Sedimentation and tectonism (?Permo-Triassic) on the margin of the North Minch Basin, Lewis

RONALD J. STEEL; ALAN C. WILSON

doi:10.1144/gsjgs.131.2.0183

Abstract

The (?) Permo-Triassic Stornoway Formation is c. 4000 m thick and consists mainly of conglomerates.

The sediments were deposited on alluvial fans as mudflow, streamflood and braided stream deposits, and on floodplains as channel and overbank sediments. In each of the lower, middle and upper units of the Formation there is evidence of two major phases of alluvial fan-building. It is suggested that these phases were tectonically controlled and that within each alluvial fan sequence the time-trend of sedimentation reflects the rate of basin subsidence. Fining-upwards fan sequences suggest basin-margin faulting of gradually decreasing intensity; coarsening-upwards sequences suggest a history of increasing fault intensity. Floodplain deposits, overlying either type of sequence, indicate a cessation of tectonism and a gradual overlap of the old fault lines by fine-grained sediment.

The Stornoway Formation is seen as the sedimentary fill within the deep, western margin of an asymmetrical North Minch (Permo-Triassic) Basin. Palaeogeographic reconstructions through time suggest that this western margin shifted westwards as the locus of faulting and fault-generated sedimentation migrated by 15 km from the Minch Fault.

References

1. Allen J. R. L.
(1964) Studies in fluviatile sedimentation: six cyclothems from the Lower Old Red Sandstone, Anglo-Welsh Basin. Sedimentology 3:89–108.
OpenUrl CrossRef Web of Science
1. Allen J.R.L.
(1970) Studies in fluviatile sedimentation: a comparison of fining-upwards cyclothems, with special reference to coarse member composition. J sedim Petrol 40:298–323.
OpenUrl Abstract/FREE Full Text
1. Beerbower J. R.
(1965) Cyclothems and cyclic depositional mechanisms in alluvial plain sediments. Kansas State geol. Surv. Bull 169(1):31–42.
OpenUrl
1. Binns P. E.,
2. McQuillin R.,
3. Kenolty N.
(1974) The geology of the Sea of the Hebrides. Rep. Inst. geol. Sci 73:14–43.
OpenUrl
1. Blissenbach E.
(1954) Geology of alluvial fans in semi-arid regions. Bull geol Soc Am 65:175–89.
OpenUrl Abstract/FREE Full Text
1. Bluck B. J.
(1967) Deposition of some Upper Old Red Sandstone conglomerates in the Clyde area: a study in the significance of bedding. Scott J Geol 3:139–67.
OpenUrl CrossRef
1. Bluck B. J.
(1969) Old Red Sandstone and other Palaeozoic conglomerates of Scotland. Mem Amer Ass petrol Geol 12:609–29.
OpenUrl
1. Bott M. P. H.
(1971) Evolution of young continental margins and formation of shelf basins. Tectonophysics 11:319–27.
OpenUrl CrossRef Web of Science
1. Bull W. B.
(1964a) Alluvial fans and near-surface subsidence in Western Fresno County, California. Prof Pap US geol Surv 437a:71 p.
OpenUrl
1. Bull W. B.
(1964b) Geomorphology of segmented alluvial fans in western Fresno County, California. Prof Pap US geol Surv 352E:89–129.
OpenUrl
1. Bull W. B.
(1968) Alluvial fans. J Geol Educ 16:101–6.
OpenUrl
1. Dearnley R.
(1962) An outline of the Lewisian complex of the Outer Hebrides in relation to that of the Scottish mainland. Q Jl geol Soc Lond 118:143–66.
OpenUrl
1. Denny C. S.
(1965) Alluvial fans in the Death Valley region, California and Nevada. Prof Pap US geol Surv 466:62 p.
OpenUrl
1. Friend P. F.
(1967) Tectonic implications of sedimentation in Spitzbergen and midland Scotland. Int Symp Devonian Syst 2:1141–7, Calgary.
OpenUrl
1. Hooke R. LeB
(1967) Processes on arid-region alluvial fans. J Geol 75:438–60.
OpenUrl CrossRef Web of Science
1. Jehu T. J.,
2. Craig R. M.
(1934) Geology of the Outer Hebrides Part 4 North Harris and Lewis. Trans R Soc Edinb 57:839–74.
OpenUrl
1. Johnson M. R. W.
(1965) in The geology of Scotland, Torridonian and Moinian, ed Craig G. Y. (Edinburgh).
1. Kursten M.
(1957) The metamorphic and tectonic history of parts of the Outer Hebrides. Trans Edinb geol Soc 17:1–31.
OpenUrl
1. Leopold L. B.,
2. Wolman M. G.,
3. Miller J. P.
(1964) Fluvial processes in geomorphology (San Francisco).
1. Lustig L. K.
(1965) Clastic sedimentation in Deep Springs Valley, California. Prof Pap US geol Surv 352F:131–92.
OpenUrl
1. McGee W. J.
(1897) Sheetflood erosion. Bull geol Soc Am 8:87–112.
OpenUrl
1. McQuillin R.,
2. Binns P. E.
(1973) Geological structure in the Sea of the Hebrides. Nature Phys Sci 241:2–4.
OpenUrl CrossRef
1. Murata T.
(1966) A theoretical study of the form of alluvial fans. Geogr Rep Tokyo Metrop Univ 1:33–43.
OpenUrl
1. Sharp R. P.,
2. Nobles L. H.
(1953) Mudflow of 1941 at Wrightwood, southern California. Bull geol Soc Am 64:547–60.
OpenUrl Abstract/FREE Full Text
1. Smythe D. K.,
2. Sowerbutts W.T.C.,
3. Bacon M.,
4. McQuillin R.
(1972) Deep sedimentary basin below northern Skye and the Little Minch. Nature Phys Sci 236:87.
OpenUrl CrossRef Web of Science
Steel, R. J. 1971a. New Red Sandstone sedimentation in the Hebridean province of Scotland. Ph.D. thesis Univ. Glasg. (unpubl.).
1. Steel R. J.
(1971b) New Red Sandstone movement on the Minch Fault. Nature Phys Sci 234:158–9.
OpenUrl CrossRef
1. Steel R. J.
(1974a) New Red Sandstone floodplain and alluvial fan sedimentation in the Hebridean province of Scotland. J sedim Petrol 44:336–74.
OpenUrl Abstract/FREE Full Text
1. Steel R. J.
(1974b) Cornstone (fossil caliche)–its origin, stratigraphic and sedimentological significance in the New Red Sandstone of western Scotland. J Geol 82:351–69.
OpenUrl Web of Science
Steel, R. J., Nicholson, R. & Kalender, L. in press. Sedimentation and palaeogeography of the Trias in central Skye. Scott. J. Geol.
1. Stevens A.
(1914) Notes on the geology of the Stornoway district of Lewis. Trans geol Soc Glasg 15:51–63.
OpenUrl
1. Watts A. B.
(1971) Geophysical investigations on the continental shelf and slope north of Scotland. Scott J Geol 7:189–218.
OpenUrl CrossRef
Wilson, A. C. 1971. Lower Devonian sedimentation in the north-west Midland Valley of Scotland. Ph.D. thesis Univ. Glasg. (unpubl.).
1. Winder C. G.
(1965) Alluvial cone construction by alpine mudflow in a humid temperate region. Canad Jl Earth Sci 2:270–7.
OpenUrl

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[1] Allen J. R. L.
(1964) Studies in fluviatile sedimentation: six cyclothems from the Lower Old Red Sandstone, Anglo-Welsh Basin. Sedimentology 3:89–108.
OpenUrl CrossRef Web of Science

[2] Allen J. R. L.

[3] Allen J.R.L.
(1970) Studies in fluviatile sedimentation: a comparison of fining-upwards cyclothems, with special reference to coarse member composition. J sedim Petrol 40:298–323.
OpenUrl Abstract/FREE Full Text

[4] Allen J.R.L.

[5] Beerbower J. R.
(1965) Cyclothems and cyclic depositional mechanisms in alluvial plain sediments. Kansas State geol. Surv. Bull 169(1):31–42.
OpenUrl

[6] Beerbower J. R.

[7] Binns P. E.,
McQuillin R.,
Kenolty N.
(1974) The geology of the Sea of the Hebrides. Rep. Inst. geol. Sci 73:14–43.
OpenUrl

[8] Binns P. E.,

[9] McQuillin R.,

[10] Kenolty N.

[11] Blissenbach E.
(1954) Geology of alluvial fans in semi-arid regions. Bull geol Soc Am 65:175–89.
OpenUrl Abstract/FREE Full Text

[12] Blissenbach E.

[13] Bluck B. J.
(1967) Deposition of some Upper Old Red Sandstone conglomerates in the Clyde area: a study in the significance of bedding. Scott J Geol 3:139–67.
OpenUrl CrossRef

[14] Bluck B. J.

[15] Bluck B. J.
(1969) Old Red Sandstone and other Palaeozoic conglomerates of Scotland. Mem Amer Ass petrol Geol 12:609–29.
OpenUrl

[16] Bluck B. J.

[17] Bott M. P. H.
(1971) Evolution of young continental margins and formation of shelf basins. Tectonophysics 11:319–27.
OpenUrl CrossRef Web of Science

[18] Bott M. P. H.

[19] Bull W. B.
(1964a) Alluvial fans and near-surface subsidence in Western Fresno County, California. Prof Pap US geol Surv 437a:71 p.
OpenUrl

[20] Bull W. B.

[21] Bull W. B.
(1964b) Geomorphology of segmented alluvial fans in western Fresno County, California. Prof Pap US geol Surv 352E:89–129.
OpenUrl

[22] Bull W. B.

[23] Bull W. B.
(1968) Alluvial fans. J Geol Educ 16:101–6.
OpenUrl

[24] Bull W. B.

[25] Dearnley R.
(1962) An outline of the Lewisian complex of the Outer Hebrides in relation to that of the Scottish mainland. Q Jl geol Soc Lond 118:143–66.
OpenUrl

[26] Dearnley R.

[27] Denny C. S.
(1965) Alluvial fans in the Death Valley region, California and Nevada. Prof Pap US geol Surv 466:62 p.
OpenUrl

[28] Denny C. S.

[29] Friend P. F.
(1967) Tectonic implications of sedimentation in Spitzbergen and midland Scotland. Int Symp Devonian Syst 2:1141–7, Calgary.
OpenUrl

[30] Friend P. F.

[31] Hooke R. LeB
(1967) Processes on arid-region alluvial fans. J Geol 75:438–60.
OpenUrl CrossRef Web of Science

[32] Hooke R. LeB

[33] Jehu T. J.,
Craig R. M.
(1934) Geology of the Outer Hebrides Part 4 North Harris and Lewis. Trans R Soc Edinb 57:839–74.
OpenUrl

[34] Jehu T. J.,

[35] Craig R. M.

[36] Johnson M. R. W.
(1965) in The geology of Scotland, Torridonian and Moinian, ed Craig G. Y. (Edinburgh).

[37] Johnson M. R. W.

[38] Kursten M.
(1957) The metamorphic and tectonic history of parts of the Outer Hebrides. Trans Edinb geol Soc 17:1–31.
OpenUrl

[39] Kursten M.

[40] Leopold L. B.,
Wolman M. G.,
Miller J. P.
(1964) Fluvial processes in geomorphology (San Francisco).

[41] Leopold L. B.,

[42] Wolman M. G.,

[43] Miller J. P.

[44] Lustig L. K.
(1965) Clastic sedimentation in Deep Springs Valley, California. Prof Pap US geol Surv 352F:131–92.
OpenUrl

[45] Lustig L. K.

[46] McGee W. J.
(1897) Sheetflood erosion. Bull geol Soc Am 8:87–112.
OpenUrl

[47] McGee W. J.

[48] McQuillin R.,
Binns P. E.
(1973) Geological structure in the Sea of the Hebrides. Nature Phys Sci 241:2–4.
OpenUrl CrossRef

[49] McQuillin R.,

[50] Binns P. E.

[51] Murata T.
(1966) A theoretical study of the form of alluvial fans. Geogr Rep Tokyo Metrop Univ 1:33–43.
OpenUrl

[52] Murata T.

[53] Sharp R. P.,
Nobles L. H.
(1953) Mudflow of 1941 at Wrightwood, southern California. Bull geol Soc Am 64:547–60.
OpenUrl Abstract/FREE Full Text

[54] Sharp R. P.,

[55] Nobles L. H.

[56] Smythe D. K.,
Sowerbutts W.T.C.,
Bacon M.,
McQuillin R.
(1972) Deep sedimentary basin below northern Skye and the Little Minch. Nature Phys Sci 236:87.
OpenUrl CrossRef Web of Science

[57] Smythe D. K.,

[58] Sowerbutts W.T.C.,

[59] Bacon M.,

[60] McQuillin R.

[61] Steel, R. J. 1971a. New Red Sandstone sedimentation in the Hebridean province of Scotland. Ph.D. thesis Univ. Glasg. (unpubl.).

[62] Steel R. J.
(1971b) New Red Sandstone movement on the Minch Fault. Nature Phys Sci 234:158–9.
OpenUrl CrossRef

[63] Steel R. J.

[64] Steel R. J.
(1974a) New Red Sandstone floodplain and alluvial fan sedimentation in the Hebridean province of Scotland. J sedim Petrol 44:336–74.
OpenUrl Abstract/FREE Full Text

[65] Steel R. J.

[66] Steel R. J.
(1974b) Cornstone (fossil caliche)–its origin, stratigraphic and sedimentological significance in the New Red Sandstone of western Scotland. J Geol 82:351–69.
OpenUrl Web of Science

[67] Steel R. J.

[68] Steel, R. J., Nicholson, R. & Kalender, L. in press. Sedimentation and palaeogeography of the Trias in central Skye. Scott. J. Geol.

[69] Stevens A.
(1914) Notes on the geology of the Stornoway district of Lewis. Trans geol Soc Glasg 15:51–63.
OpenUrl

[70] Stevens A.

[71] Watts A. B.
(1971) Geophysical investigations on the continental shelf and slope north of Scotland. Scott J Geol 7:189–218.
OpenUrl CrossRef

[72] Watts A. B.

[73] Wilson, A. C. 1971. Lower Devonian sedimentation in the north-west Midland Valley of Scotland. Ph.D. thesis Univ. Glasg. (unpubl.).

[74] Winder C. G.
(1965) Alluvial cone construction by alpine mudflow in a humid temperate region. Canad Jl Earth Sci 2:270–7.
OpenUrl

[75] Winder C. G.

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Sedimentation and tectonism (?Permo-Triassic) on the margin of the North Minch Basin, Lewis

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Sedimentation and tectonism (?Permo-Triassic) on the margin of the North Minch Basin, Lewis

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