Practical 1

Question 1

How are different regional units separated from one another?

Answer 1

north - units were typically separated by large fault

south sheet - units were mostly separated by regional unconformities

Question 2

What types of rock are present in each group?

Answer 2

North - mtm and igneous OLD
south - sedimentary, younging south with less deformation

(dalradian in Scotland and cornubian batholith - granets prevalent)

Question 3

Why is the north of the British Isles more faulted?

Answer 3

Caledonian orogeny.

Question 4

Why is the south of the British Isles less deformed?

Answer 4

Sedimentary deposition during when the isles were in intraplate setting, thus no orogenic/shortening event. Only weakly deformed.

Question 5

Explain the effects of the Iceland plume in the Paleogene?

Answer 5

NW - uplift
SE- subsidence

As a result, older rocks were exposed through erosion in the northwest, allowing us to glimpse into the roots of the Caledonian orogeny

Question 6

Durham

Answer 6

-Upper to Lower Carboniferous sequence unconformably overlying Silurian or Ordovician-aged strata. Projected atop the column in this area (i.e. overlying the Carboniferous sequence) would be Permian-Triassic Units.

Question 7

Inchnadamph (Assynt)

Answer 7

Torridonian unconformably overlying Lewisian Gneiss. Moine Group would be projected over the area atop the Moine thrust

Question 8

London

Answer 8

Conformable basin sequence – Eocene (ge) > Paleocene (gp) > Upper Cretaceous (ku) > Lower Cretaceous (kl)

Question 9

Inverness

Answer 9

Devonian overlying Central Highland Group. The nearby large fault is mostly linear in map view, implying a sub-vertical dip and may therefore not be present beneath inverness

Question 10

Manchester

Answer 10

Triassic conformably overlying undiff Permian-Triassic, and (likely) unconformably overlying Upper Carboniferous

Question 11

Coal mining in County Durham

Answer 11

Carboniferous – Deposition & burial of organic material across County Durham ( & NW England).
These units were exposed at or close to the surface following Paleogene uplift = easily exploited as a natural resource.

Question 12

Oil and gas exploration in the North Sea

Answer 12

Source rocks in the North Sea were buried to great depths during extension and rifting.
Organic matter was subject to temperature and pressure, allowing for the maturation of oil and gas. Faults and other rift-related structures may act as seals to trap hydrocarbon accumulations.

Question 13

Mining in Cornwall (Tin and rare earth elements)

Answer 13

intrusion of granitic bodies within the Cornubian Batholith after Variscan orogeny.

• Contact mtm & ore-rich fluids and brines associated with these granites lead to mineralisation across the region.
• Tin, Cobalt and Tungsten with new demand for rare earth elements such as Lithium has led to the development of a new mining industry in the region

Question 14

Oil in southern England

Answer 14

Organic material in the area were subject to great temperature and pressure, resulting in oil generation. Alpine compression = gentle folds that trap hydrocarbon accumulations such as the Wytch Farm oilfield.

Question 15

Iapetus suture

Answer 15

The Caledonian orogeny united the northern and southern portions of present-day Great Britain. The Iapetus Suture runs from the Solway Firth to Lindisfarn

Question 16

Caledonian Orogeny

Answer 16

The main fault-bound units present in the North

Question 17

Variscan Orogeny

Answer 17

E-W basins near to the Bristol Channel as well as the emplacement of the Cornubian Batholith

Question 18

Carboniferous-Permian extension

Answer 18

Faulted Carboniferous strata across Central England, including in the Peak District.

Question 19

Rifting in the North Sea

Answer 19

Faults across the North Sea

Question 20

Alpine Orogeny

Answer 20

Low amplitude folding and deformation along the south coast of England