The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units — Result Details
Shirdley Hill Sand Formation
| Computer Code: | SSA | Preferred Map Code: | SSA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status Code: | Full | ||
| Age range: | Devensian Stage (QD) — Holocene Epoch (QH) | ||
| Lithological Description: | Moderately to well-sorted, fine-grained sand with peat layers in the lower part. Sand grains are dominated by rounded to sub-rounded quartz grains. The formation is divisible into an upper "white" sand and a lower "brown" sand that is olive grey and brown. The sediments are interpreted as coastal blown sands, possibly a coastal facies of the Seacombe Sand Formation. | ||
| Definition of Lower Boundary: | Variably overlies sediments of the Caledonia Glacigenic Group. | ||
| Definition of Upper Boundary: | Either the ground surface or basal surface of overlying peat deposits. | ||
| Thickness: | <1 to 5m. | ||
| Geographical Limits: | Discontinuous distribution in Lancashire and Merseyside between Wigan, Liverpool and Southport. | ||
| Parent Unit: | British Coastal Deposits Group (COAS) | ||
| Previous Name(s): | Shirdly Hill Formation [Obsolete Name and Code: Use SSA]
(-2446)
Shirdly Hill Sand [Obsolete Name and Code: Use SSA] (-2447) |
||
| Alternative Name(s): | none recorded or not applicable | ||
| Stratotypes: | |||
| Type Section | Shirdley Hill. De Rance, 1869. | ||
| Reference(s): | |||
| De Rance, C E. 1869. Geology of the country between Liverpool and Southport. Memoir of the Geological Survey of the United Kingdom. | |||
| Thomas, G S P. 1999. Northern England. 91-98 in Bowen, D Q (Editor), A revised correlation of Quaternary and Neogene deposits in the British Isles. Geological Society Special Report No.23. | |||
| Wilson, P, Bateman, R M and Catt, J A. 1981. Petrography, origin and environment of the Shirdley Hill Sand of southwest Lancashire, England. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, Vol.92, No.4, 211-229. | |||
| Jones, R C B, Tonks, L H and Wright, W B, 1938. Wigan District. Memoir of the Geological Survey of Great Britain. England and Wales Sheet 84. | |||
| 1:50K maps on which the lithostratigraphical unit is found, and map code used: | |||
| E096 | |||