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The origin of granite erratics in the Pleistocene Patella beach, Gower, South Wales

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

D. G. Jenkins ,
R. D. Beckinsale ,
D. Q. Bowen ,
J. A. Evans ,
G. T. George ,
N. B. W. Harris  and
I. G. Meighan
D. G. Jenkins
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK.7 6AA
R. D. Beckinsale
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Nicker Hill, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG
D. Q. Bowen
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dyfed, SY23 3DB
J. A. Evans
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Nicker Hill, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG
G. T. George
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, City of London Polytechnic, 31 Jewry Street, EC3 N2EY
N. B. W. Harris
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK.7 6AA
I. G. Meighan
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, BT7 INN
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Abstract

Rare pebbles of granite have been discovered in the raised Patella beach at Butterslade, Gower, South Wales. Their petrography, trace element geochemistry and the Rb/Sr whole rock age of 55 ± 5 Ma confirm that they are derived from the Lundy granite which is about 49 km to the southwest of Gower. Amino acid analyses of fossil gastropods in the Patella beach have provided an age of 210000 years. Various hypotheses of transportation of pebbles from Lundy and Pembrokeshire to Butterslade are considered. Erratics from Pembrokeshire were probably transported by Pleistocene ice into the area while clasts of Lundy granite were moved by progradation of beach deposits northeastwards towards Gower during glacio-eustatic marine transgressions in the Pleistocene.

Type
Articles
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 122 , Issue 3 , May 1985 , pp. 297 - 302
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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