The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units — Result Details

Warwickshire Avon Valley Formation

Computer Code: AVON Preferred Map Code: notEntered
Status Code: Full
Age range: Mid Pleistocene (QPM) — Holocene Epoch (QH)
Lithological Description: Fluvial terrace and alluvial deposits of the Warwickshire River Avon and all its tributaries; mainly sand, gravel, and mud; divided into six [or seven] "terrace" members (Frog Hall, Pershore, [Strensham], Cropthorne, New Inn, Wasperton and Bretford members), Holocene alluvium (Elmore Member of Bowen, 1999) and with local named organic deposits. Includes contemporaneous head, colluvium and soil deposits. Gravels are principally composed of "Bunter" quartz/quartzite, flint and Jurassic (mostly Lias) lithologies, derived from the Baginton Formation, Wolston Formation and the local bedrock of the catchment. Mid Pleistocene to Holocene (MI Stages ?11 or 9 to 1).
Definition of Lower Boundary: Unconformable, commonly channelled base on pre-Quaternary (mostly Triassic and Jurassic with some Carboniferous) bedrock, or on glacial deposits (till, sands and gravels) of the Wolston Formation, or pre-glacial fluvial sands and gravels of the Baginton Formation.
Definition of Upper Boundary: Ground surface.
Thickness: 0 to c. 9 m.
Geographical Limits: Avon Catchment (Warwickshire, Rugby to Tewkesbury area).
Parent Unit: Severn and Avon Catchments Subgroup (SACA)
Previous Name(s): Avon Valley Formation (-662)
Alternative Name(s): none recorded or not applicable
Stratotypes:
Type Area  Lower Avon Valley, Stratford-upon-Avon to Tewkesbury. Tomlinson, 1925. 
Reference(s):
Edmonds, E A, Poole, E G and Wilson, V. 1965. Geology of the country around Banbury and and Edge Hill. Memoir of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, Sheet 201 (England and Wales). 
Old, R A, Sumbler, M G and Ambrose, K, 1987. Geology of the country around Warwick. Memoir of the British Geological Survey, Sheet 184 (England and Wales). 
Old R A, Hamblin, R J O, Ambrose, K, and Warrington G. 1991. Geology of the country around Redditch. Memoir of the British Geological Survey, Sheet 183 (England and Wales). 
Barclay, W J, Ambrose K, Chadwick, R A and Pharaoh, T C. 1997. Geology of the country around Worcester. Memoir of the British Geological Survey, Sheet 199 (England and Wales). 
Keen, D H. 1989. The Pleistocene of the West Midlands. Field Guide. [Cambridge: Quaternary Research Association.] 
Maddy, D, Keen, D H, Bridgland, D R and Green, C P. 1991. A revised model for the Pleistocene development of the River Avon, Warwickshire. Journal of the Geological Society of London, Vol.148, 473-484. 
Shotton, F W. 1953. The Pleistocene deposits of the area between Coventry, Rugby and Leamington and their bearing on the topographic development of the Midlands. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Vol.B237, 209-260. 
Tomlinson, M E. 1925. The river terraces of the lower valley of the Warwickshire Avon. Quarterley Journal of the Geological Society of London. Vol.81, 137-169. 
Williams, B J and Whittaker, A. 1974. Geology of the country around Stratford-upon-Avon and Evesham. Memoir of the Geological Survey of Great Britain Sheet 200 (England and Wales). 
Stoker, M S, McMillan, A A and Waters, C N. Quaternary Stratigraphical Chart: Southern Britain. British Geological Survey, 1 poster. 
Worssam, B C, Ellison, R A and Moorlock, B S P. 1989. Geology of the country around Tewkesbury. Memoir of the British Geological Survey, Sheet 216 (England and Wales). 
Bowen, D Q. 1999. A revised correlation of Quaternary deposits in the British Isles. Geological Society Special Report, No. 23. 
1:50K maps on which the lithostratigraphical unit is found, and map code used:
E168 E169 E170 E183 E184 E185 E199 E200 E201 E202 E216 E217 E218