The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units — Result Details

Pendleton Formation

Computer Code: PENDL Preferred Map Code: notEntered
Status Code: Full
Age range: Pendleian Substage (CE) — Pendleian Substage (CE)
Lithological Description: Fine to very coarse-grained and pebbly, feldspathic sandstone, interbedded with grey siltstone and mudstone, with subordinate marine black shales, thin coals and seatearths.
Definition of Lower Boundary: Taken at the base of the first thick quartz-feldspathic sandstone of Pendleian age, present above the dark grey, carbonaceous, fissile mudstone of the Bowland Shale Formation, which in the north Lancashire area and Bradford-Harrogate districts, is at the base of the Pendle Grit, and on the Askrigg Block, taken at the base of the Grassington or Lower Howgate Edge Grit.
Definition of Upper Boundary: Sharp conformable base of the dark grey, fissile mudstone of the Cravenoceras cowlingense Marine Band with eponymous fauna, which is commonly underlain by a thin, fine-grained, calcareous and phosphatic sandstone of the Pendleton Formation. Locally, in the absence of the Cravenoceras cowlingense Marine Band, the top of the formation is taken at the top of the Warley Wise Grit.
Thickness: Lancaster 800 m, Bradford 600 m, Askrigg Block up to 45 m thick.
Geographical Limits: The Craven Basin of north Lancashire and north Yorkshire between Lancaster [SD 47 61], Pendle Hill [SD 80 41], Skipton Moor [SE 00 50] and Harrogate [SE 30 55], and also present across the southern part of the Askrigg Block, and in the Masham district [SE 29].
Parent Unit: Millstone Grit Group [See Also MIGR] (MG)
Previous Name(s): Brennand Grit Formation (Lancaster District) [Obsolete Name and Code: Use PENDL] (-2361)
Pendle Grit Formation (Lancaster District) [Obsolete Name and Code: Use PENDL] (-2362)
Skipton Moor Grit Group (Bradford District) [Obsolete Name and Code: Use PENDL] (-4835)
Alternative Name(s): none recorded or not applicable
Stratotypes:
Type Area  The upper part exposed at Faugh's Delph, exposes about 30m of very coarse-grained, massive sandstone of the Warley Wise Grit. In the absence of the Cravenoceras cowlingense Marine Band, the formation top is taken at the top of the Warley Wise Grit. Earp et al., 1961. 
Type Area  The base of the formation is exposed on Pendleton Moor on the western flank of Pendle Hill between Light Clough [SD 7516 3764], the basal stratotype for the Pendleian Stage, and the excellent section of Mearley Clough [SD 785 411]. Earp et al., 1961. 
Reference(s):
Dean, M T, Browne, M A E, Waters, C N and Powell, J H. 2011. A lithostratigraphical framework for the Carboniferous successions of northern Great Britain (onshore). British Geological Survey Research Report, RR/10/007. 165pp. 
Earp, J R, Magraw, D, Poole, E G, Land, D H and Whiteman, A J, 1961. Geology of the country around Clitheroe and Nelson. Memoir of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, Sheet.68, England and Wales, pp.346. 
Dunham, K C, and Wilson, A A. 1985. Geology of the Northern Pennine Orefield. Volume 2 Stainmore to Craven. Economic Memoir of the British Geological Survey, Sheets 40, 41 and 50, and parts of Sheets 31, 32, 51, 60 and 61(England and Wales). 
Waters, C N, Barclay, W J, Davies, J R and Waters, R A. In press. Stratigraphical framework for Carboniferous successions of Southern Great Britain (Onshore). British Geological Survey Research Report, RR/05/06. 
Brandon, A, Aitkenhead, N, Crofts, R G, Ellison, R A, Evans, D J and Riley, JN J, 1998. Geology of the country around Lancaster. Memoir of the British Geological Survey, Sheet 59 (England and Wales). 
Stephens, J V, Mitchell, G H and Edwards, W N. 1953. Geology of the country between Bradford and Skipton. Memoir of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, Sheet 69 (England and Wales). 
1:50K maps on which the lithostratigraphical unit is found, and map code used:
E059 E060 E067 E068 E069 E061 E051