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Stratigraphy

The Oxford English Dictionary defines Stratigraphy as ‘The branch of geology concerned with the order and relative position of strata and their relationship to the geological timescale’.

Stratigraphy is one of the key elements of geology and provides the basis for the subdivision of rock strata. This subdivision can be on the basis of rock type (lithostratigraphy), fossil content (biostratigraphy) or absolute age (chronostratigraphy).

The basic concept of stratigraphy was established by Nicholas Steno in the late 17th century and was developed by geologists such as William Smith and contemporary workers in the first half of the 19th century who laid down the basis for the approach to stratigraphy that is employed today.

A progressive refinement of the stratigraphy of the British Isles has occurred overtime and this continues as further research provides additional information and a more refined stratigraphic column.

Whilst identifying and recording Local Geological Sites (LGS) Cumbria GeoConservation has followed a well-established and accepted regional lithostratigraphy that has been developed over the past 200 years, starting with the 3 fold division of the geology of the central Lake District (‘the Clayslate, Greenstone and Greywacke’) described by Jonathan Otley in 1820 and culminating in detailed work currently being undertaken by UK Universities and the British Geological Survey.


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In order to ensure consistency of approach Cumbria GeoConservation has chosen to follow the lithostratigraphy detailed in the latest BGS Regional Guide for the North of England (Stone et al, 2010).  This lithostratigraphy is summarised  in a number of tables that have adapted the information provided in the regional guide.  These tables aim to cover all of the solid geology of Cumbria.  Some of our Local Sites were designated more than 25 years ago and the lithostratigraphic information may now be out of date – this will be updated as individual sites are reviewed.  The tables are as follows;

Ordovician - Skiddaw Group

Ordovician – Borrowdale Volcanic Group (representative section only)

Ordovician to Silurian – Windermere Supergroup

Devonian

Carboniferous

Permian/Triassic/Jurassic

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Download each summarised Stratigraphic Table for Cumbria by clicking on the table name on the left hand side.

An excel version of all tables is attached here  or a pdf.

It should be noted that whilst for some elements of the stratigraphic column (e.g. the Permian/Triassic/Jurassic) the lithostratigraphy is relatively simple, sequences such as the Carboniferous are more complex; reflecting the varying nature of sedimentation in both time and space, but it is still possible to satisfactorily represent the whole region on one table.  However, the Borrowdale Volcanic Group can exhibit such extreme lateral and vertical variation over small distances that it is not practical to represent the whole of the Lake District on a single table.  In this case a representative section from a specific local area has been provided.

Reference

STONE, P, MILLWARD, D, YOUNG, B, MERRITT, J W, CLARKE, S M, McCORMAC, M, and LAWRENCE, D J D, 2010.  British Regional Geology: Northern England (Fifth edition). (Keyworth, Nottingham: British Geological Survey).

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Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre

The Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre at Tullie House Museum, Carlisle keeps wildlife information for the county of Cumbria. Tullie House Museum, in its role as a local natural history museum, has collected and disseminated records of wildlife in Cumbria since its inception in 1893. From the early 1990s the Museum has developed a computerised database of species and habitat records in Cumbria and has taken the central role in providing a local biodiversity data service for the county. This role was restyled as Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre (CBDC) in 2010, a not-for-profit organisation hosted by Tullie House Museum and advised by local stakeholders.
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreThursday, December 7th, 2023 at 7:24am
We've been a bit quiet lately... So catch up with our latest news in our fresh-off-the-press newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/2290189d91a7/cbdc-newsletter-dec23

Why not sign up via our website to receive this regular news update about Cumbrian wildlife recording? Scroll to the bottom of the page to subscribe.
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Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreThursday, November 2nd, 2023 at 1:18am
Our latest newsletter is now out! In it, you'll find: Cumbria Recorders' Conference update and booking, taxon group review volunteers sought, and much more. Access it from our website: https://www.cbdc.org.uk/about-us/newsletters/
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreSunday, October 15th, 2023 at 8:53pm
Hospice at Home needs your help in making wreaths. Any farmers, etc out there that would like a holly bush trimmed for free please see the link below.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=823064153160316&id=100063702169600
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreFriday, September 29th, 2023 at 10:21pm
Our latest newsletter has been published today! Thanks to all who contributed content and images, including this great image from Chris Arthur.
You can sign up to receive the monthly newsletter at our website or visit the newsletter page to view there: https://www.cbdc.org.uk/about-us/newsletters/
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreThursday, September 28th, 2023 at 11:12pm
Everyone can do something for nature and it need not take too much time. When you are out and about this weekend, record what nature you see (trees, other plants, birds, mammals, inverts, fungi), where and when - then send to your local records centre. For Cumbria - that's us!

#StateOfNature #MakingDataWorkForNature #RestoreNatureNow
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreMonday, September 18th, 2023 at 1:04am
Great to see the results of the #BigButterflyCount. Just from personal observation, there seem to have been lots of butterflies this year - including this week on this Hylotelephium!

A reminder that if you have news for the CBDC newsletter, please send in by 26th September and share across the Cumbria wildlife recording community.