Geology of the Manchester district : a brief explanation of the geological map Sheet 85 Manchester

This Sheet Explanation provides a summary of the geology and applied geology of the district covered by the geological 1:50 000 Series Sheet 85 Manchester, published as bedrock, and superficial and simplified bedrock editions in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Further details of the geology may be found in the references listed in the Information sources section and in other literature cited in the text. The Manchester district lies almost entirely within the Metropolitan County of Greater Manchester, with the extreme south-western part being in Cheshire. The area supports a population of over two million people, concentrated in the cities of Manchester and Salford, and the surrounding towns of Ashton-under-Lyne, Oldham, Bury, Bolton, Trafford, and parts of Rochdale and Stockport. Between these areas, the land is used for a diverse range of activities, including agriculture and industry; there are also extensive tracts of public open space and amenity areas.