Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T20:50:42.068Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Pleistocene gravels of the River Axe in south-western England, and their bearing on the southern limit of glaciation in Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

C. P. Green
Affiliation:
Department of GeographyBedford CollegeUniversity of LondonRegent's ParkLondon NW1 4NS

Summary

The source of far-travelled pebbles in the Pleistocene gravels of the lower Axe is investigated. Reference is made to the possible introduction of far-travelled material by glacial meltwater, flowing into the basin of the Axe through a ‘gap’ in the present watershed at Chard. Gravels of the lower Axe are described and compared with gravels of the upper Axe and of neighbouring streams. Far-travelled material is found in almost all of the gravels examined. The source of the material is identified in early Tertiary gravels which occur within the present basins of the rivers in question. A glacial origin for the far-travelled material is rejected.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1974

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

Green, C. P., 1973. Pleistocene river gravels and the Stonehenge problem. Nature, Lond. 243, 214–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Green, J. F. N. 1941. The high platforms of East Devon. Proc. Geol. Ass. 52, 3652.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harmer, F. W. 1907. On the origin of certain canyon-like valleys associated with lake-like areas of depression. Q. Jl geol Soc. Lond. 63, 470514.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hawkins, A. B. & Kellaway, G. A. 1971. Field meeting at Bristol and Bath with special reference to new evidence of glaciation. Proc. Geol. Ass. 82, 267–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kellaway, G. A. 1971. Glaciation and the stones of Stonehenge. Nature, Lond. 233, 30–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maw, G. 1864. On a supposed deposit of boulder-clay in North Devon. Q. Jl geol. Soc.Lond. 20, 445–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mitchell, G. F. 1965. The St Erth Beds — an alternative explanation. Proc. Geol. Ass. 76, 345–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mitchell, G. F. & Orme, A. R. 1968. The Pleistocene deposits of the Isles of Scilly. Q. JI geol. Soc. Lond. 123, 5962.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reid, C. 1896. The Eocene deposits of Dorset. Q. JI geol. Soc. Lond. 52, 490–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reid, C. 1898. The Eocene deposits of Devon. Q. JI geol. Soc. Lond. 54, 234–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Salter, A. E. 1898. Pebbly and other gravels in southern England. Proc. Geol. Ass. 15, 264–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stephens, N. 1966. Some Pleistocene deposits in North Devon. Biul. peryglac. 15, 103–14.Google Scholar
Stephens, N. 1971. The lower Severn valley. In C. A. Lewis: The Glaciations of Wales and Adjoining Regions, 107–24. Longman, London.Google Scholar
Ussher, W. A. E. 1906. The geology of the country between Wellington and Chard. Mem. geol. Surv. U.K..Google Scholar
Waters, R. S. 1960. The bearing of superficial deposits on the age and origin of the upland plain of East Devon, West Dorset and South Somerset. Trans. Inst. Br. Geogr. 28, 8997.Google Scholar
Whitley, N. 1882. The evidence of glacial action in Cornwall and Devon. Trans. R. geol. Soc. Cornwall 10, 132–41.Google Scholar
Wilson, V., Welch, F. B. A., Robbie, J. A. & Green, O. W. 1958. Geology of the country around Bridport and Yeovil. Mem. geol. Surv. G. B.Google Scholar
Woodward, H. B. 1874. Glaciation of the south west of England. Geol. Mag. 11, 335–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar