The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units — Result Details

Bitter Beck Formation

Computer Code: BBF Preferred Map Code: BBF
Status Code: Full
Age range: Tremadoc Series (O1) — Tremadoc Series (O1)
Lithological Description: Siltstone and mudstone with subordinate sandstone beds.
Definition of Lower Boundary: Not seen, thrust faulted over Kirkstile Formation.
Definition of Upper Boundary: Rapid interbedded transition to Watch Hill Formation. (NY 149 316).
Thickness: c.250m at Bitter Beck, up to 600m (very poorly exposed) south of Cockermouth (northwest corner of Map NY12).
Geographical Limits: Not defined.
Parent Unit: Skiddaw Group (SKG)
Previous Name(s): none recorded or not applicable
Alternative Name(s): none recorded or not applicable
Stratotypes:
Type Area  Bitter Beck. Base not seen. 
Reference(s):
Waters, C N, Gillespie, M R, Smith, K, Auton, C A, Floyd, J D, Leslie, A G, Millward, D, Mitchell, W I, McMillan, A A, Stone, P, Barron, A J M, Dean, M T, Hopson, P M, Krabbendam, M, Browne, M A E, Stephenson, D, Akhurst, M C, and Barnes, R P. 2007. Stratigraphical Chart of the United Kingdom: Northern Britain. (British Geological Survey.) 
Molyneux, S G and Rushton, A W A, 1988. The age of the Watch Hill Grits (Ordovician), English Lake District. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Earth Sciences, Vol.79 (1), p.43-69. 
1:50K maps on which the lithostratigraphical unit is found, and map code used:
E023 E022 E029 E028