Rockall Continental Margin Project : an investigation of the Quaternary sediments fron BGS boreholes 99/3, 99/4, 99/5 and 99/6, Faeroe - Shetland Channel

An investigation into the sedimentology and depositional environments was carried out on cores retrieved from 4 boreholes in the Faroe-Shetland Channel, west of Shetland. The study showed the area around boreholes 99/3 and 99/6 had been subjectedo a glacial influence since the mid-Quaternary. This influence comprised a build-up of glacial sediments at the edge of the continental shelf which periodically became unstable, resulting in repeated mass flows down the continental slope. Sediments deposited between these events shows there was alo current activity at the seafloor during this period. The area hrther west around boreholes 99/4 and 99/5 show a greatly reduced glacial influence, deposition being dominated by seafloor currents. As a result of the mixed nature of the sediments, accurate dating is difficult and consequently it is uncertain when the mass flow events last occurred.