Magnesian Limestone

Magnesian Limestone

The Magnesian Limestone is a suite of rocks in north-east England dating from the Permian period. The outcrop stretches from Nottingham northwards through Yorkshire and into County Durham where it is exposed along the coast between Hartlepool and South Shields.[1] The term has now been discontinued in formal use though it appears widely in popular and scientific literature on the geology of northern England.


The Magnesian Limestone is now incorporated within the Zechstein Group. In the southern part of its outcrop, the former 'Lower Magnesian Limestone' is now referred to as the 'Cadeby Formation'. Overlying this it is the 'Edlington Formation' (formerly the 'Middle Permian Marl') and above this the Brotherton Formation (formerly the 'Upper Magnesian Limestone'). In the north, the Lower Magnesian Limestone is now referred to as the Raisby Formation and the Middle Magnesian Limestone as the Ford Formation. The Upper Magnesian Limestone is replaced by the Roker Formation (in its lower part) and the Seaham Formation (in its upper part) with the Edlington formation between them, though in the Durham area this last is replaced by the Fordham Evaporite Formation and the Seaham Residue.

Much of the Magnesian Limestone is dolomite, i.e. calcium magnesium carbonate, and has been for many years the main source of dolomite-rock in Britain. It is used in connection with the production of refractory bricks but also for aggregate for road-building and other construction purposes. It is also used in the production of agricultural lime. [2][3]

References

  1. ^ British Geological Survey 1:625,000 scale geological maps (North and South sheets) 3rd edition 1979
  2. ^ Aitkenhead, N. et al 2002. British regional geology: the Pennines and adjacent areas (4th edn) (British Geological Survey, Nottingham)
  3. ^ Stone, P. et al 2010 British regional geology: Northern England (5th edn) (British Geological Survey, Nottingham)

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  • Magnesian limestone — can refer to: For the rock made of magnesium carbonate ie Magnesian limestone see dolomite or dolostone For the traditional name of a specific suite of Permian age rocks in north east England see Magnesian Limestone Categories: Limestone …   Wikipedia

  • Magnesian limestone — Magnesian Mag*ne sian, a. Pertaining to, characterized by, or containing, magnesia or magnesium. [1913 Webster] {Magnesian limestone}. (Min.) See {Dolomite}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Magnesian limestone — (engl., spr. laimstōn), Magnesiakalk, d. h. Dolomit, mittlere Abteilung des englischen Zechsteins, s. Text zur Tafel »Dyasformation« …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • magnesian limestone — noun : dolomite * * * Magnesian Limestone noun 1. Dolomite rock 2. A division of the Permian of England • • • Main Entry: ↑magnesium * * * magnesian limestone, = dolomite. (Cf. ↑dolomite) …   Useful english dictionary

  • magnesian limestone —    Common but loose synonym for dolomitic limestone or dolomite rock. The magnesian limestone of northern England is a rock sequence of Permian age that includes a locally variable number of beds of dolomitic limestone [9] …   Lexicon of Cave and Karst Terminology

  • Magnesian — Mag*ne sian, a. Pertaining to, characterized by, or containing, magnesia or magnesium. [1913 Webster] {Magnesian limestone}. (Min.) See {Dolomite}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Limestone — Lime stone (l[imac]m st[=o]n ), n. A rock consisting chiefly of calcium carbonate or carbonate of lime. It sometimes contains also magnesium carbonate, and is then called magnesian or dolomitic limestone. Crystalline limestone is called marble.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Geology of Yorkshire — In Yorkshire there is a very close relationship between the major topographical areas and the geological period in which they were formed. The Pennine chain of Hills in the west is of Carboniferous origin. The central vale is Permo Triassic. The… …   Wikipedia

  • Durham Wildlife Trust — Rainton Meadows Visitor Centre, HQ of Durham Wildlife Trust Formation 1971 Type Registered charity …   Wikipedia

  • Middridge Quarry — Coordinates: 54°37′18″N 1°37′0″W / 54.62167°N 1.616667°W / 54.62167; 1.616667 …   Wikipedia

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