The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units — Result Details

Capelaw Volcanic Member

Computer Code: CPW Preferred Map Code: CPW
Status Code: Full
Age range: Pridoli Epoch (SO) — Lochkovian Age (DO)
Lithological Description: Lower three or four flows are fine-grained basalt, with pyroxene andesite occuring in north east. Upper flow is biotite dacite or biotite rhyolite, pale pink or lilac, silicified and kaolinitised, with large feldspar and biotite phenocrysts.
Definition of Lower Boundary: Conformable: where fine-grained basalt overlies pink flow-banded rhyolites of the Bell's Hill Volcanic Member.
Definition of Upper Boundary: Conformable: where biotite dacite or biotite rhyolite is overlain by basic andesites and olivine basalts of the Allermuir Volcanic Member.
Thickness: Attains 175-200m at Green Craig on Allermuir Hill. Thins southwards to less than 80m at Capelaw Hill.
Geographical Limits: Pentland Hills.
Parent Unit: Pentland Hills Volcanic Formation (PDH)
Previous Name(s): Capelaw Volcanic Formation [Obsolete Name and Code: Use CPW] (-2719)
Allermuir Group [Obsolete Name And Code: Use ALMR] (ALG)
Capelaw Basic Group and Capelaw Acid Group [Obsolete Name and Code: Use CPW] (-3953)
Alternative Name(s): none recorded or not applicable
Stratotypes:
Partial Type Section  Three or four flows of fine-grained basalt at Green Craig on north west slope of Allermiur Hill. 
Partial Type Section  Pyroxene andesites overlain by biotite dacite or biotite rhyolite, Stotfold Craigs 500m south west of Swanston. 
Reference(s):
Mitchell, G H. 1962. The geology of the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. (Explanation of Sheet 32) Third Edition. (Reprinted 1980). Memoir of the Geological Survey of Great Britain (Scotland). 
Mykura, W, 1960. The Lower Old Red Sandstone igneous rocks of the Pentland Hills. Bulletin of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, No.16, 131-155. 
Geikie, A, 1897. The Ancient Volcanoes of Great Britain. Vol.1, 317-325. (London: Macmillan). 
Peach, B N, Clough, C T, Hinxman, L W, Grant Wilson, J S, Crampton, C B, Maufe, H B and Bailey, E B, 1910. The geology of the Neighbourhood of Edinburgh (2nd edition). Memoir of the Geological Survey of Scotland, Sheet 32 (Scotland). 
Thirlwall, M F, 1988. Geochronology of Late Caledenian magmatism in northern Britain. Journal of the Geological Society, Vol.145, 951-967. 
Howell, H H and Geikie, A, 1861. The Geology of the neighbourhood of Edinburgh (1st edition). Memoir of the Geological Survey, Scotland. 
Mykura, W, 1986. Pentland Hills. 161-173 in Lothian Geology. An Excursion Guide. McAdam, A D and Clarkson, E N K (editors). (Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press.) 
Cameron, I B and Stephenson, D, 1985. British Regional Geology: The Midland Valley of Scotland (3rd Edition). (London: HMSO for British Geological Survey). 
1:50K maps on which the lithostratigraphical unit is found, and map code used:
S032