Geology of the Leeds District : a brief explanation of the geological map sheet 70

Cooper, A.H.; Gibson, A.. 2004 Geology of the Leeds District : a brief explanation of the geological map sheet 70. Nottingham, UK, British Geological Survey, 30pp. (Explanation (England & Wales Sheet) British Geological Survey, 70).

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Abstract/Summary

The Leeds district area ranges from the gritstone moors in the north-west through the rolling farmland of the Carboniferous and Permian rocks down to the flat glacial lake of the Vale of York. Leeds city in the south west of the district was the focus for industry fueled by local coal mining and encouraged by transport along the waterways of the Aire Valley. The bedrock of the district divides into three belts. The western belt comprises Carboniferous rocks, the central belt is Permian and the eastern belt is Triassic with the addition of thick glacial cover in the north-east of the area. The Carboniferous strata are oldest in the north and youngest in the south ranging from about 323 to 310 million years old. In the north, they include the Millstone Grit Group with its massive sandstone units separated by mudstone, siltstone and subordinate coal sequences. The sandstones form moderately elevated ridges with steep scarp slopes, especially overlooking the Wharfe valley. In the south of the district, the sequence includes the Coal Measures a generally soft sequence of mudstone, siltstone, coal and sandstone, which grades fairly gently down to the Aire Valley. The north of this belt is mixture of pastoral and arable farming. The southern area is mainly urban or arable with some opencast coal mining. The central belt is composed of Permian rocks dominated by dolomite sequences separated by mudstone with gypsum. The dolomites form easterly dipping escarpments with steep west-facing scarps. The mudstone and gypsum form clayey valleys between the escarpments. In some places the gypsum is responsible for natural subsidence features. The area is largely arable with some dolomite quarries. The eastern part of the district is underlain by the Triassic sandstones, but these are almost completely concealed by thick glacial deposits that lend their character to the scenery and arable agriculture. The land in the north-east of the district is hummocky reflecting the presence of moraines and eskers. The land in the south-east corner is flat clay and sand deposited in a former glacial lake. The new ‘Solid and Drift’ geological map and this Sheet Explanation provide valuable information on a wide range of Earth science issues. These include traditional aspects such as sedimentology and stratigraphy but also cover applied aspects such as mineral, energy, and water resources, waste disposal, foundation conditions and conservation.

Item Type:	Publication - Book
Programmes:	BGS Programmes > Geology and Landscape Southern
ISBN:	0852724284
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Available from the BGS Sales Desk Tel: 0115 936 3241 Fax: 0115 936 3488 email sales@bgs.ac.uk http://www.geologyshop.com
NORA Subject Terms:	Earth Sciences
Date made live:	13 May 2011 14:24 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/14258

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