Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T05:08:34.056Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The age of the Watch Hill Grits (Ordovician), English Lake District: structural and palaeogeographical implications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2011

S. G. Molyneux  and
A. W. A. Rushton
S. G. Molyneux
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, U. K.
A. W. A. Rushton
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, U. K.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The Watch Hill Grits, in the lower Ordovician Skiddaw Group of the Lake District, are dated as latest Tremadoc or earliest Arenig (older than the Didymograptus deflexus Biozone) by means of acritarchs and graptolites. This places them lower in the Skiddaw sequence than previous authors supposed, and they are thought to have been thrust southwards over younger Arenig rocks. The interval inferred for the Watch Hill Grits brackets the Tetragraptus approximatus Biozone and its equivalents in Australasia, S China, N America and Scandinavia. The dating of the Watch Hill Grits suggests that equivalents of the Tetragraptus approximatus Biozone are present in N England and that sedimentation continued in the Lake District during a period of global eustatic regression. Other beds in the Lake District and on the Isle of Man have yielded similar acritarch assemblages and are probably correlatives. Five new acritarch taxa are described: Caldariola gen. nov., Acanthodiacrodium? dilatum, Stellechinatum sicaforme and Striatotheca prolixa spp. nov., and Tetraniveum arenigum cumbriense subsp. nov.; one new combination, Caldariola glabra (Martin) comb, nov., is proposed.

Keywords

acritarchsapproximatus Biozoneeustatic regressiongraptolitesSkiddaw GroupTremadoc–Arenig boundary
Type
Research Article
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 79 , Issue 1 , 1988 , pp. 43 - 69
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allen, P. M. & Cooper, D. C. 1986. The stratigraphy and composition of the Latterbarrow and Redmain sandstones, Lake District, England. GEOL J 21, 59–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arthurton, R. S. & Wadge, A. J. 1981. Geology of the country around Penrith. MEM GEOL SURV GB 1:50,000 sheet 24 London: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Booth, G. A. 1979. Lower Ordovician acritarchs from successions in England and North Wales. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of Sheffield, U.K.Google Scholar
Burmann, G. 1970. Weitere organische Mikrofossilien aus dem unteren Ordovizium. PALÄONTOL ABH, ABT B, PALÄOBOTANIK 3, 289–332.Google Scholar
Burmann, G. 1976. Übersicht über das ordovizische Mikroplankton im Südteil der D.D.R. (Vogtland, Wildenfelser Zwischengebirge). JAHRB GEOL 7/8 (for 1971–72), 47–62.Google Scholar
Capera, J. C., Courtessole, R. & Pillet, J. 1978. Contribution à l'étude de l'Ordovicien inférieur de la Montagne Noire. Biostratigraphie et révision des Agnostida. ANN SOC GÉOL NORD 98, 67–88.Google Scholar
Cocks, L. R. M. & Fortey, R. A. 1982. Faunal evidence for oceanic separations in the Palaeozoic of Britain. J GEOL SOC LONDON 139, 465–478.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Combaz, A. 1967. Un microbios du Trémadocien dans un sondage d'Hassi–Messaoud. ACTES SOC LINN BORDEAUX 104, SER B 29.Google Scholar
Cooper, R. A. 1979. Sequence and correlation of Tremadoc graptolite assemblages. ALCHERINGA 3, 7–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooper, R. A. & Fortey, R. A. 1982. The Ordovician graptolites of Spitsbergen. BULL BR MUS NAT HIST (GEOL) 36, 157–302.Google Scholar
Cope, J. C. W., Fortey, R. A. & Owens, R. M. 1978. Newly discovered Tremadoc rocks in the Carmarthen district, South Wales. GEOL MAG 115, 195–198.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cowie, J. W., Stubblefield, C. J. & Rushton, A. W. A. 1972. A correlation of Cambrian rocks in the British Isles. SPEC REP GEOL SOC LONDON 2.Google Scholar
Dakyns, J. R., Tiddeman, R. H. & Goodchild, J. G. 1897. The geology of the country between Appleby, Ullswater and Haweswater. MEM GEOL SURV GB (ENGLAND AND WALES).Google Scholar
Dean, W. T. 1976. Some aspects of Ordovician correlation and trilobite distribution in the Canadian Appalachians. In Bassett, M. G. (ed.) The Ordovician System: proceedings of a Palaeontological Association symposium, Birmingham, September, 1974, 227–250. Cardiff: University of Wales Press and National Museum of Wales.Google Scholar
Dean, W. T. & Martin, F. 1978. Lower Ordovician acritarchs and trilobites from Bell Island, Eastern Newfoundland. BULL GEOL SURV CAN 284.Google Scholar
Deflandre, G. & Deflandre–Rigaud, M. 1962. Nomenclature et systématique des Hystrichosphères (sens. lat.). Observations et rectifications. REV MICROPALÉONT 4, 190–196.Google Scholar
Deunff, J. 1959. Microorganismes planctonique du Primaire armoricain. I. Ordovicien du Veryhac'h (Presquîle de Crozon). BULL SOC GÉOL MINÉR BRETAGNE (NOUV SER) 1958 (2), 1–41.Google Scholar
Deunff, J., Górka, H. & Rauscher, R. 1974. Observations nouvelles et précisions sur les Acritarches à large ouverture polaire du Paléozoïque inférieur. GEOBIOS 7, 5–18. Acritarches. Révision de deux genres de l'Ordovicien inférieur. REV MICROPALÉONT 7, 119–124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Deunff, J. 1977. Un microplancton à Acritarches dans les schistes Ilanvirniens de l'Anti-Atlas (Zagora–Maroc). NOTES MÉM SERV GÉOL MAROC 38 (268), 141–151.Google Scholar
Deunff, J., Górka, H. & Rauscher, R. 1974. Observations nouvelles et précisions sur les Acritarches à large ouverture polaire du Paléozoïque inférieur. GEOBIOS 7, 5–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Deunff, J. & Massa, D. 1975. Palynologie et stratigraphie du Cambro-Ordovicien. (Libye nord-occidentale). C. R. HEBD SEANCES ACAD SCI PARIS, SÉR. D 281, 21–24.Google Scholar
Dixon, E. E. L. 1925. In SUMM PROG GEOL SURV GB for 1924, 70–71.Google Scholar
Downie, C. 1958. An assemblage of microplankton from the Shineton Shales (Tremadocian). PROC YORKSHIRE GEOL SOC 31, 331–349.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Downie, C. 1959. Hystrichospheres from the Silurian Wenlock Shales of England. PALAEONTOLOGY 2, 56–71.Google Scholar
Downie, C. 1984. Acritarchs in British stratigraphy. SPEC REP GEOL SOC LONDON 17.Google Scholar
Downie, C., Booth, G., Rasul, S. & Potter, T. 1979. Changes in the acritarch assemblages at the Tremadoc boundaries in the United Kingdom. PROC IV INT PALYNOL CONF, LUCKNOW (1976–77) 2, 78–83.Google Scholar
Downie, C. & Soper, N. J. 1972. Age of the Eycott Volcanic Group and its conformable relationship to the Skiddaw Slates in the English Lake District. GEOL MAG 109, 259–268.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eastwood, T. 1930. The geology of the Maryport District. MEM GEOL SURV GB (ENGLAND AND WALES). London: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Eastwood, T., Dixon, E. E. L., Hollingworth, S. E. & Smith, B. 1931. The geology of the Whitehaven and Workington District. MEM GEOL SURV GB (ENGLAND AND WALES). London: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Eastwood, T., Hollingworth, S. E., Rose, W. C. C. & Trotter, F. M. 1968. Geology of the country around Cockermouth and Caldbeck. MEM GEOL SURV GB (ENGLAND AND WALES). London: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Eisenack, A. 1938. Hystrichosphaerideen und verwandte Formen im baltischen Silur. Z GESCHIEBEFORSCH FLACHLDGEOL 14, 1–30.Google Scholar
Eisenack, A. 1958a. Mikroplankton aus dem norddeutschen Apt nebst einigen Bemerkungen über fossile Dinoflagellaten. NEUES JAHRB GEOL PALÄONT ABH 106, 383–422.Google Scholar
Eisenack, A. 1958b. Tasmanites Newton 1875 und Leiosphaeridia n.g. als Gattungen der Hystrichosphaeridea. PALAEONTOGRAPHICA, ABT A 110, 1–19.Google Scholar
Eisenack, A. 1962. Einige Bemerkungen zu neueren Arbeiten über Hystrichosphären. NEUES JAHRB GEOL PALÄONTOL MONATSH 1962, 92–101.Google Scholar
Eisenack, A. 1969. Zur Systematik einiger paläozoischer Hystrichosphären (Acritarcha) des baltischen Gebietes. NEUES JAHRB GEOL PALAONTOL ABH 133, 245–266.Google Scholar
Elles, G. L. & Wood, E. M. R. 1901. A monograph of British graptolites, part 1, 1–54, pls 1–4. MONOGR PALAEONTOGR SOC (part of 55 (1901)).Google Scholar
Erdtmann, B.-D. & VandenBerg, H. M. 1985. Araneograptus gen. nov. and its two species from the late Tremadocian (Lancefieldian, La2) of Victoria. ALCHERINGA 9, 49–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fortey, R. A. 1984. Global earlier Ordovician transgressions and regressions and their biological implications. In Bruton, D. L. (ed.) Aspects of the Ordovician System, Palaeontological contributions from the University of Oslo, 295, 37–50. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget.Google Scholar
Fortey, R. A. & Cocks, L. R. M. 1986. Marginal faunal belts and their structural implications, with examples from the Lower Palaeozoic. J GEOL SOC LONDON 143, 151–160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fortey, R. A. & Owens, R. M. 1978. Early Ordovician (Arenig) stratigraphy and faunas of the Carmarthen district, south-west Wales. BULL BR MUS NAT HIST (GEOL) 30, 225–294.Google Scholar
Fortey, R. A. & Owens, R. M. 1987. The Arenig Series in South Wales. BULL BR MUS NAT HIST (GEOL) 41, 69–307.Google Scholar
Fournier-Vinas, C. 1978. Acritarches Cambro-Ordoviciens des Monts de Lacaune (Nord de la Montagne Noire, France). PALINOLOGÍA núm. extraord. 1, 263–271.Google Scholar
Górka, H. 1967. Quelques nouveaux Acritarches des silexites du Trémadocien supérieur de la région de Kielce (Montagne de Ste Croix, Pologne). CAH MICROPALÉONTOL, SER 1 6.Google Scholar
Górka, H. 1969. Microorganismes de l'Ordovicien de Pologne. PALAEONT POL 22.Google Scholar
Green, J. F. N. 1917. The age of the chief intrusions of the Lake District. PROC GEOL ASS 28, 1–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gutiérrez, Marco J. C. 1982. Descubrimiento de nuevos niveles con Graptolitos ordovícicos en la unidad “Pizarras con Didymograptus”—Schneider 1939—(Prov. Huelva, SW. de España). SERV GEOL PORTUGAL 68, 241–6.Google Scholar
Hall, J. 1843. Natural History of New York. Geology of New-York. Part IV, comprising the survey of the fourth geological district. Albany: Carroll & Cook.Google Scholar
Hall, J. 1851. New genera of fossil corals. AM J SCI (2) 11, 398–401.Google Scholar
Hall, J. 1868. Graptolites of the Quebec Group. Figures and descriptions of Canadian organic remains, Decade 2. St John's Newfoundland: Geological Survey of Canada.Google Scholar
Harrington, H. J. & Leanza, A. 1957. Ordovician trilobites of Argentina. SPEC PUBL UNIV KANSAS, DEP GEOL 1.Google Scholar
Hollingworth, S. E. 1954. The geology of the Lake District—a review. PROC GEOL ASS 65, 385–402.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jackson, D. E. 1961. Stratigraphy of the Skiddaw Group between Buttermere and Mungrisdale, Cumberland. GEOL MAG 98, 515–528.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jackson, D. E. 1962. Graptolite zones in the Skiddaw Group in Cumberland, England. J PALEONTOL 36, 300–313.Google Scholar
Jackson, D. E. 1978. The Skiddaw Group. In Moseley, F. (ed.) The Geology of the Lake District, Yorkshire Geological Society Occasional Publication 3, 79–98.Google Scholar
Jackson, D. E. 1979. A new assessment of the stratigraphy of the Skiddaw Group along the northern edge of the main Skiddaw inlier. PROC CUMBERLAND GEOL SOC 4, 21–31.Google Scholar
Jardiné, S., Combaz, A., Magloire, L., Peniguel, G. & Vachey, G. 1974. Distribution stratigraphique des Acritarches dans le Paléozoïque du Sahara Algérien. REV PALAEOBOT PALYNOL 18, 99–129.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kraft, J. 1972. Dictyonema rokycanense sp. n. from the Klabava Formation (Arenig) of the Ordovician of the Barrandian. VĚSTN ÚSTŘED ÚSTAVU GEOL 47, 39–40, pls 1–2.Google Scholar
Kraft, J. 1977. Graptolites from the Klabava Formation (Arenigian) of the Ordovician of Bohemia. FOLIA MUS RERUM NATUR BOHEMIAE OCCIDENT GEOL, Plzeň, Geologica, 6.Google Scholar
Lee, C. K. & Chen, X. 1962. Cambrian and Ordovician graptolites from Sandu S. Gueizhou (Kueichou). ACTA PALAEONTOL SINICA 10, 12–30. [In Chinese, English summary.]Google Scholar
Legrand, P. 1985. Lower Palaeozoic Rocks of Algeria. In Holland, C. (ed.). Lower Palaeozoic Rocks of north-western and west central Africa 5–89. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons.Google Scholar
Lindholm, K. 1985. Field excursion guide: Scania, Sweden. [Graptolite Working Group of the International Palaeontological Association. Third International Conference, Copenhagen, 1985]. Lund: Department of Historical Geology and Palaeontology, University of Lund.Google Scholar
Loeblich, A. R. & Tappan, H. 1976. Some new and revised organic-walled phytoplankton microfossil genera. J PALEONTOL 50, 301–8.Google Scholar
Martin, F. 1969. Les Acritarches de l'Ordovicien et du Silurien belges. Détermination et valeur stratigraphique. MÉM INST R SCI NAT BELG 160. [Dated 1968.]Google Scholar
Martin, F. 1972. Les Acritarches de l'Ordovicien inférieur de la Montagne Noire (Hérault, France). BULL INST R SCI NAT BELG SCI TERRE 48 (10).Google Scholar
Martin, F. 1977. Acritarches du Cambro-Ordovicien du Massif du Brabant, Belgique. BULL INST R SCI NAT BELG SCI TERRE 51 (1). [Dated 1975.]Google Scholar
Martin, F. 1982. Some aspects of late Cambrian and early Ordovician acritarchs. In Bassett, M. G. & Dean, W. T. (eds) The Cambrian-Ordovician Boundary: sections, fossil distributions, and correlations, Geological Series 3, 29–40. Cardiff: National Museum of Wales.Google Scholar
Martin, F. & Dean, W. T. 1981. Middle and Upper Cambrian and Lower Ordovician acritarchs from Random Island, Eastern Newfoundland. BULL GEOL SURV CANADA 343.Google Scholar
Molyneux, S. G. 1979. New evidence for the age of the Manx Group, Isle of Man. In Harris, A. L., Holland, C. H. & Leake, B. E. (eds) The Caledonides of the British Isles—reviewed. SPEC PUBL GEOL SOC LONDON 8, 415–421.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Molyneux, S. G. 1987. Appendix. Acritarchs and Chitinozoa from the Arenig Series of south-west Wales. BULL BR MUS NAT HIST (GEOL) 41, 309–364.Google Scholar
Molyneux, S. G. & Rushton, A. W. A. 1985. Discovery of Tremadoc rocks in the Lake District. PROC YORKSHIRE GEOL SOC 45, 123–127 [dated 1984].CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Monsen, A. 1937. Die graptolithenfauna im Unteren Didymograptusschiefer (Phyllograptusschiefer) Norwegens. NORSK GEOL TIDSSKR 16, 57–266.Google Scholar
Murchison, R. I. 1839. The Silurian System. London: J. Murray.Google Scholar
Enzhi, Mu, Meiyu, Ge, Xu, Chen, Yunan, Ni & Yaokun, Lin 1979. Lower Ordovician graptolites of Southwest China. PALAEONTOL SINICA, NEW SER B 13 (156). [In Chinese, English summary.]Google Scholar
Owens, R. M. & Fortey, R. A. 1982. Arenig rocks of the Carmarthen-Llanarthney District. In Bassett, M. G. (ed.). Geological excursions in Dyfed, south-west Wales, 249–258. Cardiff: National Museum of Wales.Google Scholar
Rastall, R. H. 1910. The Skiddaw Granite and its metamorphism. Q J GEOL SOC LONDON 66, 116–141.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rasul, S. M. 1971. A systematic and stratigraphic study of the Tremadoc acritarchs of Shropshire. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of Sheffield, U.K.Google Scholar
Rasul, S. M. 1974. The Lower Palaeozoic acritarchs Priscogalea and Cymatiogalea. PALAEONTOLOGY 17, 41–63.Google Scholar
Rasul, S. M. 1976. New species of the genus Vulcanisphaera (Acritarcha) from the Tremadocian of England. MICROPALEONTOLOGY 22, 479–484.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rasul, S. M. 1979. Acritarch zonation of the Tremadoc Series of the Shineton Shales, Wrekin, Shropshire, England. PALYNOLOGY 3, 53–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rasul, S. M. & Downie, C. 1974. The stratigraphic distribution of Tremadoc acritarchs in the Shineton Shales succession, Shropshire, England. REV PALAEOBOT PALYNOL 18, 1–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rauscher, R. 1973. Récherches micropaléontologiques et stratigraphiques dans l'Ordovicien et le Silurien en France. Étude des acritarches, des chitinozoaires, et des spores. MÉM SCI INST GÉOL STRASBOURG 38.Google Scholar
Raymond, P. E. 1914. The succession of faunas at Levis P. Q. AM J SCI 38, 523–530.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rose, W. C. C. 1954. The sequence and structure of the Skiddaw Slates in the Keswick-Buttermere area. PROC GEOL ASS 65, 403–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rushton, A. W. A. 1985. A Lancefieldian graptolite from the Lake District. GEOL MAG 122, 329–333.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rushton, A. W. A. 1988. Tremadoc trilobites from the Skiddaw Group in the English Lake District. PALAEONTOLOGY 31, 677–698.Google Scholar
Sedgwick, A. & McCoy, F. 1851. A synopsis of the classification of the British Palaeozoic rocks, with a detailed systematic description of the British Palaeozoic fossils in the Geological Museum of the University of Cambridge. Fasc. 1, 1–184. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Simpson, A. 1967. The stratigraphy and tectonics of the Skiddaw Slates and the relationship of the overlying Borrowdale Volcanic Series in part of the Lake District. GEOL J 5, 391–418.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slavíková, K. 1968. New finds of acritarchs in the Middle Cambrian of the Barrandian (Czechoslovakia). VĚSTN ÚSTŘED ÚSTAVU GEOL 43, 199–205.Google Scholar
Thomas, D. E. 1960. The zonal distribution of Australian graptolites. J PROC R SOC NEW SOUTH WALES 94, 1–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Timofeev, B. V. 1958. Über das Alter sächsischer Grauwacken. Mikropaläophytologische Untersuchungen von Proben aus der Weesensteiner und Lausitzer Grauwacke. GEOLOGIE 7, 826–845.Google Scholar
Tjernvik, T. E. 1960. The Lower Didymograptus Shales of the Flagabro drilling core. GEOL FÖREN STOCKH FORH 82, 203–217.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tjernvik, T. E. & Johansson, J. V. 1980. Description of the upper portion of the drill-core from Finngrundet in the South Bothnian Bay. BULL GEOL INST UNIV UPPS, NEW SER 8, 173–204.Google Scholar
Törnquist, S. L. 1901. Researches into the graptolites of the lower zones of the Scanian and Vestrogothian Phyllo-Tetragraptus Beds. ACTA UNIV LUND 37 (2), no. 5.Google Scholar
Tullberg, S. A. 1880. Några Didymograptus-arter i undre graptolitskiffer vid Kiviks-Esperöd. GEOL FÖREN STOCKH FÖRH 5, 39–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Turner, J. C. M. 1960. Faunas graptoliticas de America del Sur. REV ASOC GEOL ARGENTINA 14, 1–180.Google Scholar
Turner, R. E. 1984. Acritarchs from the type area of the Ordovician Caradoc Series, Shropshire, England. PALAEONTOGR ABT B PALÄOPHYTOL 190, 87–157.Google Scholar
Vanguestaine, M. 1978. Critères palynostratigraphiques conduisant à la reconnaissance d'un pli couché Revinien dans le sondage de Grand-Halleux. ANN SOC GÉOL BELG 100, 249–276.Google Scholar
Vavrdová, M. 1965. Ordovician acritarchs from Central Bohemia. VĚSTN ÚSTRED ÚSTAVU GEOL 40, 351–7.Google Scholar
Vavrdová, M. 1966. Palaeozoic microplankton from Central Bohemia. ČAS MINERAL GEOL ČESKOSL 11, 409–414.Google Scholar
Vavrdová, M. 1972. Acritarchs from Klabava Shales (Arenig). VĚSTN ÚSTŘED ÚSTAVU GEOL 47, 79–86.Google Scholar
Vavrdová, M. 1973. New acritarchs from the Bohemian Arenig (Ordovician). VĚSTN ÚSTŘED ÚSTAVU GEOL 48, 285–9.Google Scholar
Vavrdová, M. 1976. Excystment mechanism of Early Paleozoic acritarchs. ČAS MINERAL GEOL ČESKOSL 21, 55–63.Google Scholar
Vavrdová, M. 1977. Acritarchs from the Šárka Formation (Llanvirnian). VĚSTN ÚSTŘED ÚSTAVU GEOL 52, 109–118.Google Scholar
Vavrdová, M. 1982. Phytoplankton communities of Cambrian and Ordovician age of Central Bohemia. VĚSTN ÚSTŘED ÚSTAVU GEOL 57, 145–155.Google Scholar
Ward, J. C. 1876. The geology of the northern part of the English Lake District. MEM GEOL SURV GBGoogle Scholar
Whittington, H. B., Dean, W. T., Fortey, R. A., Rickards, R. B., Rushton, A. W. A. & Wright, A. D. 1984. Definition of the Tremadoc Series and the series of the Ordovician System in Britain. GEOL MAG 121, 17–33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wolf, R. 1980. The lower and upper boundary of the Ordovician system of some selected regions (Celtiberia, Eastern Sierra Morena) in Spain. Part I: The Lower Ordovician sequence of Celtiberia. NEUES JAHRB GEOL PALÄONT ABH 160, 118–137.Google Scholar