Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
    • Journal home
    • Lyell Collection home
    • Geological Society home
  • Content
    • Online First
    • Issue in progress
    • All issues
    • Thematic Collections
    • Supplementary publications
    • Open Access
  • Subscribe
    • GSL fellows
    • Institutions
    • Corporate
    • Other member types
  • Info
    • Authors
    • Librarians
    • Readers
    • GSL Fellows access
    • Other member type access
    • Press office
    • Accessibility
    • Help
    • Metrics
  • Alert sign up
    • eTOC alerts
    • Online First alerts
    • RSS feeds
    • Newsletters
    • GSL blog
  • Submit
  • Geological Society of London Publications
    • Engineering Geology Special Publications
    • Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis
    • Journal of Micropalaeontology
    • Journal of the Geological Society
    • Lyell Collection home
    • Memoirs
    • Petroleum Geology Conference Series
    • Petroleum Geoscience
    • Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society
    • Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology
    • Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society
    • Scottish Journal of Geology
    • Special Publications
    • Transactions of the Edinburgh Geological Society
    • Transactions of the Geological Society of Glasgow
    • Transactions of the Geological Society of London

User menu

  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
Journal of the Geological Society
  • Geological Society of London Publications
    • Engineering Geology Special Publications
    • Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis
    • Journal of Micropalaeontology
    • Journal of the Geological Society
    • Lyell Collection home
    • Memoirs
    • Petroleum Geology Conference Series
    • Petroleum Geoscience
    • Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society
    • Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology
    • Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society
    • Scottish Journal of Geology
    • Special Publications
    • Transactions of the Edinburgh Geological Society
    • Transactions of the Geological Society of Glasgow
    • Transactions of the Geological Society of London
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart
  • Follow gsl on Twitter
  • Visit gsl on Facebook
  • Visit gsl on Youtube
  • Visit gsl on Linkedin
Journal of the Geological Society

Advanced search

  • Home
    • Journal home
    • Lyell Collection home
    • Geological Society home
  • Content
    • Online First
    • Issue in progress
    • All issues
    • Thematic Collections
    • Supplementary publications
    • Open Access
  • Subscribe
    • GSL fellows
    • Institutions
    • Corporate
    • Other member types
  • Info
    • Authors
    • Librarians
    • Readers
    • GSL Fellows access
    • Other member type access
    • Press office
    • Accessibility
    • Help
    • Metrics
  • Alert sign up
    • eTOC alerts
    • Online First alerts
    • RSS feeds
    • Newsletters
    • GSL blog
  • Submit

Emplacement of the Little Minch Sill Complex, Sea of Hebrides Basin, NW Scotland

View ORCID ProfileLaura-Jane C. Fyfe, View ORCID ProfileNick Schofield, View ORCID ProfileSimon P. Holford, View ORCID ProfileDougal A. Jerram and View ORCID ProfileAdrian Hartley
Journal of the Geological Society, 17 February 2021, https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2020-177
Laura-Jane C. Fyfe
1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UK
Roles: [Conceptualization (Equal)], [Data curation (Equal)], [Formal analysis (Lead)], [Investigation (Lead)], [Methodology (Equal)], [Visualization (Lead)], [Writing – original draft (Lead)]
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Laura-Jane C. Fyfe
  • For correspondence: laurajane.fyfe@abdn.ac.uk
Nick Schofield
1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UK
Roles: [Conceptualization (Equal)], [Data curation (Equal)], [Methodology (Equal)], [Supervision (Supporting)], [Writing – review & editing (Supporting)]
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Nick Schofield
Simon P. Holford
2Australian School of Petroleum and Energy Resources, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA5005, Australia
Roles: [Writing – review & editing (Supporting)]
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Simon P. Holford
Dougal A. Jerram
3Centre for Earth Evolution and Dynamics, University of Oslo, Norway
4DougalEARTH Ltd, Solihull, UK
Roles: [Writing – review & editing (Supporting)]
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Dougal A. Jerram
Adrian Hartley
1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UK
Roles: [Writing – review & editing (Supporting)]
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Adrian Hartley
PreviousNext
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

The Little Minch Sill Complex consists of a series of stacked, multi-leaved Paleocene dolerite sills, which have primarily intruded into Mesozoic sedimentary rocks and Paleocene tuffs/?hyaloclastites within the Sea of Hebrides Basin. The Sea of Hebrides Basin is situated to the west of the Scottish mainland on the NE Atlantic margin. Two previously proposed models for the emplacement of the sill complex have opposing ideas for the location of magma input and the emplacement mechanisms. Both models have been constructed using data primarily from onshore outcrops on the Isle of Skye, Raasay and the Shiant Isles. However, these onshore outcrops only represent a quarter (1040 km2) of the entire extent of the sill complex, which is largely located offshore. To understand how the sill complex as a whole was emplaced within the basin, both onshore and offshore magma transport needs to be considered. Using high-resolution multibeam bathymetry data (up to 2 m resolution) obtained between 2008 and 2011, along with supporting seismic reflection, sparker and pinger data, a new assessment of the offshore extent and character of the sill complex has been constructed. Mapping of the large-scale relationships between intrusions and the host rock, along with morphological features such as magma lobes, magma fingers, transgressive wings, en echelon feeder dykes and the axis of saucer-/half-saucer-shaped intrusions, has indicated the magma flow directions within the intrusive network. Assessing the flow kinematics of the sills has provided insights into magma transport and emplacement processes offshore. Combining data from previously mapped onshore sills with data from our newly constructed model for magma emplacement offshore has allowed us to construct a new model for the emplacement of the Little Minch Sill Complex. This model demonstrates that major basin-bounding faults may have a lesser role in channelling magma through sedimentary basins than previously thought. Applying the knowledge obtained from this study could further progress our understanding of the effect of sill emplacement on fluid flow within volcanic rift basins worldwide, with direct impacts on the exploitation of petroleum and geothermal systems.

  • © 2021 The Author(s). Published by The Geological Society of London. All rights reserved
View Full Text

Please note that if you are logged into the Lyell Collection and attempt to access content that is outside of your subscription entitlement you will be presented with a new login screen. You have the option to pay to view this content if you choose. Please see the relevant links below for further assistance.

INDIVIDUALS

Log in using your username and password

– GSL fellows: log in with your Lyell username and password. (Please check your access entitlements at https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/fellowsaccess)
– Other users: log in with the username and password you created when you registered. Help for other users is at https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/lyellcollection_faqs
Forgot your username or password?

Purchase access

You may purchase access to this article for 24 hours and download the PDF within the access period. This will require you to create an account if you don't already have one. To download the PDF, click the 'Purchased Content' link in the receipt email.

LIBRARY USERS

Log in through your institution

You may be able to gain access using your login credentials for your institution. Contact your library if you do not have a username and password.
If your organization uses OpenAthens, you can log in using your OpenAthens username and password. To check if your institution is supported, please see this list. Contact your library for more details.
If you think you should have access, please contact your librarian or email sales@geolsoc.org.uk

LIBRARIANS

Administer your subscription.

CONTACT US

If you have any questions about the Lyell Collection publications website, please see the access help page or contact sales@geolsoc.org.uk

PreviousNext
Back to top

Current issue

Journal of the Geological Society: 178 (2)
  • Table of Contents
  • About the Cover
  • Index by author
Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Citation tools

Emplacement of the Little Minch Sill Complex, Sea of Hebrides Basin, NW Scotland

Laura-Jane C. Fyfe, Nick Schofield, Simon P. Holford, Dougal A. Jerram and Adrian Hartley
Journal of the Geological Society, 17 February 2021, https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2020-177
Laura-Jane C. Fyfe
1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UK
Roles: [Conceptualization (Equal)], [Data curation (Equal)], [Formal analysis (Lead)], [Investigation (Lead)], [Methodology (Equal)], [Visualization (Lead)], [Writing – original draft (Lead)]
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Laura-Jane C. Fyfe
  • For correspondence: laurajane.fyfe@abdn.ac.uk
Nick Schofield
1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UK
Roles: [Conceptualization (Equal)], [Data curation (Equal)], [Methodology (Equal)], [Supervision (Supporting)], [Writing – review & editing (Supporting)]
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Nick Schofield
Simon P. Holford
2Australian School of Petroleum and Energy Resources, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA5005, Australia
Roles: [Writing – review & editing (Supporting)]
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Simon P. Holford
Dougal A. Jerram
3Centre for Earth Evolution and Dynamics, University of Oslo, Norway
4DougalEARTH Ltd, Solihull, UK
Roles: [Writing – review & editing (Supporting)]
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Dougal A. Jerram
Adrian Hartley
1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UK
Roles: [Writing – review & editing (Supporting)]
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Adrian Hartley

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Permissions
View PDF
Share

Emplacement of the Little Minch Sill Complex, Sea of Hebrides Basin, NW Scotland

Laura-Jane C. Fyfe, Nick Schofield, Simon P. Holford, Dougal A. Jerram and Adrian Hartley
Journal of the Geological Society, 17 February 2021, https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2020-177
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
Email to

Thank you for sharing this Journal of the Geological Society article.

NOTE: We request your email address only to inform the recipient that it was you who recommended this article, and that it is not junk mail. We do not retain these email addresses.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Emplacement of the Little Minch Sill Complex, Sea of Hebrides Basin, NW Scotland
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from Journal of the Geological Society
(Your Name) thought you would be interested in this article in Journal of the Geological Society.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Print
Download PPT
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Geological background and context of the LMSC
    • Datasets and methods
    • Offshore expression of the LMSC
    • Constraining sill emplacement directions
    • Interpretation of direction of magma sourcing/movement in the LMSC (offshore)
    • Stratigraphic level of sill intrusion
    • Discussion
    • Conclusions
    • Acknowledgements
    • Author contributions
    • Funding
    • Data availability
    • References
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

Similar Articles

Cited By...

More in this TOC Section

  • Tracking Prototethyan assembly felsic magmatic suites in southern Yunnan (SW China): Evidence for an Early Ordovician-Early Silurian arc-back arc system
  • Putative arthropod trace fossils from the Orcadian Basin at Achanarras Quarry (Middle Devonian of Scotland)
  • Geodynamic evolution of the Tunisian margin during the Albian–Cenomanian: structural evidence of the Austrian orogenic phase and the early tectonic inversion of the Tunisian Atlas
Show more: Research article
  • Most read
  • Most cited
Loading
  • Geological Society of London Scientific Statement: what the geological record tells us about our present and future climate
  • Terrestrial stratigraphical division in the Quaternary and its correlation
  • The nature and origins of decametre-scale porosity in Ordovician carbonate rocks, Halahatang oilfield, Tarim Basin, China
  • A revised age, structural model and origin for the North Pennine Orefield in the Alston Block, N. England: Intrusion (Whin Sill)-related base metal (Cu-Pb-Zn-F) mineralization
  • Segmentation of the Caledonian orogenic infrastructure and exhumation of the Western Gneiss Region during transtensional collapse
More...

Journal of the Geological Society

  • About the journal
  • Editorial Board
  • Submit a manuscript
  • Author information
  • Supplementary Publications
  • Subscribe
  • Pay per view
  • Alerts & RSS
  • Copyright & Permissions
  • Activate Online Subscription
  • Feedback
  • Help

Lyell Collection

  • About the Lyell Collection
  • Lyell Collection homepage
  • Collections
  • Open Access Collection
  • Open Access Policy
  • Lyell Collection access help
  • Recommend to your Library
  • Lyell Collection Sponsors
  • MARC records
  • Digital preservation
  • Developing countries
  • Geofacets
  • Manage your account
  • Cookies

The Geological Society

  • About the Society
  • Join the Society
  • Benefits for Members
  • Online Bookshop
  • Publishing policies
  • Awards, Grants & Bursaries
  • Education & Careers
  • Events
  • Geoscientist Online
  • Library & Information Services
  • Policy & Media
  • Society blog
  • Contact the Society

Published by The Geological Society of London, registered charity number 210161

Print ISSN 
0016-7649
Online ISSN 
2041-479X

Copyright © 2021 Geological Society of London