The Principles of Stratigraphical GeologyMarr, J. E. (John Edward)
Science
The Principles of Stratigraphical Geology
Marr, J. E. (John Edward)
Geology, Stratigraphic
Much pyroclastic rock and some lava flows are intercalated amongst the
Welsh Cambrian sediments. Tuffs are formed in the lower beds of St
David's, and lavas and ashes have been found amongst the Lingula Flags
and Tremadoc Slates of North Wales, while the Lingula Flags of South
Wales have furnished several bands of ash to the north of
Haverfordwest. Much of the material of the grits and muds may be
derived from volcanic rocks, though how far this is so cannot be
stated in the absence of information obtained by detailed petrological
examination of the rocks.
The various isolated outcrops of Cambrian strata amongst the counties
of the Welsh borders and adjoining Midland counties indicate a great
thinning of the Cambrian rocks in this direction.
The probable equivalents of the Caerfai rocks occur at Nuneaton,
Comley, and on the flanks of the Wrekin and Malvern hills. The thin
basal conglomerates are succeeded by quartzites, and sometimes red
calcareous sandstones (Comley sandstone). These rocks are succeeded by
thin arenaceous and calcareous beds which represent either the Solva
or Menevian beds of Wales. The Lingula Flags are represented by the
Malvern Shales of the Malvern area and the Stockingford Shales of
Nuneaton, whilst the Tremadoc Slates have as their equivalents the
Shineton Shales. The exact thicknesses of these deposits do not seem
to have been recorded, but Prof. Lapworth observes that in central
Shropshire "the Comley and Shineton groups which ... have a collective
thickness of perhaps less than 3,000 feet, we have apparently a
condensed epitome of the entire Cambrian system as at present
generally defined."
The Cambrian rocks of the North-west Highlands consist of a thin
conglomerate succeeded by grits and flags with shaley beds, and above
these a mass of limestone, which may represent some of the Ordovician
deposits as well as those of Cambrian age. Pending a complete
description of the faunas of these rocks, it is sufficient to state
that the only fauna which has hitherto been described in detail
indicates the existence of Lowest Cambrian rocks. Further remarks will
be made on this head when describing the character of the Cambrian
faunas. The Cambrian rocks of the North-west Highlands are also very
thin as compared with those of Wales, so that the Highland and Welsh
borderland regions appear to have existed as a deeper sea area than
that which is indicated by the Cambrian rocks of Wales, an inference
which is to some extent borne out by study of the Cambrian rocks of
extra-British areas, to which we may now turn.
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