Geological History of Britain and Ireland

Britain and Ireland have a remarkably varied geology for so small a fragment of continental crust, with a fine rock record back through three billion years of geological time. This history would have been interesting enough if it had been played out on relatively stable continental crust. However, Britain and Ireland have developed at a tectonic crossroads, on crust once traversed by subduction zones and volcanic arcs, continental rifts and mountain belts. The resulting complexity is instructive, fascinating and perplexing. Geological History of Britain and Ireland tells the region's story at a level accessible to undergraduate geologists, as well as to postgraduates, professionals or informed amateurs. This second edition is fully revised and updated, reflecting our continually developing knowledge of the region's geology. Full coverage is again given to the rich Precambrian and Early Palaeozoic history, as well as to later events more relevant to hydrocarbon exploration. The book is an essential starting point for more detailed studies of the regional geology. Additional resources for this book can be found at: http://www.wiley.com/go/woodcock/geologicalhistory

Preface to the 1st Edition vii Preface to the 2nd Edition viii List of Contributors ix Part 1 Introduction 1 1 Regional Geological History: Why and How? 3 N. H. Woodcock and R. A. Strachan 2 Geological Framework of Britain and Ireland 19 R. E. Holdsworth, N. H. Woodcock and R. A. Strachan Part 2 The Northern Margin of The Iapetus Ocean 41 3 Early Earth History and Development of the Archaean Crust 43 R. A. Strachan, C. D. Storey and A. R. Prave 4 Proterozoic Sedimentation Orogenesis and Magmatism on the Laurentian Craton (2500–750 Ma) 54 R. A. Strachan, R. E. Holdsworth and A. R. Prave 5 Middle Neoproterozoic (R. A. Strachan, A. R. Prave and R. E. Holdsworth 6 The Grampian Orogeny: Mid-Ordovician Arc–Continent Collision along the Laurentian Margin of Iapetus 91 R. A. Strachan 7 Mid-Ordovician to Silurian Subduction and Collision: Closure of the Iapetus Ocean 110 R. A. Strachan Part 3 The Southern Margin of The Iapetus Ocean 133 8 Late Neoproterozoic to Cambrian Accretionary History of Eastern Avalonia and Armorica on the Active Margin of Gondwana 135 R. A. Strachan 9 The Cambrian and Earliest Ordovician Quiescent Margin of Gondwana 150 N. H. Woodcock 10 Ordovician Volcanism and Sedimentation on Eastern Avalonia 162 N. H. Woodcock 11 Late Ordovician to Silurian Evolution of Eastern Avalonia during Iapetus Closure 177 N. H. Woodcock Part 4 The End of the Iapetus Ocean 193 12 Early Devonian Sedimentary and Magmatic Interlude after Iapetus Closure 195 N. H. Woodcock 13 The Acadian Orogeny and its Mid–Late Devonian Depositional Aftermath 210 N. H. Woodcock Part 5 The Variscan Cycle: Consolidation of Pangaea 231 14 Carboniferous Sedimentation and Volcanism on the Laurussian Margin 233 S. J. Davies, P. D. Guion and P. Gutteridge 15 The Variscan Orogeny: the Welding of Pangaea 274 L. N. Warr Part 6 Post-variscan Intraplate Setting 299 16 Permian to Late Triassic Post-orogenic Collapse and Rifting Arid Deserts Evaporating Seas and Mass Extinctions 301 M. W. Hounslow, T. McKie and A. H. Ruffell 17 Triassic–Jurassic Boundary and Jurassic: Disintegrating Pangaea 322 S. P. Hesselbo 18 Early Cretaceous: Rifting and Sedimentation before the Flood 347 A. S. Gale 19 Late Cretaceous to Early Palaeogene Pelagic Deposits: Deposition on Greenhouse Earth 365 A. S. Gale Part 7 The Thulean Plume and Its Aftermath 385 20 Palaeogene and Neogene Events: the North Atlantic Plume and Alpine Pulses 387 A. S. Gale, R. Anderton and R. A. Strachan 21 The Quaternary: History of an Ice Age 409 P. L. Gibbard and N. H. Woodcock Index 429