Skip to main content

A Geotraverse through the Caledonides of Wales

  • Chapter
Synthesis of the Caledonian Rocks of Britain

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIC,volume 175))

Abstract

This field guide describes critical exposures to illustrate aspects of the late Proterozoic to early Palaeozoic evolution of the marginal basin in Wales; the full route is shown in Figure 2.1.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Baker, J.W. 1973. ‘A marginal late Proterozoic ocean basin in the Welsh region’. Geol. Mag., 110, 447–455.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, J. W. 1982. ‘The Precambrian of south-west Dyfed’. In: Bassett, M.G. (ed.), Geological Excursionsin Dyfed, South-West Wales. National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, 15–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barber, A.J., Max, M.D. 1979. ‘A new look at the Mona Complex’ (Anglesey, North Wales. J. geol. Soc. London, 136, 407–432.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barber, A.J., Max, M.D. & Brück, P.M. 1981. ‘Geologists’ Association-Irish Geological Association Field Meeting in Anglesey and southeastern Ireland, 4–12 June 1977’. Proc. Geol. Assoc., 92, 269–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bates, D.E.B. 1972. ‘The stratigraphy of the Ordovician rocks of Anglesey’. Geol. J., 8, 29–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bates, D.E.B. 1982. ‘The Aberystwyth Grits’. In: Bassett, M.G. (ed.), Geological excursions in Dyfed, south-west Wales. National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, 81–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bates, D.E.B. & Davies, J.R. 1981. Anglesey. Geol. Assoc. Guide No. 40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beav0n, R.V. 1980. ‘A resurgent cauldron in the early Palaeozoic of Wales, U.K.’. J. volcan. geoth. Res. Amsterdam, 7, 157–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beckinsale, R.D. & Thorpe, R.S. 1979. ‘Rubidium-Strontium whole rock isochron evidence for the age of metamorphism and magmatism in the Mona Complex of Anglesey’. J. geol. Soc. London, 136, 433–439.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beckinsale, R.D., Evans, J.A., Thorpe, R.S., Gibbons, W., Harmon, R.S. 1984. ‘Rb-Sr whole rock isochron evidence, δ180 values and geochemical data for the Sarn Igneous Complex and the Parwyd gneisses of the Mona Complex of LlÅ·n, N Wales’. J. geol. Soc. London, 141, 701–709.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bevins, R.E., Roach, R.A. 1979. ‘Pillow lava and isolated-pillow breccia of rhyodacitic composition from the Fishguard Volcanic Group, Lower Ordovician, S.W. Wales, United Kingdom’. J. Geol., 87, 193–201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bevins, R.E., Rowbotham, G. 1983. ‘Low-grade metamorphism within the Welsh sector of the paratectonic Caledonides’. Geol. J., 18, 141–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bevins, R.E., Kokelaar, B.P., Dunkley, P.N. 1984. ‘Petrology and geochemistry of lower to middle Ordovician igneous rocks in Wales: a volcanic arc to marginal basin transition’. Proc. Geol. Assoc., 95, 337–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Black, W.W., Bulman, O.M.B., Hey, R.W., Hughes, C.P. 1971. ‘Ordovician stratigraphy of Abereiddy Bay, Pembrokeshire’. Geol. Mag., 108, 546–548.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blake, J.F. 1888. ‘On the Monian System of rocks’. Q. J. geol. Soc. London, 44, 463–546.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bromley, A.V. 1969. ‘Acid plutonic igneous activity in the Ordovician of North Wales’. In: Wood, A. (ed.), The Pre-Cambrian and Lower Palaeozoic rocks of Wales. University of Wales Press, Cardiff, 387–408.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cope, J.C.W. 1977. ‘An Ediacara type fauna from South Wales’. Nature, London, 268, 624.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cosgrove, J.W. 1980. ‘The tectonic implications of some small scale structures in the Mona Complex of Holy Isle, North Wales’. J. struct. Geol., 2, 383–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coward, M.P., Siddans, A.W.B. 1979. ‘The tectonic evolution of the Welsh Caledonides’. In: Harris, A.L., Holland, C.H., Leake, B.E. (eds), TheCaledonidesoftheBritishIsles - reviewed. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ., 8, 187–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, A.H. 1915. ‘The geology of the district between Abereiddy and Abercastle’. Q. J. geol. Soc. London., 71, 273–340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox, A.H. 1930. ‘Preliminary note on the geological structure of Pen Caer and Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire’. Proc. Geol..Assoc., 41, 274–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crimes, T.P. 1970a. ‘A facies analysis of the Cambrian of Wales’. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimat. Palaeoecol., 7, 113–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crimes, T.P. 1970b. ‘The significance of trace fossils in sedimentology, stratigraphy and palaeoecology with examples from Lower Palaeozoic strata’. In: Crimes, T.P., Harper, J.C. (eds), Trace fossils. Geol. J. Spec. Issue, 3, 101–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, W., Cave, R. 1976. ‘Folding and cleavage determined during sedimentation’. Sedim. Geol., 15, 89–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dewey, J.F. 1969. ‘Evolution of the Appalachian/Caledonian orogen’. Nature, London, 222, 124–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, D., Davies, E.C.W. 1976. ‘Oldest recorded in situ tracheids’. Nature, London, 263, 494–495.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, D., Rogerson, E.C.W. 1979. ‘New records of fertile Rhyniophytina from the late Silurian of Wales’. Geol. Mag., 116, 93–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, W.D. 1948. ‘The Cambrian-Ordovician junction, Whitesand Bay, Pembrokeshire’. Geol. Mag., 85, 110–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fitch, F.J. 1967. ‘Ignimbrite volcanism in North Wales’. Bull. volcan., 30, 199–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Francis, E.H., Howells, M.F. 1973. ‘Transgressive welded ash-flow tuffs among the Ordovician sediments of N.E. Snowdonia, N. Wales’. J. geol. Soc. London, 129, 621–641.

    Google Scholar 

  • George, T.N. 1963. ‘Palaeozoic growth of the British Caledonides’. In: Johnson, M.R., Stewart, F.H. (eds), The British Caledonides. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh, 1–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbons, W. 1981. ‘Glaucophanic amphibole in a Monian shear zone on the mainland of North Wales’. J. geol. Soc., London, 138, 139–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibbons, W. 1983a. ‘The Monian Penmynydd Zone of Metamorphism in LlÅ·n, North Wales’. Geol. J., 18, 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbons, W. 1983b. ‘Stratigraphy, subduction and strike-slip faulting in the Mona Complex of North Wales - a review’. Proc. Geol. Assoc., 94, 147–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibbons, W. 1984. ‘The Precambrian basement of England and Wales’. Proc. Geol. Assoc., 95, 387–389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibbons, W., Gayer, R.A. 1985. ‘British Caledonian Terranes’. In: Gayer, R.A. (ed.), The tectonic evolution of the Caledonide- Appalachian Orogen. Earth Evolution Sciences, Monograph 1, Vieweg & Sohn, Braunschweig/Wiesbaden, 3–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbons, W.& Gyopari, M. in press. 2018;A greenschist protolith for blueschist in Anglesey, U.K. 2019;.In: Evans, B.W. & Brown, E.H. (eds), Blueschists and eclogites. Geol. Soc. Am., Spec. Paper.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbons, W., Mann, A. 1983. ‘Pre-Mesozoic lawsonite in Anglesey, North Wales - the preservation of ancient blueschists’. Geology, 11, 3–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenly, E. 1919. ‘The Geology of Anglesey’. Mem. Geol. Surv. U.K. (2 vols), London, 980pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenly, E. 1923. ‘The succession and metamorphism in the Mona Complex’. Q. J. geol. Soc. London, 79, 334–351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenly, E. 1938. A hand through time: memories, romantic and geological: studies in the arts, religion and the grounds of confidence in immortality. T. Murby & Co. London, 774 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenly, E. 1940. ‘Studies in the Mona Complex’. Geol. Mag., 77, 50–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenly, E. 1946. ‘The Monio-Cambrian Interval’. Geol. Mag., 83, 237–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howells, M.F., Allen, P.M., Addison, R., Webb, B.C., Lynas, B.D.T., Jackson, A. 1977. ‘Folding and cleavage determined during sedimentation–comments’. Sedim. Geol., 17, 333–335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howells, M.F., Francis, E.H., Leveridge, B.E., Evans, C.D.R. 1978. Capel CurigandBetwys-y-Coed: Description of 1:25,000 sheet SH 75. Classical areas of British geology, Institute of Geological Sciences, H.M.S.0., London, 73pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howells, M.F., Leveridge, B.E., Addison, R., Reedman, A.J. 1983. ‘The lithostratigraphical subdivision of the Ordovician underlying the Snowdon and Crafnant volcanic groups, North Wales’. Rep. Inst. Geol Sci., 83/1, 11–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howells, M.F., Leveridge, B.E., Evans, C.D.R. 1973. ‘Ordovician ash-flow tuffs in eastern Snowdonia’. Rep. Inst. Geol. Sci., 73/3, 1–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howells, M.F., Leveridge, B.E.,Reedman, A.J. 1981. Snowdonia. Rocks and fossils series No.1, Unwin Paperbacks, London, 119 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Howells, M.F., Leveridge, B.E.,Reedman, A.J. in press. Outline of the Geology of the Banglor 1:50,000 Geological Sheet (106). british Geological Survery.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, C.P., Jenkins, C.J., Rickards, R.B. 1982. ‘Abereiddi Bay and the adjacent coast’. In: Bassett, M.G. (ed.), Geological excursions in Dyfed, south-west Wales. National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, 51–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, O.T. 1940. ‘Some Lower Palaeozoic contacts in Pembrokeshire’. Geol. Mag., 77, 405–409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, M.J. 1976. ‘Southeastern margin of the northeastern Appalachians: late Precambrian orogeny on a continental margin’. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 87, 1317–1325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, M.J. 1979. ‘The continuation of the Canadian Appalachians into the Caledonides of Britain and Ireland’. In: Harris, A.L., Holland, C.H., Leake, B.E. (eds), TheCaledonidesoftheBritishIsles - reviewed. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ., 8, 33–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kokelaar, B.P., Howells, M.F., Bevins, R.E., Roach, R.A. 1984a. ‘Volcanic and associated sedimentary tectonic processes in the Ordovician marginal basin of Wales: A field guide’. In: Kokelaar,. B.P., Howells, M.F. (eds), MarginalBasinGeology: Volcanicandassociatedsedimentaryandtectonicprocessesinmodernandancientmarginalbasins. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ., 16 291–322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kokelaar, B.P., Howells, M.F., Bevins, R.E., Roach, R.A., Dunkley, P.N. 1984b. ‘The Ordovician marginal basin in Wales’. In: Kokelaar, B.P., Howells, M.F. (eds), Marginal Basin Geology: Volcanic and associated sedimentary and tectonic processes in modern and ancient and marginal basins. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ., 16, 245–269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lisle, R.J. 1977. ‘Folding and cleavage determined during sedimentation: Comments’. Sedim. Geol., 19, 69–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maltman, A.J. 1975. ‘Ultramafic rocks in Anglesey - their non-tectonic emplacement’. J. geol. Soc. London, 131, 593–605.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maltman, A.J. 1977. ‘Serpentinites and related rocks of Anglesey’. Geol. J., 12, 113–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maltman, A.J. 1979. ‘Tectonic emplacement of ophiolitic rocks in the Precambrian Mona complex of Anglesey’. Nature, London, 277, 327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Max, M.D. 1975. ‘Precambrian rocks of south-east Ireland’. In: Harris, A.L. et al. (eds), AcorrelationofthePrecambrianrocksintheBritishIsles. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Rep., 6, 97–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKerrow, W.S., Lambert, R.St.J., Cocks, L.R.M. in press. ‘The Ordovician, Silurian and Devonian periods’. In: Snelling, N.J. (ed.), Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muir, M., Bliss, G.M., Grant, P.R., Fischer, M. 1979. ‘Palaeontological evidence for the age of some supposedly Precambrian rocks in Anglesey, North Wales’. J. geol. Soc. London, 136, 61–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neale, E.R.W., Kennedy, M.J. 1975. ‘Basement and cover rocks at Cape North, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia’. Maritime Sediments, 11, 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patchett, P.J., Jocelyn, J. 1979. ‘U-Pb zircon ages for late Precambrian igneous rocks in South Wales’. J. geol. Soc. London, 136, 13–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rast, N. 1969. ‘The relationship between Ordovician structure and volcanicity in Wales’. In: Wood, A. (ed.), The Pre-Cambrian and Lower Palaeozoic rocks of Wales. University of Wales Press, Cardiff, 305–335.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rast, N., Skehan, J.W. 1981. ‘Possible correlation of Precambrian rocks of Newport, Rhode Island, with those of Anglesey, Wales’. Geology, 9, 596–601.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rast, N., Beavon, R.V., Fitch, F.J. 1958. ‘Sub-aerial volcanicity in Snowdonia’. Nature, London, 181, 508.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rast, N., Kennedy, M.J., Blackwood, R.F. 1976a. ‘Comparison of some tectonostratigraphic zones in the Appalachians of Newfoundland and New Brunswick’. Can. J. Earth Sci., 13, 868–875

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rast, N., O’Brien, B.H., Wardle, R.J. 1976b. ‘Relationships between Precambrian and Lower Palaeozoic rocks of the ‘Avalon Platform’ in New Brunswick, the north-east Appalachians and the British Isles’. Tectonophysics, 30, 315–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reedman, A.J., Leveridge, B.E., Evans, R.B. 1984. ‘The Arfon Group (‘Arvonian’) of North Wales’. Proc. Geol. Assoc., 95, 313–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rickards, R.B. 1973. ‘The structure of Abereiddy Bay, Pembrokeshire’. Geol. Mag., 110, 185–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, B. 1969. ‘The Llwyd Mawr ignimbrite and its associated volcanic rocks’. In: Wood, A. (ed.), The Pre-Cambrian and Lower Palaeozoic rocks of Wales. University of Wales Press, Cardiff, 337–356.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shackleton, R.M. 1954. ‘The structure and succession of Anglesey and the Lleyn Peninsula’. Advmt. Sci. London, 11, 106–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shackleton, R.M. 1956. ‘Notes on the structure and relations of the Precambrian and Ordovician rocks of south-western Lleyn (Carnarvonshire)’. Geol. J., 1, 400–409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shackleton, R.M. 1969. ‘The Pre-Cambrian of North Wales’. In: Wood, A. (ed.), The Pre-Cambrian and Lower Palaeozoic rocks of Wales. University of Wales Press, Cardiff, 1–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shackleton, R. M. 1975. ‘Precambrian rocks of North Wales’. In: Harris, A.L. et al. (eds), AcorrelationofthePrecambrianrocksintheBritishIsles. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Rep., 6, 76–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snelling, N.J. in press. ‘An interim time scale’. In: Snelling, N.J. (ed.), Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparks, R.S.J., Sigurdsson, H., Carey, S.N. 1980a. ‘The entrance of pyroclastic flows into the sea. I. Oceanographic and geologic evidence from Dominica, Lesser Antilles’. J. volcan. geoth. Res. Amsterdam, 7, 87–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sparks, R.S.J., Sigurdsson, H., Carey, S.N. 1980b. ‘The entrance of pyroclastic flows into the sea. II. Theoretical considerations on subaqueous emplacement and welding’. J. volcan. geoth. Res. Amsterdam, 7, 97–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorpe, R.S. 1974. ‘Aspects of magmatism and plate tectonics in the Precambrian of England and Wales’. Geol. J., 9, 115–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorpe, R.S. 1978. ‘Tectonic emplacement of ophiolitic rocks in the Precambrian Mona Complex of Anglesey’. Nature, London, 276, 57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorpe, R.S. 1979. ‘Late Precambrian igneous activity in S. Britain’. In: Harris, A.L., Holland, C.H., Leake, B.E. (eds), TheCaledonidesoftheBritishIsles - reviewed. Geol. Soc. London, 8, 579–584.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, P. 1977. ‘Notes on the depositional environment of the Lingula Flags in Dyfed, South Wales’. Proc. Yorks. geol. Soc., 41, 199–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walmsley, V.G., Bassett, M.G. 1976. ‘Biostratigraphy and correlation of the Coralliferous Group and Gray Sandstone Group (Silurian) of Pembrokeshire, Wales’. Proc. Geol. Assoc., 87, 191–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waltham, A.C. 1971. ‘A note on the structure and succession at Abereiddy Bay, Pembrokeshire’. Geol. Mag., 108, 49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, J., Dunning, F.W. 1979. ‘Basement-cover relations in the British Caledonides’. In: Harris, A.L., Holland, C.H., Leake, B.E. (eds), TheCaledonidesoftheBritishIsles - reviewed. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. PublT, 8, 67–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, B.P.J, (ed.). 1978. ‘The Old Red Sandstone of the Welsh Borderland and South Wales’. Palaeontological Association Devonian Symposium, Excursion B2, Field Guide, 55–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, B.P.J., Stead, J.T.G. 1982. ‘The Cambrian rocks of the Newgale -St David’s area’. In: Bassett, M.G. (ed.), Geological excursions in Dyfed, south-west Wales. National Museum of Wales, Caridff, 27–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, H. 1927. ‘The geology of Snowdon (North Wales)’. Q. J. geol. Soc. London, 83, 346–431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, A., Smith, A.J. 1959. ‘The sedimentation and sedimentary history of the Aberystwyth Grits (Upper Llandoverian)’. Q. J. geol. Soc. London, 114, 163–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, D.S. 1974. ‘Ophiolites, melanges, blueschists and ignimbrites: early Caledonian subduetion in Wales’? In: Dott, R.H., Shaver, R.H. (eds), Modern and ancient geosynclinal sedimentation. Spec. Publs Soc. econ. Paleont. Miner., 19, 334–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, M.G., Nicholls, G.D. 1973. ‘Pre-Cambrian stromatolitic limestones from northern Anglesey’. Nature (Phys. Sci.), London, 241, 65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1986 D.Reidel Publishing Company

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bassett, M.G., Bevins, R.E., Gibbons, W., Howells, M.F. (1986). A Geotraverse through the Caledonides of Wales. In: Fettes, D.J., Harris, A.L. (eds) Synthesis of the Caledonian Rocks of Britain. NATO ASI Series, vol 175. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4654-5_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4654-5_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8568-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-4654-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics