Chalk Group Lithostratigraphy: Northern England - Rowe Formation

Rawson et al. (2000) suggested that the term 'Rowe Formation' might be borrowed from the Chalk Group lithostratigraphy of the North Sea to describe apparently coeval sub-drift occurrences of flinty chalk (Whitham, 1993, p. 255) above the flintless Flamborough Chalk Formation. However, Mortimore et al. (2001) have recently pointed out that this use is inappropriate, since new biostratigraphical data suggest that the base of the Rowe Formation in the North Sea is likely to be significantly younger (Campanian / Maastrictian boundary) than the base of the flinty chalk (Mid-Late Campanian) recorded in the subcrop in northern England.

References

MORTIMORE, R N, WOOD, C J & GALLOIS, R W. 2001. British Uppper Cretaceous Stratigraphy, Geological Review Series, No. 23. (Joint Nature Conservation Committee: Peterborough.)

RAWSON, P. F., ALLEN, P. & GALE, A. 2001. The Chalk Group - a revised lithostratigraphy. Geoscientist, 11(1), 21.

WHITHAM, F. 1993. The stratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous Flamborough Chalk Formation north of the Humber, north-east England. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society, 49(3), 235-258.