| Abstract: | Carboniferous rocks in the north Solway onshore outcrop show evidence of hydrocarbon migration. Oil residues occur as intergranular bitumen in sandstones, thoriferous bitumen nodules in sandstones and uraniferous bitumens in fractures associated with the North Solway Fault at the northern margin of the Solway Basin. Oil was emplaced in sandstones after the dissolution of dolomite, calcite and clay cements. The radioelement-rich bitumens represent deposition following interactions between migrating hydrocarbons and metalliferous fluids. The close proximity of the Caledonian Criffel granodiorite, unroofed by Carboniferous times, suggests that the pluton was the source of uranium and thorium. Hydrocarbon source rocks are identified further east in the more complete succession exposed in the Esk Valley region, along with further oil residues. Time-temperature modelling suggests that oil was generated from Lower Carboniferous source rocks during the Permo-Triassic. Chemical age dating of uraninite in bitumen yields early Jurassic ages, which may reflect the time of hydrocarbon migration along the North Solway Fault system, and may be related to a mid-Jurassic episode of regional uplift. Analyses of thorite in bitumen nodules give a wider spread of data, probably due to the migration of daughter lead. |
