Great Limestone Research Articles

Foraminiferal biostratigraphy of Brigantian-Arnsbergian limestones from eastern Scotland and Northumberland (northeast England)

ABSTRACTForaminifers, calcareous algae and incertae sedis Algospongia of late Asbian to late Brigantian age in limestones from East Fife, East Lothian and Northumberland, enable the base of the late Brigantian to be recognised in all these areas. Preservation of the late Asbian and early Brigantian limestones in cyclothemic successions is generally poor. The St Monans White Limestone (St Monans, Fife), First Abden Limestone (Kirkcaldy, Fife), Middle Longcraig Limestone (East Lothian) and Lower Bath-House Wood/Middle Bath-House Wood (Northumberland) were confidently correlated by their foraminiferal assemblages. These limestones are all assigned to the top of the Assemblage 6 in northern England (Single Post Limestone). The St Monans Brecciated/St Monans Little/Charlestown Main limestones (St Monans, Fife) and the Second Abden/Seafield Tower limestones (Kirkcaldy, Fife), Upper Longcraig/Lower Skateraw limestones (East Lothian), Upper Bath-House Wood/Shotto Wood limestones and Eelwell Limestone (Northumberland) are assigned to the Assemblage 7 in northern England (Scar Limestone and Five Yard Limestone). The paired Middle/Upper Skateraw limestones (East Lothian) and the Acre Limestone (Northumberland) contain representatives of the Assemblage 8 from northern England (Three Yard Limestone). Higher up in the succession, in Northumberland, the foraminiferal assemblage in the Sandbanks Limestone can be compared with Assemblage 9 in northern England (Four Fathom Limestone). Above the Great Limestone and Little Limestone, with their characteristic Pendleian assemblages, the Sugar Sands Limestone and Corbridge Limestone contain Arnsbergian foraminiferal assemblages, typical of the Lower Felltop Limestone in northern England. The Lower Foxton Limestone is correlated with the Upper Felltop Limestone, whereas the Thornbrough Limestone in Northumberland lacks diagnostic Arnsbergian taxa.

The great limestone temple at Sarmizegetusa Regia. (Re)Analysis of archaeological and architectural data.

The Great Limestone Temple is one of the most important monuments in Sarmizegetusa Regia. Identified already in the first years of the field research coordinated by C. Daicoviciu, the temple was excavated during a few decades and was heavily affected by the so called “restoration” works undertaken in Grădiștea de Munte, in the 1980s. The data referring to the monument is spread in many reports, papers, book chapters, architectural blueprints and topographical surveys, and the partial results of the research, sometimes inconclusive, generated divergent views. Reorganizing all the information coming from the excavation records, including the drawings, this paper is proposing a new building sequence of the temple, taking into account all the existing data, some of it until now unpublished.

County-level indoor radon concentration mapping and uncertainty assessment in South Korea using geostatistical simulation and environmental factors

This paper presents a geostatistical simulation approach to not only map the county-level indoor radon concentration (IRC) distributions in South Korea, but also quantify the uncertainty that can be used as decision-supporting information. For county-level IRC mapping in South Korea, environmental factors including geology, radium concentration in surface soil, gravel content in subsoil, and fault line density, which are known to be associated with the source and migration of radon gas, were incorporated into IRC measurements using multi-Gaussian kriging with local means. These four environmental factors could account for about 36% of the variability of noise-filtered IRCs, implying that regional variations of IRCs were affected by these factors. Sequential Gaussian simulation was then applied to generate alternative realizations of county-level IRC distributions. By summarizing the multiple simulation results, we identified some counties that lay on the great limestone series showed elevated IRCs. In addition, there were some counties in which the proportion of grids exceeding the recommended level was high but the uncertainty was also large according to the analysis of several uncertainty measures, which indicates that additional sampling is required for these counties. From the local cluster analysis in conjunction with simulation results, we found that the counties with higher levels of IRC belonged to the statistically significant clusters of high values, and these counties should be the prime targets for radon management and in-depth survey. The geographical distributions of IRC and uncertainty measures presented in this study provide guidance for effective radon management if they are consistently combined with both future IRC measurements and a geogenic radon potential map.

Problems correlating the late Brigantian–Arnsbergian Western European substages within northern England

AbstractA detailed study of foraminiferal assemblages recorded in limestones from northern England in the Stainmore Trough and Alston Block permits their assignment to different European substages than in previous studies. Comparisons with foraminiferal assemblages, mostly from Russia, allow the biozonations to be correlated with the Viséan, Serpukhovian and Bashkirian international stages, as well as with the Russian (and Ukrainian) substages for the Serpukhovian (Tarussian, Steshevian, Protvian and Zapaltyubian). The Scar Limestone and Five Yard Limestone Members are assigned to the Tarussian and, thus, represent the lowermost part of the formal Serpukhovian Stage. This new correlation coincides closely with the first occurrence of the conodont Lochriea ziegleri from levels equivalent to the Single Post Limestone that could potentially form the revised base for the Serpukhovian. The Three Yard Limestone Member is correlated with the base of the Steshevian substage which also includes the Four Fathom Limestone Member, Great Limestone Member and Little Limestone. The base of the Protvian is considered to lie within the Crag Limestone, whereas the Rookhope Shell Band contains foraminiferal assemblages more typical of the Zapaltyubian in the Ukraine and Chernyshevkian in the Urals. Assemblages of the Upper Fell Top Limestone and Grindstone/Botany Limestones contain foraminiferal species that have been used for the recognition of the Bashkirian elsewhere. There is no other fossil group which allows the calibration of those foraminiferal assemblages, because ammonoids are virtually absent in the shallow‐water cyclothemic successions and conodonts have not been studied in detail in this region. The Mid‐Carboniferous boundary and the Voznessenian substage might be reasonably located below the Upper Fell Top Limestone. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Carboniferous stratigraphy and context of the Seal Sands No. 1 Borehole, Teesmouth, NE England: the deepest onshore borehole in Great Britain

SUMMARY Carboniferous rocks totalling 3442 m in thickness were drilled in the Seal Sands No. 1 Borehole at Teesmouth, Cleveland, in 1974–75. Cores taken in the middle and towards the bottom of the Carboniferous section show that the strata are broadly horizontal so the thicknesses drilled are close to true stratigraphical thicknesses. The borehole passed through 727 m of Triassic and Permian strata, which lie unconformably on the Carboniferous rocks. The latter comprise a Mississippian succession of Viséan–Serpukhovian (Holkerian–?Arnsbergian) age that is dominated by near-shore, shallow-water deposits with numerous but mainly thin coal seams. The Serpukhovian (Pendleian–?Arnsbergian) succession of shales and siltstones with thin sandstones, several thin limestones and rare coals is assigned to the Stainmore Formation (135 m). Below this, a thick calcareous interval of limestone and interbedded mudstone is believed to be the Great Limestone (110 m), which forms the top member of the underlying upper Viséan (Brigantian)–lower Serpukhovian (Pendleian) Alston Formation. The remaining strata of the Alston Formation (782 m) are equivalent to the 10 principal cyclothems (Four Fathom–Peghorn limestones) of the Alston Block, together with the underlying Birkdale Limestone at the base of the Alston Formation from which the lowest Brigantian microfossils have been recorded. The underlying Great Scar Limestone Group of late Asbian age (148 m) includes pale limestones of the Melmerby Scar Limestone Formation, similar to the limestones of the same formation on the Alston Block, interbedded with sandstones and mudstones. Below the Great Scar Limestone Group, the new informally defined Cleveland Group comprises three new informally defined formations. At the top of the group, the Greatham Formation (388 m) comprises limestones interbedded with mudstone and sandstone in cyclic sequences of late Asbian age. Below this, the informally defined Teesmouth Formation (539 m), also of late Asbian age, is a more terrigenous succession with numerous coal seams. The oldest unit in the borehole, the informally defined Seal Sands Formation (1338 m), comprises finely interbedded, black fissile mudstone, siltstone, fine-grained sandstone, thin black peloidal limestone beds, black chert and many coal seams. This distinctly black succession is mostly Asbian in age, but Holkerian microfossils occur in the lower part, from 3621 m down to the bottom of the hole at 4169 m. Correlations are made with the Alston Block succession and that of the Stainmore Basin. The unusually thick Mississippian succession, especially in the Asbian (>1800 m thick), is in accordance with the borehole's location within the eastern part of the Stainmore Basin, where a thick Carboniferous sequence is inferred from geophysical data. It is also comparable with a thick Asbian succession in the Northumberland Basin.

충주호 주변의 중력 측정에 의한 옥천계의 중력이상 연구

The gravity measurement was conducted at 256 stations around Chungju Lake to study subsurface geological distributions and subterranean mass discontinuities by the results of gravity anomaly in Metamorphic Complex, Okcheon Group, Great Limestone Group of Choson Supergroup, and Cretaceous biotite granites. Okcheon Group showed a high Bouguer gravity anomaly while Great Limestone Group of Choson Supergroup relatively a low anomaly. The mean depth of subterranean mass discontinuities is about 2.0 km and downward along the Suchangri Formation from the Hwanggangri and Moonjuri formations. In general, Okcheon Group appeared shallower than the depth of Great Limestone Group of Choson Supergroup when imaging the subterranean mass discontinuities from the Bouguer gravity anomaly.

Are beds in shelf carbonates millennial-scale cycles? An example from the mid-Carboniferous of northern England…

The mid-Carboniferous strata of northern England are characterised by mixed clastic–carbonate cycles (Yoredale cyclothems), attributed here to the short eccentricity Milankovitch rhythm. In a typical cycle, transgressive normal-marine shelf carbonates are succeeded by marine shales, then highstand prodelta mudstones and delta front-delta top sandstones with local coals. A detailed study of one cycle, the Great Limestone Cyclothem of the northern Pennines (Alston Block), reveals that within the transgressive carbonates, the beds, averaging 75 cm in thickness and defined by mm-shale partings or cm-mudrock layers, form two thinning-upward to thickening-upward bed-sets. Individual beds and the bed-sets can be correlated across the region. Oxygen isotope and strontium trace element data also reveal patterns of increasing and decreasing values through the limestone, which broadly correspond to the bed-thickness cycles. The beds are interpreted as millennial-scale cycles, the result of high-frequency, arid–humid climatic fluctuations. The bed-sets are interpreted as the response to a longer term arid–humid climate and sea-level cycle, driven by the precession rhythm. It is postulated that millennial-scale climatic changes, which are a well-known feature of the Quaternary and are here inferred for the Carboniferous, were responsible for the deposition of the beds that are a characteristic feature of many marine sedimentary successions in the geological record. The most likely over-riding control is fluctuations in solar output.

Late Viséan–Serpukhovian foraminiferans and calcareous algae from the Adarouch region (central Morocco), North Africa

AbstractThree Upper Viséan to Serpukhovian limestone formations from the Adarouch region (central Morocco), North Africa, have been dated precisely using foraminiferans and calcareous algae. The lower and middle part of the oldest formation, the Tizra Formation (Fm), is assigned to the latest Asbian (upper Cf6γ Subzone), and its upper part to the Early Brigantian (lower Cf6δ Subzone). The topmost beds of this formation are assigned to the Late Brigantian (upper Cf6δ Subzone). The lower part of the succeeding Mouarhaz Fm is also assigned to the Late Brigantian (upper Cf6δ Subzone). The Akerchi Fm is younger than the other formations within the region, ranging from the latest Brigantian (uppermost Cf6δ Subzone) up to the Serpukhovian (E1–E2). The base of the Serpukhovian (Pendleian Substage, E1) is repositioned, to coincide with the appearance of a suite of foraminiferans including Archaediscus at tenuis stage, Endothyranopsis plana, Eostaffella pseudostruvei, Loeblichia ukrainica, Loeblichia aff. minima and Biseriella? sp. 1. The upper Serpukhovian (Arnsbergian Substage, E2) is marked by the first appearance of Eostaffellina ex. gr. paraprotvae and Globoomphalotis aff. pseudosamarica. The biostratigraphical scheme used for the reassessment of the foraminiferal zones and subzones in the Adarouch area closely compares with that for the British succession in northern England (Pennine Region), where the stratotypes of the Upper Viséan (Asbian and Brigantian) and Early Serpukhovian (Pendleian) substages are located. Thus, a succession equivalent to an interval from the Melmerby Scar Limestone to the Great (or Little) Limestone is recognized. These assemblages are also compared to other foraminiferal zones proposed in other regions of Morocco. Several foraminiferans have been identified that are proposed as potential Serpukhovian markers for other basins in Western Europe, and compared to sequences in Russia and the Donets Basin, Ukraine. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Foraminifera, calcareous algae and rugose corals in Brigantian (late Viséan) limestones in NE Ireland

SUMMARY Upper Viséan rocks in the Kingscourt, Armagh and Cookstown areas of NE Ireland are dated using foraminifera, calcareous algae and rugose corals, and new positions are proposed for the Asbian/Brigantian and early/late Brigantian boundaries. Of particular interest are assemblages of foraminifera and calcareous algae from the Poulmore Scarp section (Kingscourt), which is now recognized as the only section in Ireland to be composed of platform carbonates of latest Brigantian age. This late Brigantian section is correlated with the interval from the Three Yard Limestone to the Great Limestone in northern England.

자병취의 생육지 특성

1997년 임형탁에 의해 신종으로 기재된 자병취(Saussurea chabyoungsanica Im)에 대한 실체를 파악하기 위해 새로운 분포지를 조사하였고, 이 종에 대한 식생구조와 토양환경요인을 분석하였다. 자병취는 태백산맥계에 속하는 만덕봉, 석병산, 석개재, 덕항산의 능선부 등 모두 석회암 지대에서 발견되었고, 이들 지역 중 석개재는 하부대석회암층, 석병산, 만덕봉, 덕항산은 상부대석회암층에 속하는 지역이었다. 이들 지역에 자생하는 자병취의 식물사회학적 조사결과, 식물군락은 광의의 신갈나무군락군에 포함되는 자병취-산거울군락군, 조록싸리-자병취군락, 조록싸리-자병취전형하위군락, 대사초하위군락, 민둥갈퀴-자병취군락, 참배암차즈기-자병취군락, 털댕강나무-자병취군락 등 1군락군. 4군락, 2하위군락으로 분류되었다. 자병취의 생육지의 환경요인을 분석한 결과, 주로 북사면의 능선부에 분포하며, 토양의 pH는 <TEX>$7{\sim}8$</TEX> 범위의 전형적인 석회암지대임을 보였고 토양의 수분함량이 높고 유기물함량이 낮은 것으로 나타났다. 조사지역의 토심이 <TEX>$1{\sim}10cm$</TEX>, 상대광도가 <TEX>$30{\sim}45%$</TEX>에서 높은 빈도로 출현하는 것으로 보아 암반나출지나 임연부의 관목층이 우점하는 곳에 주로 분포하는 특성을 보였다. 자병취 자생지의 식생구조를 파악하여 군락 구분을 한 뒤, 각 군락별 토양환경의 특성을 조사하였다. 군락별 토양시료의 PCA분석 결과, 토양환경요인의 특성에 의해 대체로 군락구분이 가능하였다. 이차원공간에 표현되는 기여율의 누적값은 73%로 토성과 유기물함량, 토양함수량 등이 주요 요인으로 나타났다. Saussurea chabyoungsanica was recorded in new species by Lim Hyoung Tak in 1997. In order to understand the entity of new species, we investigated the new distribution sites, vegetation structure and soil environmental factors. Additionally discovered distribution sites of S. chabyoungsanica were Manduckbong, Mt. Sukbyoung, Mt. Duckhang, and Sukgaejae, which were located on ridge of the Taebaek Mountains. Those sites are typical limestone zones of Korea and among them Sukgaejae belongs to lower great limestone area and Manduckbong, Mt. Sukbyoung and Mt. Duckhang belong to upper great limestone area. According to the result of phytosociological study, plant communities of S. chabyoungsanica were classified by 1 Community group, 4 Communities and 2 Subcommunities; Carex humilis var. nana-Saussurea chabyoungsanica Community group in wide sense Quercus mongolica Community group, Lespedeza maximowiczii-Saussurea chabyounsanica Community, Galium kinuta-Saussurea chabyoungsanica Community, Salvia chanryonica-Saussurea chabyoungsanica Community, Zabelia coreana-Saussurea chabyoungsanica Community. Environmental factor analysis of habitat showed that the distribution site of S. chabyoungsanica was ridge of North aspect and displayed pH <TEX>$7{\sim}8$</TEX> typical of limestone. Soil moisture content was high, whereas organic matter content was low. Considering its high occurrence in sites of <TEX>$1{\sim}10cm$</TEX> in soil depth, and of <TEX>$30{\sim}45%$</TEX> in relative light intensity, major distribution sites were outcrops and boundaries between shrubland and forest. After community division by vegetation structure in habitat of S. chabyoungsanica, we investigated characters of soil environment by community. As a result of PCA analysis of soil sample by community, it was possible to divide community by characters of soil environmental factor. The cumulative value of contribution rate represented in second dimension space was 73% and the major factors for that value were soil texture, organic matter content and field capacity.

자병취의 생육지 특성

1997년 임형탁에 의해 신종으로 기재된 자병취(Saussurea chabyoungsanica Im)에 대한 실체를 파악하기 위해 새로운 분포지를 조사하였고, 이 종에 대한 식생구조와 토양환경요인을 분석하였다. 자병취는 태백산맥계에 속하는 만덕봉, 석병산, 석개재, 덕항산의 능선부 등 모두 석회암 지대에서 발견되었고, 이들 지역 중 석개재는 하부대석회암층, 석병산, 만덕봉, 덕항산은 상부대석회암층에 속하는 지역이었다. 이들 지역에 자생하는 자병취의 식물사회학적 조사결과, 식물군락은 광의의 신갈나무군락군에 포하되는 자병취-산거울군락군, 조록싸리-자병취군락, 조록싸리-자병취전형하위군락, 대사초하위군락, 민둥갈퀴-자병취군락, 참배암차즈기-자병취군락, 털댕강나무-자병취군락 등 1군락군, 4군락, 2하위군락으로 분류되었다. 자병취의 생육지의 환경요인을 분석한 결과, 주로 북사면의 능선부에 분포하며, 토양의 pH는 7∼8 범위의 전형적인 석회암지대임을 보였고 토양의 수분함량이 높고 유기물함량이 &#45234;은 것으로 나타났다. 조사지역의 토심이 1∼10cm, 상대광도가 30∼45%dptj 높은 빈도로 출현하는 것으로 보아 암반나출지나 임연부의 관목층이 우점하는 곳에 주로 분포하는 특성을 보였다. 자병취 자생지의 식생구조를 파악하여 군락 구분을 한 뒤, 각 군락별 토양환경의 특성을 조사하였다. 군락별 토양시료의 PCA 분석 결과, 토양환경요인의 특성에 의해 대체로 군락구분이 가능하였다. 이차원공간에 표현되는 기여율의 누적값은 73%로 토성과 유기물함량, 토양함수량 등이 주요 요인으로 나타났다. Saussurea chabyoungsanica was recorded in new species by Lim Hyoung Tak in 1997. In order to understand the entity of new species, we investigated the new distribution sites, vegetation structure and soil environmental factors. Additionally discovered distribution sites of S. chabyoungsanica were Manduckbong, Mt. Sukbyoung, Mt. Duckhang, and Sukgaejae, which were located on ridge of the Taebaek mountains. Those sites are typical limestone zones of Korea and among them Sukgaejae belongs to lower great limestone area and Manduckbong, Mt. Sukbyoung and Mt. Duckhang belong to uper great limestone area. According to the result of phytosociological study, plant communities of S. chabyoungsanica were classified by 1 Community group, 4 Communities and 2 Subcommunities; Carex humilis var. nana - Saussurea chabyoungsanica Community group in wide sense Quercus mongolica Community group, Lespedeza maximowiczii- Saussurea chabyoungsanica Community, Galium kinuta - Saussurea chabyongsanica Community, Saliva chanryonica - Saussurea chabyoungsanica Community, Zabelia coreana - Saussurea chabyoungsanica Community. Environmental factor analysis of habitat showed that the distribution site of S. chabyoungsanica was ridge of North aspect and displayed pH 7∼8 typical of limestone. Soil moisture content was high, whereas organic matter content was low. Considering its high occurrence in sites of 1∼10cm in soil depth, and of 30∼45% in relative light intensity, major distribution sites were outcrops and boundaries between shrubland and forest. After community division by vegetation structure in habitat of S. chabyoungsanica, we investigated characters of soil environment by community. As a result of PCA analysis of soil sample by community, it was possible to divide community by characters of soil environmental factor. The cumulative value of contribution rate represented in second dimension space was 73% and the major factors for that value were soil texture, organic matter content and field capacity.

Nature and practical implications of heterogeneities in the geochemistry of zinc-rich, alkaline mine waters in an underground F–Pb mine in the UK

Water pollution arising from base metal sulphide mines is problematic in many countries, yet the hydrogeology of the subsurface contaminant sources is rarely well-characterized. Drainage water pumped from an active F–Pb mine in northern England has unusual chemistry (alkaline with up to 40 mg.l −1 Zn) which profoundly impacts the ecology of the receiving watercourse. Detailed in-mine surveys of the quantity and quality of all ground water inflows to the mine were made. These revealed major, temporally persistent heterogeneities in ground water quality, with three broad types of water identified as being associated with distinct hydrostratigraphic units. Type I waters (associated with the Firestone Sill aquifer) are cool (<10°C), Ca–HCO 3–SO 4 waters, moderately mineralized (specific electrical conductance (SEC)≤410 μS.cm −1) with <4 mg.l −1 Zn. Type II waters (associated with the Great Limestone aquifer) are warmer (≈15°C), of Ca–SO 4 facies, highly mineralized (SEC≤1500 μS.cm −1) with ≤40 mg.l −1 Zn. Type III waters (in the deepest workings) are tepid (>18°C), of Ca–HCO 3–SO 4 facies, intermediately mineralized (SEC≤900 μS.cm −1) with ≤13 mg.l −1 Zn, and with significant Fe (≤12 mg.l −1) and Pb (≤8 mg/l). Monotonic increases in temperature and Cl − concentration with depth contrast with peaks in total mineralization, SO 4 and Zn at medium depth (in Type II waters). Sulphate, Pb and Zn are apparently sourced via oxidation of galena and sphalerite, which would release each metal in stoichiometric equality with SO 4. However, molal SO 4 concentrations typically exceed those of Pb and Zn by 2–3 orders of magnitude, which mineral equilibria suggest is due to precipitation of carbonate “sinks” for these metals. Contaminant loading budgets demonstrate that, although Type II waters amount to only 25% of the total ground water inflow to the mine, they account for almost 60% of the total Zn loading. This observation has important management implications for both the operational and post-abandonment phases of the mine life cycle.

Discussion of ‘Palaeocurrent direction and velocity in the Great/Main Limestone on the Alston and Askrigg blocks of northern England’: Proceedings , Vol.52, part 4, pp. 353–359, 1999

C. T. Scrutton writes: I read with interest R. A. Fairbairn’s excellent article on the determination of the current directions dominant during the deposition of the Great Limestone in Northern England. The corals that he mentions, which occur in abundance at certain levels within the limestone, could provide some additional information on the conditions prevailing at the time. The solitary rugosans, principally Dibunophyllum bipartitum , lived as straight to slightly curved coralla, more or less upright in the sediment and corresponding to type Evii and particularly Fvii coralla as illustrated in my recent paper (Scrutton 1998, fig. 14). Three factors would have determined their stability, the extent to which they sank down into the soft lime-mud substrate with increasing growth and weight, the consistency of that substrate, and the degree of sediment build-up around them. During life in an environment below fair-weather wave base, conditions were probably reasonably calm with only light current activity. Persistent stronger currents would have resulted in asymmetrical scour around the coral-sediment interface, producing more strongly horn-shaped coralla (Scrutton 1998, fig.14). However, very few specimens are now found in position of growth. Fairbairn (1999, p. 354) reported that many specimens are found prone and aligned on bedding planes, with their long axes at right angles to the prevailing current direction. This disorientation, as he notes, was most likely due to the effects of intermittent storms scouring the supporting sediment and inducing toppling, with subsequent current activity resulting in the alignment of the prone coralla. In addition, it ...

PEDOGENIC AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MARL-DERIVED SOILS IN THE RIDGE AND VALLEY PROVINCE, EASTERN UNITED STATES

While soils with free carbonates are rare in udic moisture regime, calcareous soils (10 to 99% CaCO 3 ) are found along drainageways in the Ridge and Valley Region (in the Great Limestone Valley portion) of the Eastern United States. These soils have developed from biogenically derived marl deposited in freshwater, ponded, settings during the late Pleistocene to the early Holocene Epochs. Pedogenesis in these marls has resulted in calcareous soils anomalous for this region; most of the adjacent upland limestone-derived soils are slightly acid and kaolinitic. Our study investigated the pedological attributes of these soils. Six transects, including four sampling pits, were examined in marl-derived map units in the Hagerstown Valley portion of the Great Limestone Valley, and chemical and physical characterization of the soils was conducted. Micro- and macromorphological investigation of carbonate forms indicated that calcic horizons were present in these soils, which is not typical in humid regions. Most of these soils possessed mollic epipedons and buried A horizons and were Mollisols. Common limnic materials in the solum were inherited from the parent material. The recent adoption of the Lma horizon designation for layers containing marl is appropriate for some of the horizons contained in these marl-derived soils.

The geomorphology, characteristics, and origin of the freshwater marl sediments in the Great Limestone Valley, Maryland, USA

Certain calcareous soils occupying alluvial landscape positions in the Hagerstown (Great) limestone valley of western Maryland have developed from highly calcareous (60–100 g 100 g −1) marl sediments of Holocene age. The limestone valleys of this region are located in the Ridge and Valley Province, which transcends the western portions of Maryland and Virginia. The sediments range from 0.5 m to over 8 m in depth. The soils developed from the marl have been mapped in the Great Valley in units named for the Warners series (fine-silty, carbonatic, mesic Fluvaquentic Haplaquolls) and the Massenetta series (fine-loamy, carbonatic, mesic Fluvaquentic Hapludolls) and typically have a high pH (7.5–8.5), low bulk density (1.00 g cm −3), and high porosity (0.5 to 0.6). The carbonate in the marl was developed through inorganic and biogenic processes. The marl was formed in ponds, as evidenced by the presence of certain gastropods, bivalves, algae, and the extremely high CaCO 3 content. The ponds are now extinct, but occurred in alluvial landscape positions during parts of the Holocene. Grain analyses and micromorphological evidence indicate that certain algae (Chara sp.) capable of accumulating carbonate internally and externally, were largely responsible for forming the marl. Periods of intermittent marl development are evidenced by the buried surface horizons within the marl sediments. The mechanisms responsible for damming and ponding of these alluvial landscapes were apparently destroyed, and then reformed prior to subsequent marl development.

Carboniferous biostratigraphy of the Rookhope Borehole, Co. Durham

AbstractA deep borehole drilled at Rookhope in Weardale, Co. Durham in 1960–61 proved the Weardale Granite below Carboniferous sediments at a depth of 390 m; an account of the Carboniferous rocks is presented. The boring commenced in the basal Namurian Great Limestone and entered the Dinantian at the bottom of the limestone at 25 m. Most of the ten Brigantian cyclothems sectioned in the borehole are compound and average 30 m thick. They consist of an initial cycle often more than 20 m thick and overlying minor cycles that are usuallyless than 6 m thick. Each of the cycles, both initial and minor, are coarsening upwards sequences from marine limestone or mudstohe to deltaic and fluvial mudstone, sandstone, seatearth and occasionally a thin coal seam. The underlying Asbian consists of seven cyclothems averaging 8 m thick. By contrast they are simple coarsening upwards sequences similar to the Brigantian initial cycles, but no minor cycles are developed.Marine fossils are abundant in the majority of cyclothems and are listed against their stratigraphical horizon in the borehole. Special studies of miospores, conodonts and foraminiferans from the borehole are presented. A consensus of biostratigraphical evidence shows that the base of the Carboniferous succession in the borehole is of early Asbian age.

Wave-dominated nearshore sedimentation and ‘forced’ regression: post-abandonment facies, Great Limestone Cyclothem, Stainmore, UK

Investigation of sedimentary successions and depositional structures from the post-abandonment phase of the Great Limestone Cyclothem (Upper Carboniferous), Stainmore, UK suggests that deposition occurred in a sand-dominated coastal setting. Recognition of sedimentary structures produced by storms and interpretation of palaeocurrent and palaeowave data indicate that a W—E oriented, southwardly prograding, high-energy shoreline system existed in the Stainmore region. Two equally plausible interpretations suggest that the trough cross-stratified facies lying towards the top of the shoreface succession may either represent: (1) upper shoreface deposits formed by high energy fairweather waves, or (2) the deposits of a tidally influenced deltaic distributary or incised valley fill estuarine system. These interpretations contrast significantly with the N-S oriented, transgressive barrier island model proposed in an earlier study. The sharp contact between lower shoreface and underlying offshore facies suggests that progradation of the shoreline occurred during a relative sea-level fall (‘forced’ regression). Palaeocurrent evidence indicates that deposition occurred within a system in which sediment was periodically flushed from a contemporary delta lobe and subsequently transported to the Stainmore shoreline by longshore currents.

Potassium-argon isotopic age determinations from the metasomatic alteration of the Great Limestone, Northern Pennine Orefield

SUMMARY K-Ar isotopic ages of illite-bearing iron carbonates associated with metasomatism of the Great Limestone are argued to relate to mineralisation which occurred between 252±5 and 240±6Ma. There is evidence that the ages of some of the illites investigated may have been partially reset by later hydrothermal events occurring between 240Ma and 160Ma. It is concluded that, after the iron-carbonate rocks were formed, certain vein systems were sealed from further fluid circulation.

Syn-Sedimentary and Later Remobilised Epithermal Pb-Zn Mineralisation of the Great Limestone, Riasi, J &amp; K - Signatures in Fluid Inclusions and Stable Isotope Compositions

Abstract A strong stratigraphic control is exhibited by the sporadic Pb-Zn occurrences in the Great Limestone of Riasi, J &amp; K. Fluid inclusion thermometry and stable isotope data suggest their remobilisation and concentration in the fractures developed in the host-rock at the time of orogenic movements and the final deposition may be due to the mingling of at least two fluids; one epithermal; generated due to orogenesis and the other, meteoric water.

Diagenetic modification of detrital muscovite: an example from the Great Limestone Cyclothem (Carboniferous) of Co. Durham, UK

AbstractDiagenetically modified muscovite grains occur as a frequent component of many Upper Palaeozoic and Mesozoic fluvial-deltaic sandstones and siltstones from Britain and the North Sea. Mineralogical, textural and chemical investigation of examples from the Great Limestone Cyclothem show that such grains consist simply of muscovite and kaolinite. No other sheet-silicate phases are involved. Diagenetic textures indicate that modified grains result from the displacive growth of kaolinite between opened cleavage sheets of detrital muscovite. Fabrics of this type should consequently be termed kaolinite-cemented. In contrast to similar sheet-silicate intergrowths reported from diagenetically altered biotite and chlorite, little or no alteration of muscovite is actually required to account for observed textures.