral Assessment Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences, No.18. 
Bowen, D Q. 1999. A revised correlation of Quaternary deposits in the British Isles. Geological Society Special Report, No. 23. 
Arkell, W J. 1947. The geology of Evenlode Gorge, Oxfordshire. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, Vol. 58, 87-113. 
Corser, C E. 1981. The sand and gravel resources around the country around Dorchester and Watlington, Oxfordshire. Description of 1:25000 resource sheets SU 69 and part of SU 59. Mineral Assessment Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences, No.81. 
Arkell, W J. 1947. The Geology of Oxford. 267pp. [Oxford: Clarendon Press.] 
Briggs, D J and Gilbertson, D D. 1973. The age of the Hanborough Terrace of the River Evenlode, Oxfordshire. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, Vol.84, 155-173. 
Corser, C E. 1978. The sand and gravel resources of the country around Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Description of 1:25 000 resource sheets SU 49, 59 and SP 40, 50. Mineral Assessment Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences, No.38. 
Harries, W J R. 1975. The sand and gravel resources of the country around Eynsham, Oxfordshire. Description of 1:25 000 Resource Sheet SP 40 and part of SP 41. Mineral Assessment Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences, 28. 
Pringle, J. 1926. The geology of the country around Oxford, (2nd edition). Memoir of the Geological Survey of Great Britain. 
Richardson, L, Arkell, W J and Dines, H G. 1946. Geology of the country around Witney. Memoir of the Geological Survey of Great Britain. Sheet 236 ( England and Wales). 
Robson, P. 1976. The sand and gravel resources of the Thames Valley, the country between Lechdale and Standlake: Description of 1:25000 Sheet SP30 and parts of SP20, SU29 and SU30. Mineral Assessment Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences, No.23. 
Sandford, K S. 1924. The river gravels of the Oxford district. Quarterley Journal of the Gelogical Society of London, Vol.80, 113-179. 
Sumbler, M G. 1995. The terraces of the rivers Thame and Thames and their bearing on the chronology of glaciation in central and eastern England. Proceeding of the Geologists' Association, Vol.106, 93-106. 
Sumbler, M G, Barron, A J M and Morigi, A N, 2000. Geology of the Cirencester district. Memoir of the British Geological Survey, Sheet 235 (England and Wales). 
Sumbler, M G. 2001. The Moreton Drift, a further clue to glacial chronology in central England. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, Vol.112, 13-27. 
1:50K maps on which the lithostratigraphical unit is found, and map code used:
E236 E254 E218 E235 E252 E253