Sequence stratigraphy and sedimentary history of the Humber Group (Late Jurassic-Ryazanian) in the Outer Moray Firth (UKCS, North Sea)

AbstractClay mineral abundances in Mesozoic and Tertiary argillaceous strata from 15 exploration wells in the Inner and Outer Moray Firth, Viking Graben and East Shetland Basins of the northern North Sea have been determined in <0·2 µm fractions of cuttings samples. The clay assemblages of more deeply-buried samples cannot be unambiguously related to sedimentary input because of the diagenetic overprint which may account for much of the chlorite and related interstratified minerals. Other sediments, discussed on a regional basis and related to the geological history of the basins, are interpreted in terms of clay mineral provenance and control by climate, tectonic and volcanic activity. The distribution of illite-smectite can often be related to volcanic activity both in the Forties area during the M. Jurassic, and on the NE Atlantic continental margin during the U. Cretaceous-Early Tertiary which affected the North Sea more widely and left a prominent record in the Viking Graben and East Shetland Basin. Kaolinite associated with lignite-bearing sediments in the Outer Moray Firth Basin was probably derived by alteration of volcanic material in lagoonal or deltaic environments. Some U. Jurassic and L. Cretaceous sediments of the Inner Moray Basin are rich in illite-smectite, the origin of which is not clear.

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Lithology and subsidence in the North Sea

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences ◽

10.1098/rsta.1982.0027 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 305 (1489) ◽

pp. 85-99 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Keyword(s):

North Sea ◽

Late Jurassic ◽

Late Carboniferous ◽

Delta Front ◽

Submarine Fans ◽

The North ◽

Late Tertiary ◽

Moray Firth ◽

Deltaic Sedimentation ◽

The North Sea

The North Sea sedimentary basin has developed on the northwestern margin of the European tectonic plate and contains an almost continuous record of epeirogenic marine and deltaic sedimentation from Carboniferous to Recent times. The subsidence required to accommodate the pile of sediment deposited, which in places exceeds 12 km, has been brought about at various times and in various places by differing geodynamical processes. As a result the types of sedimentary rocks deposited vary widely both in time and space, but the nature of the mechanism is reflected in the sedimentary type deposited. The following broad generalizations can be made. The late Carboniferous was a period of deltaic sedimentation during which eustatic changes in sea level or local variations in subsidence rates are reflected in the typical Coal Measures swamp deposits. Late Carboniferous - early Permian times saw the silting up of this basin, and in an arid climate aeolian sands were deposited grading laterally to sabkha shales and evaporites. The Permian culminated in a series of widespread marine incursions during which repetitive evaporites were deposited. Triassic times were marked by a period of major rifting and the deposition of thick sequences of continental elastics in the north, while widespread marine sedimentation persisted in southern areas. Jurassic times saw the re-establishment of marine to deltaic deposition in a series of basins possibly controlled in their distribution by the Triassic fault systems. Late Jurassic deposits were laid down in a sea whose bathymetry reflected the structure of the underlying horsts and grabens inherited from Triassic times, and towards the close of the Jurassic the bottom waters at least of this sea become increasingly stagnant. Sands deposited during the late Jurassic were deposited as near-shore marine bars, beach sands, and proximal and distal submarine fans. Triassic to early Cretaceous deposition was concentrated in the areas now occupied by the main grabens of the North Sea, i.e. the Viking, Central and Moray - Witch Ground grabens. Subsequent deposition in late Cretaceous to Tertiary times took place in a more widely subsiding area, resulting in progressive onlap onto the surrounding basin margins. Deposition within this broadly subsiding and relatively unfaulted basin is characterized by chalky limestones in southern areas, giving way laterally to shales and minor sands to the north. During early Tertiary times a large delta was formed in the area beneath the present Moray Firth, and from this delta a supply of sand was fed into submarine fans to the northeast and southeast of the delta front. Late Tertiary deposition is largely represented by a monotonous sequence of marine shales.

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Structural outline and development

Danmarks Geologiske Undersøgelse Serie B ◽

10.34194/serieb.v8.7063 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 9-26

Author(s):

Claus Andersen ◽

Jens Christian Olsen ◽

Olaf Michelsen ◽

Erik Nygaard

Keyword(s):

North Sea ◽

Early Cretaceous ◽

Southern North Sea ◽

The North ◽

Moray Firth ◽

History Of ◽

The North Sea ◽

Broad Complex ◽

East West ◽

German Basin

The Central Graben is a broad, complex trough with a long history of differential subsidence. It was probably initiated in the Permian and was controlled by major rifting during the Mesozoic. To the south in the Dutch sector the trough is divided into two parts. From here it passes northwards and divides the southern North Sea Basin into the Anglo-Dutch Basin and the Northwest German Basin. It also separates the Mid North Sea High from the Ringkøbing-Fyn High. These highs form broad, east-west trending, relative stable ridges. The further continuation of the Central Graben is to the northwest, towards the centre of the North Sea, where it passes into the Viking Graben and the Moray Firth Basin at about 58° N. Where the Central Graben divides the two major highs, there is an elongate central narrow horst, the Dogger High, which is the southernmost of a row of mid-Graben highs. Both sides of the Graben are clearly defined by normal rotational faults that were intermittently active from Triassic to Early Cretaceous times.

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Seabirds and North Sea oil

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rstb.1987.0036 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 316 (1181) ◽

pp. 513-524 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Keyword(s):

North Sea ◽

Oil Pollution ◽

The North ◽

Offshore Production ◽

Bird Survey ◽

Large Populations ◽

Moray Firth ◽

History Of ◽

The North Sea ◽

Tanker Accidents

The history of large and well-publicized incidents of seabird mortality resulting from oil pollution from tanker accidents (such as the Torrey Canyon in 1967) and from unattributed oil slicks at sea, gave rise to real fears that the development of North Sea oilfields would result in serious mortality and declines in the large populations of seabirds breeding and wintering in and around the North Sea. The oil industry recognized the problem and attempted to minimize pollution risks in all exploration, production and transport operations. Preliminary maps were prepared showing the distribution of vulnerable concentrations of breeding and wintering birds to facilitate contingency planning, and, particularly in Shetland, Orkney and the Moray Firth, extensive and long-term programmes are established to monitor: (1) the numbers of breeding birds; (2) wintering concentrations (particularly of sea ducks); (3) the distribution and abundance of seabirds at sea; (4) the numbers, and percentage oiled, of birds found dead on beaches. The feared increase in oil pollution incidents has not materialized. The few accidents associated with offshore production have had little effect on seabirds. Tanker accidents have been few, but have had large, temporary and local effects (e.g. the Esso Bernicia at Sullom Voe in 1978-79). Breeding seabird populations in the area have increased, although in recent years, in some places, some species may have declined, but these declines cannot be attributed to oil activities in the North Sea. The Beached Bird Survey suggests that chronic oil-induced mortality is at a relatively low level.

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