| Computer Code: |
NHC |
Preferred Map Code: |
NHC |
| Status Code: |
Full |
| Age range: |
Devensian Stage (QD)
— Holocene Epoch (QH) |
| Lithological Description: |
Includes all of the late glacial and post-glacial deposits within river catchments of the Northern Highlands and Argyll. The subgroup contains a similar suite of deposits to those of the Grampian Catchments Subgroup, but the drainage basins of the rivers are much less extensive than those of the Cromarty area.
Sand, gravel, silt, and clay. Clasts are derived from sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks cropping out in the northern and western Highlands and Argyll.
A suite of fluvial (alluvium, river terrace) and associated organic and lacustrine deposits.
Devensian to Holocene (MIS 2-1). |
| Definition of Lower Boundary: |
Unconformable contact with units of the Northwest Highlands Glacigenic Subgroup, the Central Grampian Glacigenic Subgroup, the Banffshire Coast and Caithness Glacigenic Subgroup, and with bedrock. |
| Definition of Upper Boundary: |
Generally the ground surface, but units of this Subgroup locally interfinger with units of the British Coastal Deposits Group. |
| Thickness: |
Up to 25 m. |
| Geographical Limits: |
The northern and western Highlands, western Grampians and Argyll. |
| Parent Unit: |
Britannia Catchments Group (BCAT)
|
| Previous Name(s): |
none recorded or not applicable
|
| Alternative Name(s): |
none recorded or not applicable
|
| Stratotypes: |
| Type Area |
Valleys of the northern and western Highlands, western Grampians and Argyll. See also the stratotypes of constituent formations. |
| Reference(s): |
| McMillan, A A, Hamblin, R J O, and Merritt, J W. 2011. A lithostratigraphical framework for onshore Quaternary and Neogene (Tertiary) superficial deposits of Great Britain and the Isle of Man. British Geological Survey Research Report, RR/10/03. 343pp. |
| McMillan, A A, Hamblin, R J O and Merritt, J W. 2005. An overview of the lithostratigraphical framework for the Quarternary and Neogene deposits of Great Britain (onshore). British Geological Survey Research Report RR/04/04. |
| 1:50K maps on which the lithostratigraphical unit is found, and map code used: |
| none recorded or not applicable |
