Stratigraphy & Sedimentology of Northern European Chalks

given by Dr Haydon Bailey, HGS Chairman, Past GA president & geological advisor to the Chiltern Society

Abstract:

The Upper Cretaceous Chalks of Northern Europe appear, on the face of it, to represent sedimentation during an extended period of relative tectonic and environmental stability. Nothing could be further from the truth. These uniform, white, fine grained carbonates are the sediments resulting from constant change in water temperature, oxygen content, dynamic water currents both at the sea surface and at depth. 

Back in 1994 I presented a talk at a European conference entitled “Chalk, white, as above!”, because that was the comment frequently seen on core logs, geologists’ description sheets and engineering geologists’ well logs. Just how much information were we losing because of this phrase? Over the last 30 years our understanding of chalk deposition, and the environmental conditions which control it, have fundamentally shifted. Hopefully I can convince you that this might be the case.

View This Talk In The Members’ Section.

This replaced the scheduled talk on Critical Minerals from Geology to circular economy: A matter of national security planned to be given by Professor Kathryn Moore, University of Exeter. This was due to bad weather. Kathryn’s talk will be rescheduled to a later date.