Stonehenge—a unique Late Cretaceous phosphatic Chalk geology: implications for sea-level,climate and tectonics and impact on engineering and archaeology

Ground investigations for the A303 Stonehenge Tunnels revealed a unique and complex Chalk geology including the presence of the thickest (>20 m thick), and previously unknown phosphatic chalks in England, partly filling fault controlled erosional channels. The use of natural gamma-ray borehole logs to determine the presence and thickness of the phosphatic deposits is of particular value and combined with the lithostratigraphy, macrofossil and nannofossil biostratigraphy from cores has, for the first time, accurately constrained the Coniacian to Santonian age and the lenticular geometry of such deposits. Four phosphatic chalk events between 88.5–86.5 Ma are recognised associated with synsedimentary faulting. We suggest a causal link between tectonics, subsidence and channel-formation, phosphatisation events, pulses of oceanic upwelling on a frequency of about 0.5 million years to mantle-controlled plate tectonic episodes. The implications of this geology for construction of the A303 and the archaeology of the area are discussed.     

Seasonal and interannual behaviour of groundwater catchment boundaries in a Chalk aquifer

Groundwater catchment boundaries and their associated groundwater catchment areas are typically assumed to be fixed on a seasonal basis. We investigated whether this was true for a highly permeable carbonate aquifer in England, the Berkshire and Marlborough Downs Chalk aquifer, using both borehole hydrograph data and a physics‐based distributed regional groundwater model. Borehole hydrograph data time series were used to construct a monthly interpolated water table surface, from which was then derived a monthly groundwater catchment boundary. Results from field data showed that the mean annual variation in groundwater catchment area was about 20% of the mean groundwater catchment area, but interannual variation can be very large, with the largest estimated catchment size being approximately 80% greater than the smallest. The flow in the river was also dependent on the groundwater catchment area. Model results corroborated those based on field data. These findings have significant implications for issues such as definition of source protection zones, recharge estimates based on water balance calculations and integrated conceptual modelling of surface water and groundwater systems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Improved understanding of spatio‐temporal controls on regional scale groundwater flooding using hydrograph analysis and impulse response functions

Controls on the spatio‐temporal extent of groundwater flooding are poorly understood, despite the long duration of groundwater flood events and distinct social and economic impacts. We developed a novel approach using statistical analysis of groundwater level hydrographs and impulse response functions (IRFs) and applied it to the 2013/2014 Chalk groundwater flooding in the English Lowlands. We proposed a standardized index of groundwater flooding which we calculated for monthly groundwater levels for 26 boreholes in the Chalk. We grouped these standardized series using k‐means cluster analysis and cross‐correlated the cluster centroids with the Standardized Precipitation Index accumulated over time intervals between 1 and 60 months. This analysis reveals 2 spatially coherent groups of standardized hydrographs that responded to precipitation over different timescales. We estimated IRF models of the groundwater level response to effective precipitation for 3 boreholes in each group. The IRF models corroborate the Standardized Precipitation Index analysis showing different response functions between the groups. We applied identical effective precipitation inputs to each of the IRF models and observed differences between the hydrographs from each group. It is suggested this is due to the hydrogeological properties of the Chalk and of overlying relatively low permeability superficial deposits (recent unconsolidated sediments overlying the bedrock, such as clays and tills), which are extensive over 1 of the groups. The overarching controls on groundwater flood response are concluded to be a complex combination of antecedent conditions, rainfall, and catchment hydrogeological properties. These controls should be taken into consideration when anticipating and managing future groundwater flood events. The approach presented is generic and parsimonious and can be easily applied where sufficient groundwater level and rainfall data are available.     

Chalk fields along the Lindesnes Ridge, Eldfisk

Eldfisk field lies on the Lindesnes Ridge northwest of the Valhall and Hod fields and to the southeast of Edda in Block 2/7 of the Norwegian North Sea. The field has a complex geological history and reservoir geometry. Seismic reflection data is strongly gas affected and degraded over the majority of the field. The geological model of the field was based exclusively on well data and the model was inadequate to explain some of the production characteristics or to identify additional prospective well locations. In 1982 a programme of Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP) was started in the northern part of the field. The seismic data provided by VSP have improved and confirmed the geological model, provided some explanations for production variances and identified further areas of interest.     

New insight into the microtexture of chalks from NMR analysis

An integrated petrographical and petrophysical study was carried out on a set of 35 outcrop chalk samples, covering a wide range of lithologies and textures. In this study various chalk rock-types have been characterized, in terms of microtextures and porous network, by integrating both geological, sediment-petrological and petrophysical data, including porosity, permeability, low-field NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance), MICP and specific surface area (BET) measurements. The data allow an in depth understanding of the NMR signal of chalks, with a focus on tight chalks, including all low reservoir quality chalks independently of their sedimentological and/or diagenetic history. The study aims to develop an NMR-based approach to characterize a broad range of chalk samples. The provided laboratory low-field NMR chalk classification can be used as a guide to interpret NMR logging data.Based on the petrographical and petrophysical analysis, 6 groups of samples were identified, each of them characterized by a unique NMR signature: (1) micritic chalks, (2) grainy chalks, (3) cemented chalks, (4) marl-seam chalks, (5) argillaceous chalks and (6) silicified chalk. NMR T₂ distributions were linked to pore body size and T₂ logarithmic (T_2lm) was calculated. It is apparent that tight chalks, whether their characteristics are sedimentological or diagenetic, yield smaller pore body sizes (T_2lm < 20 ms), as well as narrower pore throats (average radius < 150 nm) and lower permeability values (typically below 0.2 mD). Grainy chalks possess T₂ distributions reflecting larger pore sizes (T_2lm > 60 ms) and pore throats (average radius > 290 nm) and higher permeabilities (up to 13 mD). The marl-seam chalk samples yield bimodal T₂ distributions, with a first peak related to the micritic matrix pores and a second peak related to intraparticle pores within fossils. For all samples, permeability was inferred from NMR spectra using SDR (Schlumberger Doll Research) model.     

Structural geology of the Upper Cretaceous Chalk Central Mass, Isle of Wight, U.K.

Remapping the Chalk of the Central Chalk Mass of the Isle of Wight between Carisbrooke (Newport), Calbourne and Shalcombe, including the Bowcombe Valley, has identified a complex series of tectonic ‘rolls’ and ‘flats’ in a region that has been interpreted to be a relay ramp between the Needles and the Sandown faults. A major new WNW trending fault at Cheverton throws the Chalk down by >50 m to the SW in a 80-100 m wide zone of faulting within which some chalk blocks have near vertical dips. The fault location and trend closely follows the edge of the Cranbourne-Fordingbridge High and could also reflect, for the first time, the surface expression of part of the Needles Fault, a major inversion reverse fault. Located along this fault zone deep Quaternary weathering of the Chalk and Quaternary gravel deposits are present. The trend of the Cheverton Fault brings it towards Gotten Leaze where a groundwater pumping station is located and groundwater springs regularly cause flooding on the Brighstone-Calbourne Road. Analyses of the jointing in the Chalk show that stratabound fracture patterns typical of the Chalk formations elsewhere in Southern England are present in the Central Mass. In addition, there are numerous small faults along which valleys have formed. Tectonic structure and lithology have had a profound influence on the geomorphology and groundwater flow in the Chalk in the Central Mass.     

The Ge/Si ratio as a tool to recognize biogenic silica in chert

Germanium and silicon, dissolved in seawater, are considered to be incorporated into biogenic opal with no or little fractionation, which permitted to use diatoms as reliable recorders of seawater Ge/Si. Does some fractionation occur during diagenesis, preventing the use of Ge/Si in ancient sediments? We examined the Ge/Si ratio of fossil sponges and flint nodules of the Cretaceous Chalk Formation of northern France. Though disputed, silica in this formation is considered to originate from sponges. No fractionation is observed between sponges and diagenetic flints, which allows us to observe whether Ge/Si bears a biogenic or detrital signature. We may thus confirm that sponges were the main silica supplier during the chalk deposition. The Ge/Si ratio may be used to identify a biogenic signature in cherts where the origin of silica is dubious.     

Experimental frost and salt weathering of chalk—II

Experiments are described in which chalk cubes were soaked in solutions of either sodium chloride, sodium sulphate, or magnesium sulphate at concentrations of 5·5 per cent and 12·5 per cent, or in a mixed solution of sodium chloride and sodium sulphate or in distilled water. After removal of excess liquid, the cubes were subjected to six freeze–thaw cycles with temperatures ranging from either +15 to ?10°C or +15 to ?30°C. The results confirm that frost weathering can be enhanced by the presence of certain salts, but the extent of weathering was much less than that previously reported for samples frozen totally immersed in the same liquids. Evidence is presented which suggests that salt crystallization is the major weathering process operative when non–immersed samples are frozen but a combination of frost and salt weathering operates when fully immersed samples are frozen.