The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units — Result Details

Lambeth Formation

Computer Code: LMBT Preferred Map Code: notEntered
Status Code: Full
Age range: Thanetian Age (GT) — Ypresian Age (GY)
Lithological Description: The Lambeth Formation is represented by a poorly known and variable succession of brown, yellow, grey and red mudstones with locally developed sandstones. The mudstones and claystones appear to represent interbedded or colour-mottled lithologies, and are typically soft and poorly bedded. The sandstones are mostly non-glauconitic, medium to fine grained but locally with flint pebbles. In some sections these display blocky wireline-log character, but locally in the thicker successions of quadrants 48, 49, 50 and 53, they display upward-coarsening cycles. In some sections a thin unit of glauconitic sandstone is present near the base.
Definition of Lower Boundary: The base of the Lambeth Formation is defined by a downward change from sandstone or yellow, brown or red-brown mudstone to green grey or grey mudstone of the Lista Formation. It commonly lies beneath a thin low-gamma or high-velocity mudstone unit (e.g. 49/1-3), which passes locally into sandstone. It is also commonly identified by a downward change to relatively high and consistent resistivity values.
Definition of Upper Boundary: The top of the Lambeth Formation is defined by a downward change from grey mudstone (Sele unit 3) to sandstone or brown or yellow mudstone, and is marked by a downward decrease in gamma-ray values.
Thickness: The thickness is generally between 10 and 30 m, but reaches c. 45 m in well 44/11-3.
Geographical Limits: The Lambeth Formation is present over much of the Paleogene subcrop.
Parent Unit: Moray Group (MORA)
Previous Name(s): none recorded or not applicable
Alternative Name(s): none recorded or not applicable
Stratotypes:
Type Section  North Sea well 49/15- 1: 875-908.5 m (2870-2980 ft) (Lott and Knox, 1994). 
Reference(s):
Waters, C N, Smith, K, Hopson, P M, Wilson, D, Bridge, D M, Carney, J N, Cooper, A H, Crofts, R G, Ellison, R A, Mathers, S J, Moorlock, B S P, Scrivener, R C, McMillan, A A, Ambrose, K, Barclay, W J, and Barron, A J M. 2007. Stratigraphical Chart of the United Kingdom: Southern Britain. British Geological Survey, 1 poster. 
Ellison, R A, Knox R W O'B, Jolley, D W and King, C, 1994. A revision of the lithostratigraphical classification of the early Palaeogene strata of the London Basin and East Anglia. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, Vol.105, 187-197. 
Lott, G K and Knox, R W O'B. 1994. 7. Post-Triassic of the Southern North Sea. In: Knox, R W O'B and Cordey, W G (eds.) Lithostratigraphic nomenclature of the UK North Sea. British Geological Survey, Nottingham. 
1:50K maps on which the lithostratigraphical unit is found, and map code used:
none recorded or not applicable