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Lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy of the Lower Carboniferous (Mississippian) carbonates of the southern Askrigg Block, North Yorkshire, UK

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2016

C. N. WATERS ,
P. CÓZAR ,
I. D. SOMERVILLE ,
R. B. HASLAM ,
D. MILLWARD  and
M. WOODS
C. N. WATERS*
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, NG12 5GG, UK
P. CÓZAR
Affiliation:
Instituto de Geociencias CSIC-UCM, Madrid, Spain
I. D. SOMERVILLE
Affiliation:
UCD School of Earth Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
R. B. HASLAM
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, NG12 5GG, UK
D. MILLWARD
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
M. WOODS
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, NG12 5GG, UK
*
†Author for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

A rationalized lithostratigraphy for the Great Scar Limestone Group of the southeast Askrigg Block is established. The basal Chapel House Limestone Formation, assessed from boreholes, comprises shallow-marine to supratidal carbonates that thin rapidly northwards across the Craven Fault System, onlapping a palaeotopographical high of Lower Palaeozoic strata. The formation is of late Arundian age in the Silverdale Borehole, its northernmost development. The overlying Kilnsey Formation represents a southward-thickening and upward-shoaling carbonate development on a S-facing carbonate ramp. Foraminiferal/algal assemblages suggest a late Holkerian and early Asbian age, respectively, for the uppermost parts of the lower Scaleber Force Limestone and upper Scaleber Quarry Limestone members, significantly younger than previously interpreted. The succeeding Malham Formation comprises the lower Cove Limestone and upper Gordale Limestone members. Foraminiferal/algal assemblages indicate a late Asbian age for the formation, contrasting with the Holkerian age previously attributed to the Cove Limestone. The members reflect a change from a partially shallow-water lagoon (Cove Limestone) to more open-marine shelf (Gordale Limestone), coincident with the onset of marked sea-level fluctuations and formation of palaeokarstic surfaces with palaeosoils in the latter. Facies variations along the southern flank of the Askrigg Block, including an absence of fenestral lime-mudstone in the upper part of the Cove Limestone and presence of dark grey cherty grainstone/packstone in the upper part the Gordale Limestone are related to enhanced subsidence during late Asbian movement on the Craven Fault System. This accounts for the marked thickening of both members towards the Greenhow Inlier.

Keywords

Great Scar Limestone GroupAskrigg Blockplatform carbonatesmicrofaciesforaminiferal/algal assemblages
Type
Original Articles
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 154 , Issue 2 , March 2017 , pp. 305 - 333
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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