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The shipway limestone of gower: Sedimentation on a storm‐dominated early carboniferous ramp
Author(s) -
Faulkner T. J.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
geological journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.721
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1099-1034
pISSN - 0072-1050
DOI - 10.1002/gj.3350230106
Subject(s) - carboniferous , geology , subaerial , facies , sedimentary rock , paleontology , sedimentary structures , paleozoic , storm , devonian , geomorphology , structural basin , oceanography
A detailed sedimentary study of the Lower Carboniferous (Courceyan) Shipway Limestone Formation at Three Cliffs Bay on the Gower Peninsula (South Wales) has shown that the bioclastic limestones represent a storm‐dominated sequence that contains the storm‐related sedimentary structure hummocky cross‐stratification (HCS). Conformably overlying the Shipway Limestone is a cross‐stratified oolitic sandbody with evidence of subaerial exposure. Six sedimentary lithofacies are identified in these two formations which record a distal to proximal, shallowing‐upward trend that passes from beneath mean wave‐base to above fairweather wave‐base. The shallow marine facies model constructed by Wu (1982) from his study of the Lower Carboniferous limestone sequences of South Wales is re‐evaluated. Modifications proposed for the model include the addition of two distal tempestite facies and a proximal oolite sand body. The Shipway Limestone and Brofiscin Oolite record the first major, basin‐wide, shallowing‐upward phase of the Lower Carboniferous in South Wales.