MINERALIZATION IN RELATION TO THE PRE-CARBONIFEROUS BASEMENT ROCKS, NORTHERN ENGLAND

Abstract

Summary The epigenetic lead-zinc-(iron-copper)-fluorine-barium mineralization in the north of England, when viewed on the large scale, is found to occur where thin, “block” facies sediments in the Lower Carboniferous overlie basement highs. The relatively deep sedimentary basins lying within the Pennine Chain and adjacent to it contain little or no mineralization; only the North Derbyshire, Askrigg and Alston blocks have been significantly mineralized. The Carboniferous/Basement junction lies substantially higher in these structures than anywhere else in the region except in the Lake District dome, which also contains mineral veins. The possible significance of this empirical observation is considered, and some comparisons with the American Middle West are suggested.