List of geological groups of Great Britain

This is a sortable list of the groups into which the rock succession of Great Britain and surrounding seas is formally divided. Rock sequences are described by geologists by dividing them hierarchically thus: individual 'beds' of rock (or in the case of certain volcanic rocks, 'flows') are grouped into 'members', members are grouped into 'formations', formations into 'groups' and groups occasionally into 'supergroups'. Some groups are also subdivided into 'subgroups'. Not all of these hierarchical layers are necessarily present or defined within a particular rock succession. Many of these groups will be encountered as 'series' in older geological literature or indeed simply as the proper name e.g. 'Dalradian' or 'Millstone Grit' though care needs to be exercised as many of the names have or have had other meanings which may not coincide with the assemblage of rocks referred to formally through designation as a 'group'. Note that with all such stratigraphical terms as 'groups', 'formations' and 'members' it is standard practice to capitalise both the proper name and the 'term-word' as per the recommendation of the International Commission on Stratigraphy e.g. Wentnor Group and not Wentnor group.[1]

Notes:

Column 1 indicates the name of the geological group. Those marked with an asterisk are no longer formally recognised but are included as they occur widely in literature.

Column 2 indicates during which geological period the rocks of each group were deposited. Note that where more than one period is indicated deposition stretched across the period boundary in at least a part of the group's geographical extent but not necessarily across the whole of its extent.

Column 3 permits sorting by period in chronological order ie Quaternary Period is 01; Neogene,03; Palaeogene,05; Cretaceous,07; Jurassic,09 Triassic,11; Permian,13; Carboniferous,15; Devonian,17; Silurian,19; Ordovician,21; Cambrian,23; Ediacaran,25; Cryogenian,27; Tonian,29; Stenian, 31; and Ectasian, 33 - the last five being some of the periods into which the Proterozoic Eon is divided.

Column 4 indicates in which of the three nations of Great Britain, the group is known to occur, followed by which of the surrounding sea areas (if any), including specifically: Atlantic Ocean, Celtic Sea, English Channel, Irish Sea, North Sea. (At present, for the purposes of this table 'Celtic Sea' also includes the Bristol Channel whilst 'Atlantic Ocean' includes all sea areas off the west coast of Scotland.) Note that the Isle of Man is not a part of Great Britain but is included here for convenience.
Group  | Period  | Period sequence  | Country/sea area

|
|
|

Aberystwyth Grits Group  | Silurian  | 19  | Wales
Albion Glacigenic Group | Quaternary  | 01  | England, Scotland, Celtic Sea
Ancholme Group  | Jurassic  | 09  | England
Appin Group  | Cryogenian  | 27  | Scotland
Appleby Group  | Permian  | 13  | England, Scotland
Aran Volcanic Group  | Ordovician  | 21  | Wales
Arbuthnott Group*  | Devonian  | 17  | Scotland
Arbuthnott-Garvock Group  | Devonian  | 17  | Scotland
Ardmillan Group  | Ordovician  | 21  | Scotland
Ardvreck Group | Cambrian  | 23  | Scotland
Arfon Group  | Ediacaran  | 25  | Wales
Argyll Group  | Ediacaran  | 25  | Scotland
Avon Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | England, Wales
Aylesbeare Group*  | Triassic  | 11  | England
Aylesbeare Mudstone Group  | Triassic  | 11  | England
Bacton Group  | Triassic  | 11  | North Sea
Badenoch Group  | Tonian  | 29  | Scotland
Balcreuchan Group  | Cambrian/Ordovician  | 22  | Scotland
Banks Group  | Jurassic  | 09  | North Sea
Barr Group  | Ordovician  | 21  | Scotland
Barton Group  | Palaeogene  | 05  | England
Bathgate Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | Scotland
Benton Volcanic Group  | Cryogenian  | 27  | Wales
Bisat Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | Irish Sea
Blackbrook Group  | Ediacaran  | 25  | England
Border Group | Carboniferous  | 15  | England, Scotland
Borrowdale Volcanic Group | Ordovician  | 21  | England
Bowland High Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | England
Bracklesham Group | Palaeogene  | 05  | England
Brand Group  | Cambrian  | 23  | England
Brent Group  | Jurassic  | 09  | North Sea
Britannia Catchments Group | Palaeogene/Neogene/Quaternary  | 04  | England, Scotland, Wales, Irish Sea
British Coastal Deposits Group | Quaternary  | 01  | England, Scotland, Wales, Irish Sea
Builth Volcanic Group  | Ordovician  | 21  | Wales
Caerbwdy Group | Ediacaran  | 25  | Wales
Caerfai Group | Cambrian  | 23  | Wales
Caithness Flagstone Group | Devonian  | 17  | Scotland
Caledonia Glacigenic Group | Quaternary  | 01  | England, Scotland, Wales, Irish Sea
Cementstone Group*  | Silurian  | 19  | Scotland
Chalk Group | Cretaceous  | 07  | England, Atlantic Ocean, North Sea
Clackmannan Group | Carboniferous  | 15  | Scotland
Claerwen Group | Silurian  | 19  | Wales
Clair Group  | Devonian/Carboniferous  | 16  | Atlantic
Clwyd Limestone Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | Wales
Coniston Group  | Silurian  | 19  | England
Conybeare Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | North Sea
Corallian Group | Jurassic  | 09  | England
Cosheston Group | Devonian  | 17  | Wales
Crag Group | Neogene/Quaternary  | 02  | England
Craven Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | England, Isle of Man
Crawford Group  | Ordovician  | 21  | Scotland
Cromer Knoll Group  | Cretaceous  | 07  | England, Scotland, Atlantic Ocean, North Sea
Cumbrian Coast Group  | Permian  | 13  | England, Scotland, Irish Sea
Cwmystwyth Grits Group  | Silurian  | 19  | Wales
Dalby Group | Silurian  | 19  | Isle of Man
Dartmouth Group | Devonian  | 17  | England
Dent Group | Ordovician  | 21  | England
Drefach Group  | Ordovician  | 21  | Wales
Dungavel Group  | Silurian  | 19  | Scotland
Dunlin Group  | Jurassic  | 09  | North Sea
Dunnottar-Crawton Group  | Silurian/Devonian  | 18  | Scotland
Dunrobin Bay Group  | Jurassic  | 09  | North Sea
Dunwich Group | Quaternary  | 01  | England
Durness Group | Cambrian/Ordovician  | 22  | Scotland
Eday Group  | Devonian  | 17  | Scotland
Eriboll Group[2] | Cambrian  | 23  | Scotland
Exeter Group | Permian  | 13  | England
Exmoor Group | Devonian/Carboniferous  | 16  | England
Eycott Group*  | Ordovician  | 21  | England
Eycott Volcanic Group | Ordovician  | 21  | England
Faroe Group  | Palaeogene  | 05  | Atlantic Ocean
Farne Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | North Sea
Fishguard Volcanic Group  | Ordovician  | 21  | Wales
Fladen Group  | Jurassic  | 09  | North Sea
Forres Sandstone Group  | Devonian  | 17  | Scotland
Gala Group | Silurian  | 19  | Scotland
Garvock Group*  | Devonian  | 17  | Scotland
Garwood Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | Irish Sea
Girvan Group  | Silurian  | 19  | Scotland
Glenbuck Group  | Silurian  | 19  | Scotland
Glenfinnan Group  | Tonian  | 29  | Scotland
Grampian Group  | Cryogenian  | 27  | Scotland
Gray Sandstone Group | Silurian  | 19  | Wales
Great Estuarine Group | Jurassic  | 09  | Scotland
Great Oolite Group | Jurassic  | 09  | England, English Channel
Great Scar Limestone Group | Carboniferous  | 15  | England, Isle of Man
Gwna Group | Ediacaran/Cambrian  | 24  | Wales
Hagshaw Group  | Silurian  | 19  | Scotland
Haisborough Group  | Triassic  | 11  | North Sea
Harlech Grits Group  | Cambrian  | 23  | Wales
Hawick Group  | Silurian  | 19  | Scotland
Heron Group  | Triassic  | 11  | North Sea
Holsworthy Group | Carboniferous  | 15  | England
Humber Group  | Jurassic/Cretaceous  | 08  | Scotland, Atlantic Ocean, North Sea
Inferior Oolite Group  | Jurassic  | 09  | England, Irish Sea, English Channel
Ingleton Group | Ordovician  | 21  | England
Inner Hebrides Group  | Cretaceous  | 07  | Scotland
Inverclyde Group | Carboniferous  | 15  | Scotland
Inverness Sandstone Group  | Devonian  | 17  | Scotland
Kendal Group | Silurian  | 19  | England
Kidston Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | Irish Sea, Celtic Sea
Kyle Group  | Devonian  | 17  | North Sea
Lambeth Group | Palaeogene  | 05  | England
Lanark Group  | Silurian/Devonian  | 18  | Scotland
Lias Group | Triassic/Jurassic  | 10  | England, Wales, Celtic Sea, English Channel, Irish Sea, North Sea
Llanbedrog Volcanic Group  | Ordovician  | 21  | Wales
Llewelyn Volcanic Group  | Ordovician  | 21  | Wales
Loch Maree Group  | Palaeoproterozoic  | 33  | Scotland
Locheil Group  | Tonian  | 29  | Scotland
Lower Greensand Group | Cretaceous  | 07  | England, English Channel
Lower Old Red Group  | Devonian  | 17  | North Sea
Lower Old Red Sandstone Group  | Silurian/Devonian  | 18  | England, Scotland, Wales
Manx Group | Cambrian  | 23  | Isle of Man
Maplewell Group | Ediacaran  | 25  | England
Marros Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | England, Wales
Mawddach Group  | Cambrian  | 23  | Wales
Meadfoot Group | Devonian  | 17  | England
Menevian Group | Cambrian  | 23  | Wales
Mercia Mudstone Group | Triassic  | 11  | England, Scotland
Middle Old Red Group  | Devonian  | 17  | North Sea
Milford Haven Group | Silurian/Devonian  | 18  | Wales
Millstone Grit Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | England, Isle of Man
Moffat Shale Group  | Ordovician/Silurian  | 20  | Scotland
Monks Water Group  | Silurian  | 19  | Scotland
Montrose Group | Palaeogene  | 05  | North Sea
Morar Group  | Stenian/Tonian  | 30  | Scotland
Moray Group | Palaeogene  | 05  | Atlantic Ocean, North Sea
Mull Lava Group  | Palaeogene  | 05  | Scotland
Nordland Group  | Neogene/Quaternary  | 02  | Atlantic Ocean, North Sea
North Esk Group  | Silurian  | 19  | Scotland
Ogofgolchfa Group | Ediacaran  | 25  | Wales
Papa Group  | Triassic  | 11  | Atlantic Ocean
Peak Limestone Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | England
Peel Sandstone Group  | Devonian  | 17  | Isle of Man
Pembroke Limestone Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | England, Wales
Penarth Group | Triassic/Jurassic  | 10  | England, Wales, Scotland, Irish Sea, English Channel, North Sea
Pennine Coal Measures Group | Carboniferous  | 15  | England, Isle of Man, Scotland, Wales
Penrhiw Group | Cryogenian/Ediacaran  | 26  | Wales
Portland Group | Jurassic  | 09  | England, English Channel
Priesthill Group  | Silurian  | 19  | Scotland
Purbeck Group | Jurassic/Cretaceous  | 08  | England, English Channel
Ramsey Sound Group | Ediacaran  | 25  | Wales
Ravenscar Group | Jurassic  | 09  | England
Ravenstonedale Group | Carboniferous  | 15  | England, Isle of Man
Red Marl Group | Silurian/Devonian  | 18  | England, Wales
Residual Deposits Group | Palaeogene/Neogene/Quaternary  | 03  | England
Reston Group | Silurian/Devonian  | 18  | England, Scotland
Rhosson Group | Ediacaran  | 25  | Wales
Redbourne Group*  | Jurassic  | 09  | England, Irish Sea, English Channel
Rhynie Group  | Devonian  | 17  | Scotland
Riccarton Group | Silurian  | 19  | Scotland
Roch Rhyolitic Group*  | Ordovician  | 21  | Wales
Rotliegendes Group  | Permian  | 13  | England, North Sea
Sarclet Group  | Devonian  | 17  | Scotland
Scottish Coal Measures Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | Scotland
Selborne Group  | Cretaceous  | 07  | England, English Channel
Sherwood Sandstone Group | Permian/Triassic  | 12  | England, Scotland
Shetland Group  | Cretaceous/Palaeogene  | 06  | Atlantic Ocean, North Sea
Skerry Group  | Jurassic  | 09  | Atlantic Ocean
Skiddaw Group | Ordovician  | 21  | England
Skiddaw Slates Group*  | Ordovician  | 21  | England
Skrinkle Sandstones Group | Devonian  | 17  | Wales
Skye Lava Group  | Palaeogene  | 05  | Scotland
Sleat Group  | Stenian  | 31  | Scotland
Snowdon Volcanic Group  | Ordovician  | 21  | Wales
Solent Group  | Palaeogene  | 05  | England
Solva Group | Cambrian  | 23  | Wales
South Wales Coal Measures Group | Carboniferous  | 15  | Wales
Southern Highland Group  | Ediacaran/Cambrian  | 24  | Scotland
Stewartry Group  | Permian  | 13  | Scotland
Stirling Group*  | Silurian  | 19  | Scotland
Stockdale Group  | Silurian  | 19  | England
Stockingford Shale Group  | Cambrian  | 23  | England
Stoer Group  | Ectasian/Stenian  | 32  | Scotland
Stonehaven Group  | Silurian  | 19  | Scotland
Strathclyde Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | Scotland
Stratheden Group | Devonian  | 17  | Scotland
Strathmore Group | Devonian  | 17  | Scotland
Stretton Group  | Ediacaran  | 25  | England
Stronsay Group  | Palaeogene  | 05  | Scotland, Atlantic Ocean, North Sea
Sutherland Group  | Jurassic  | 09  | Scotland
Tamar Group | Devonian  | 17  | England
Tappins Group  | Ordovician  | 21  | Scotland
Tarskavaig Group  | Stenian  | 31  | Scotland
Teign Valley Group | Carboniferous  | 15  | England
Thames Group  | Palaeogene  | 05  | England, English Channel
Torridon Group  | Stenian/Tonian  | 30  | Scotland
Tranearth Group | Silurian  | 19  | England
Trawden Limestone Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | England
Treffynnon Group  | Ediacaran/Cambrian  | 24  | Wales
Treginnis Group | Cryogenian/Ediacaran  | 26  | Wales
Treglemais Group | Cryogenian/Ediacaran  | 26  | Wales
Unst Phyllite Group  | Ordovician/Silurian  | 20  | Scotland
Upper Old Red Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | North Sea
Upper Old Red Sandstone Group  | Devonian/Carboniferous  | 16  | England, Scotland, Wales, North Sea
Uriconian Group  | Ediacaran  | 25  | England
Warwickshire Group | Carboniferous/Permian  | 14  | England, Scotland, Wales
Waterhead Group  | Silurian  | 19  | Scotland
Wealden Group | Cretaceous  | 07  | England, English Channel
Wentnor Group  | Ediacaran  | 25  | England
West Sole Group  | Jurassic  | 09  | North Sea
Westray Group  | Palaeogene/Neogene  | 04  | Scotland, North Sea
Whitehurst Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  |
Yesnaby Sandstone Group | Devonian  | 17  | Scotland
Yoredale Group  | Carboniferous  | 15  | England, Scotland
Zechstein Group  | Permian  | 13  | England, Atlantic, North Sea

## Supergroups

The following 'supergroups', i.e. assemblages of 'groups', are recognised:

* Carboniferous Limestone Supergroup
* Culm Supergroup
* Dalradian Supergroup
* Great Britain Superficial Deposits Supergroup
* Leadhills Supergroup
* Longmyndian Supergroup
* Moine Supergroup
* New Red Sandstone Supergroup
* Old Red Sandstone Supergroup
* Pebidian Supergroup
* Windermere Supergroup

## Subgroups

The following 'subgroups', i.e. subdivisions of 'groups', have been named:[3][4]

Albion Glacigenic Group:

* Shetland Glacigenic (Albion) Subgroup
* Western Isles (Albion) Glacigenic Subgroup
* Northwest Highlands (Albion) Glacigenic Subgroup
* Banffshire Coast and Caithness (Albion) Glacigenic Subgroup
* Inverness (Albion) Glacigenic Subgroup
* East Grampian (Albion) Glacigenic Subgroup
* Logie-Buchan (Albion) Glacigenic Subgroup
* Central Grampian (Albion) Glacigenic Subgroup
* Mearns (Albion) Glacigenic Subgroup
* Midland Valley (Albion) Glacigenic Subgroup
* Borders (Albion) Glacigenic Subgroup
* Southern Uplands (Albion) Glacigenic Subgroup
* Irish Sea Coast (Albion) Glacigenic Subgroup
* Manx (Albion) Glacigenic Subgroup
* Central Cumbria (Albion) Glacigenic Subgroup
* North Pennine (Albion) Glacigenic Subgroup
* North Sea Coast (Albion) Glacigenic Subgroup
* Wales (Albion) Glacigenic Subgroup

Appin Group:

* Blair Atholl Subgroup
* Ballachulish Subgroup
* Lochaber Subgroup

Ardmillan Group:

* Ardwell Subgroup
* Drummuck Subgroup
* Whitehouse Subgroup

Argyll Group:

* Tayvallich Subgroup
* Crinan Subgroup
* Easdale Subgroup
* Islay Subgroup

Badenoch Group:

* Dava Subgroup
* Glen Banchor Subgroup

Britannia Catchments Group:

* Northern Highlands and Argyll Catchments Subgroup
* Grampian Catchments Subgroup
* Tay Catchments Subgroup
* Forth Catchments Subgroup
* Clyde Catchments Subgroup
* Tweed Catchments Subgroup
* Solway Catchments Subgroup
* Northumbria Catchments Subgroup
* Isle of Man Catchments Subgroup
* Cheshire-North Wales Catchments Subgroup
* Yorkshire Catchments Subgroup
* Trent Catchments Subgroup
* Severn and Avon Catchments Subgroup
* West Wales Catchments Subgroup
* Ouse-Nene Catchments Subgroup
* Yare Catchments Subgroup
* Somerset Catchments Subgroup
* Thames Catchments Subgroup
* Suffolk Catchments Subgroup
* Cornubian Catchments Subgroup
* Solent Catchments Subgroup
* Sussex Catchments Subgroup
* South Kent Catchments Subgroup

Grampian Group

* Glen Spean Subgroup
* Corrieyairack Subgroup
* Glenshirra Subgroup

Caledonia Glacigenic Group:

* Shetland Glacigenic Subgroup
* Western Isles Glacigenic Subgroup
* Northwest Highlands Glacigenic Subgroup
* Banffshire Coast and Caithness Glacigenic Subgroup
* Inverness Glacigenic Subgroup
* East Grampian Glacigenic Subgroup
* Logie-Buchan Glacigenic Subgroup
* Central Grampian Glacigenic Subgroup
* Mearns Glacigenic Subgroup
* Midland Valley Glacigenic Subgroup
* Borders Glacigenic Subgroup
* Southern Uplands Glacigenic Subgroup
* Irish Sea Coast Glacigenic Subgroup
* Manx Glacigenic Subgroup
* Central Cumbria Glacigenic Subgroup
* North Pennine Glacigenic Subgroup
* North Sea Coast Glacigenic Subgroup
* Wales Glacigenic Subgroup

Lower Old Red Sandstone Group:

* Brecon Subgroup
* Cosheston Subgroup
* Ditton Subgroup
* Downton Subgroup
* Milford Haven Subgroup

Pembroke Limestone Group:

* Blackrock Limestone Subgroup
* Clydach valley Subgroup

Ogwen Group

* Nant Ffrancon Subgroup

## References

* Searchable database of British rock names on BGS website
* Waters et al. 2007. Stratigraphical Chart of the United Kingdom: Southern Britain British Geological Survey (poster) ISBN:978-0-7518-3561-8
* Waters et al. 2007. Stratigraphical Chart of the United Kingdom: Northern Britain British Geological Survey (poster) ISBN:978-0-7518-3562-5

1. ↑ Definitions and procedures, section 4i
2. ↑ Trewin, N.H. (ed) 2002 The Geology of Scotland, The Geological Society, London p72/3
3. ↑ Appin, Argyll & Grampian subgroups after Trewin, N.H. (ed) 2002 The Geology of Scotland, The Geological Society, London p97
4. ↑ Britannia catchments, Albion Glacigenic and Caledonia Glacigenic listings from: MCMILLAN, A A, HAMBLIN, R J O, and MERRITT, J W. 2005. An overview of the lithostratigraphical framework for the Quaternary and Neogene deposits of Great Britain (Onshore). British Geological Survey Research Report RR/04/04 38pp. ISBN:0 85272 516 7

0.00

(0 votes)

|

Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Earth:List_of_geological_groups_of_Great_Britain&oldid=2451309"