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Emplacement of alkali-dolerite sills relative to extrusive volcanism and sedimentary basins in the Carboniferous of Fife, Scotland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2011

E. Howel Francis  and
Brent H. Walker
E. Howel Francis
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, The University, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
Brent H. Walker
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, The University, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
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Abstract

Namurian alkali-dolerites in W and central Fife comprise up to nine component sills. These have three-dimensional shapes which are directly related to penecontemporaneous structures in the sedimentary host rocks. Two forms of control are identified. Basinal control is apparent where restored sill geometry shows thickening towards the bottoms of saucer-shapes which mimic sediment disposition at the time of emplacement. Fault control is evidenced by sills which change horizon along extensive E–W fractures once assumed to be entirely post-Carboniferous but now confirmed as growth-faults.

There are no associated dykes representing likely feeders comparable with those of the later tholeiitic Midland Valley Sill, but evidence is presented to suggest that at least some of the alkali-dolerite magma reached sill intrusion levels through volcanic pipes.

Keywords

alkali-doleritegravitational flowgrowth-fault intrusionsill emplacementsynsedimentary structurevolcanic neck
Type
Research Article
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 77 , Issue 4 , 1987 , pp. 309 - 323
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1987

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