Pre-Cambrian of the British isles Flashcards
Where do the majority of good pre-cambrian outcrops occur?
Scotland
How are the pre-cambrian deposits separated in scotland?
By a series of units (terranes) from the NW highlands to the southern highlands
What is the lithostatigraphical division of the UK in the precambrian?
Lewisian split into:
1. Scourian (older)
2. Laxfordian (yoiunger)
What are the typical Lewisian lithologies?
Foliated and banded gneiss
What is the history of the Lewisian?
Billion year time history so lots happened
With cross cutting dykes
What is the Hebridean terrane (scotland)?
Most north-west part of Scotland consisting of older basement lewisian and overlying Torridonian
What splits the Hebridean terrane and N.Highland terrane?
The Moine thrust
What are the lithologies of the N.Highland terrane?
Lewisian basement overlain by Moine
What happened in the Hebridean terrane between the Lewisian and the Torridonian?
Uplift and erosion in the Proterozoic
How many unconformities are there in the pre-cambrian?
3
Where are the unconformities in the precambrian sequence?
- Between Lewisian and Clachtoll
- Between Meall Dearg and Diabaig
- Between Diabaig and Applecross
What is the deposition of the diabaig evidence of?
Lacustrine deposition
What is lacustrine deposition?
finely layered fine grained sediments usually in lakes showing seasonal change in deposition
What event can be seen at similar horizons throughout the diabaig?
dropstones - thought to be due to a glacier coming into contact with water
What are dropstones?
are lumps found within the fine grained sediments