The stratigraphy of the Dovedale area, Derbyshire and Staffordshire

Abstract

Summary The paper describes the sequence, facies changes and structure of the Carboniferous rocks situated on both sides of the River Dove between the villages of Hartington and Thorpe. It is shown that there are three facies, (1) block (massif or shelf), (2) reef and (3) basin, in each of the three zones C, S and D 1 (B 2 ). Standard D 2 (massif facies) is not reached within the area, the equivalent beds (P 1 ) being of basin facies. The strata lying on the Rigid Block are undisturbed, but those to the south-west are folded along approximately north-north-west and south-south-east axes. The main faults run parallel to the fold-axes and are intersected by cross-faults. Between C2-S! and T>1 time the margin of the massif receded towards the east-north-east. Evidence is given of earth-movement at three periods : (1) low Viséan, with earlier minor phases, (2) mid-Viséan and (3) post-Viséan. Following the early movements, the S beds formed an overlapping series on the C 2 reefs. It is shown that the mid-Viséan movement was a simple north-south uplift with the axis lying to the east, the effect of which within the area itself was an overstep of 1000 feet of S beds. Following the post-Viséan uplift, probably also a north-south movement, the Carboniferous Limestone along the western margin of the Rigid Block was eroded into a hilly landscape which sank rapidly and was infilled during the Namurian transgression.