The stratigraphy of the Briton's Lane borehole and quarry, Beeston Regis, north-east Norfolk
Year: 2005
Type: article
Abstract: The Cromer Ridge complex in north-east Norfolk has traditionally been recognised as a Scandinavian ice-marginal limit during the Anglian-stage.This interpretation is based upon the presence of glaciotectonised North Sea Drift Formation sediments contained within the Cromer Ridge that reportedly include lithologies eroded from Scandinavia.Examination of quarry faces and samples from a purpose-drilled borehole at Briton's Lane Quarry on the northern flank of the Cromer Ridge reveal that the ridge, thereabouts, is composed of three lithological units.The lowermost unit, lithofacies A, is a flint-rich gravel equated by clast lithologies to the early-Middle Pleistocene Wroxham Crag Formation.The overlying unit, lithofacies B, comprises a complex sequence of glaciogenic muds, laminated muds, sands, and intercalated diamicton facies.The frequent vertical facies changes and sedimentological evidence of rain-out, mass-movement, and sedimentation from suspension indicate that deposition occurred through glaciogenic sedimentation within a standing water body.Lithofacies B is lithologically equated to the Bacton Green Till Member of the Sheringham Cliffs Formation, with derived-clast lithologies, heavy minerals, and allochthonous palynomorphs indicating an ice-flow path emanating from central Scotland and southwards along the western margin of the North Sea Basin.The absence of Scandinavian-derived clast lithologies within the Bacton Green Till further challenges the view that Scandinavian ice deposited the North Sea Drift Formation.The uppermost unit, lithofacies C, consists of ice-marginal fan sands and gravels deposited as outwash from a Scandinavian-sourced ice-sheet.This unit, the Briton's Lane Formation, is tentatively associated with the OIS-6 Scandinavian glaciation that deposited the Basement Till of East Yorkshire.
Language: English
Subfield: Earth-Surface Processes
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W205484013