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org/ at University of Leeds on November 12, 2016

PROCEEDINGS OF THE YORKSHIRE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, VOL. 49, PART 3, PP.235-258, 1993

The stratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous Flamborough Chalk

Formation north of the Humber, north-east England
F. WHITHAM

8 Samman Close, Broadley Avenue, Anlaby, Hull HU10 7HJ

SUMMARY: The considerable thickness (approximately 215m) of the Flamborough Chalk Formation exposed on land about equals
the combined total for the underlying Ferriby, Welton and Burnham chalk formations. The sequence is described here, with
detailed lithological logs and ranges of all the main macrofaunal elements. The macrofauna is closely related to that of north
Germany. The stratotype section is a coastal exposure from High Stacks to Sewerby. There broad lithological changes in the chalk
succession allow the formation to be divided into three new members, the South Landing, Danes Dyke and Sewerby members.
Several marl-band marker horizons are formally named. Macrofaunal evidence suggests that the highest chalk exposed at the
present time (Discoscaphites binodosus Subzone) is of late Early Campanian age. Younger beds are known from boreholes near
Hornsea, south of Flamborough Head, and extend eastwards beneath the North Sea. Late Campanian to Early Maastrichtian fossils
derived from these occur in glacial erratics along the coast and inland.

The chalk of the Northern Province (north Norfolk to
Yorkshire) was reviewed by Wood & Smith (1978), who
divided it into the Ferriby, Welton, Burnham and
Flamborough chalk formations. Numerous marker beds were
recognised in the lowest three formations, providing a firm
framework for a more detailed study of the sequence north of
the Humber by Whitham (1991), in which precise fossil ranges
were established. However, Wood & Smith (1978) gave very
little detail of the highest, Flamborough Chalk, formation
other than to indicate its basal boundary and note that it was
characterised by the absence of flint. The purpose of the
present paper is to establish a detailed lithostratigraphy and
biostratigraphy for the Flamborough Chalk Formation of
north Humberside (Fig. 1).
barren of fossils compared with its southern counterparts. He
also commented on the very poor state of preservation of the
fauna and the difficulty in finding good specimens, except in
the section between Danes Dyke and Sewerby which he
regarded as the richest and most easily worked chalk in
Yorkshire. This section includes the famous Flamborough
Sponge Beds. Although he did not give a detailed account of
the faunal sequence, he published a considerable list of species
from the High Stacks to Sewerby {i.e. Flamborough Chalk)
section and zoned the sequence. He used the local landmarks
then available (signposts on the cliff top and erratic boulders
on the beach platform) to distinguish some of his marker beds
and zonal horizons.

1. PREVIOUS WORK
There are no previously published detailed sections for the
whole of the Flamborough Chalk Formation, probably due to
the difficulty of measuring the stratotype section (see below).
Lamplugh (1895), Jukes-Browne & Hill (1904), Rowe (1904),
Wright & Wright (1942), Wilson (1948), Neale (1974),
Rawson etal. (1978), Wood & Smith (1978) and Wood (1980)
gave varying estimates for the total thickness of the formation,
but only Lamplugh (1895) published a measured section. He
documented the High Stacks to Sewerby Cliff section (the
stratotype). Unfortunately, although it was measured in
detail, some of his bed measurements were grouped together
in the paper into much thicker units, ranging from 6 to 18ft (1.8
- 5.5m). The lack of finer detail makes it difficult to correlate
some of his beds with the more detailed sequence described
here.
Rowe (1904) also measured the type section (accepting
Lamplugh's measurements for High Stacks to South Landing),
but did not publish a detailed account. However, his total
thickness of 546ft 4in (166.68m) is very close to the 165m
documented in this paper. Lamplugh's thickness was 558ft Sin
(170.37m).
Rowe (1904) considered the Yorkshire chalk to be relatively
Yorkshire Geological Society 1993
2. THE EXPOSURES
2.1. The stratotype section
The type section extends for 6.5km along the south side of
Flamborough Head, from High Stacks to Sewerby Steps (Fig.
2). The gentle dip of the strata in a westerly direction brings
successively higher beds down to beach level, except where
horizontal bedding occurs. However, the sequence is difficult
to interpret, for bed thickness varies significantly and there are
numerous marl seams, some of which are developed locally
into crush zones. It is also dissected by numerous faults, most
of them minor. In places the base of the cliff is obscured by
slipped material or huge rockfalls, several extending for up to
30m. The faults give the false impression that some of the key
fossil groups are common throughout their respective zones (a
mistake made by some of the earlier workers), whereas in fact
there may be only two or three narrow fossil bands in a specific
zone which are continually brought down to beach level by the
faults. The faults are usually slickensided and calcite occurs
along the fractures. A composite succession through the
Flamborough Chalk Formation is given in Figure 3.
2.2. Selwicks Bay
There is a complex zone of disturbance in the middle of
Selwicks Bay, in which the chalk is faulted, sheared, folded
and brecciated (Rawson & Whitham in Rawson & Wright
1992, fig. 34; for the regional setting see Kirby & Swallow
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236 F. WHITHAM

Jkornwick Nab
orth Laading

Stottle Bank
Kindle Scar
Langtoft el wicks Bay
*
Carnaby %
TCommon Hole
Burton Agnes r * /Bridlington High Stacks
Ruston P a r v a .
Naf f e r t o n
Driftield

_ i
Ba i n t o n

Queensgate

Beverley

Hospital-.

quarry-*

Bessingby _j km.

Thinly bedded chalk

6 Ammonites

Laminated chalk Uncoiled ammonites

Massive bedded chalk Echinocorys

Marl band Micraster

Bedding plane Hagenowia

Stylolitic bedding Mar6upites

Tabular flint Uintacrinus

,l
Vri"'"" ''i7'iT Semi tabular flint Inoceramids

32 3 3 os9 < Lenticular flints o| cfj Oyster bands

Nodular flints 6 0 Brachiopods

Belemnites

Llthostratigraphic Key Key Faunas

Fig. 1. General locality map, lithological and faunal symbols used in this paper.
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FLAMBOROUGH CHALK FORMATION 237

1987). The overall throw is at least 21.5m and could be more.
The basal part of the Flamborough Chalk is faulted down to
the north and the line of flints marking the top of the
underlying Burnham Chalk is visible on Kindle Scar
(illustrated by Sherborn in Rowe 1904). The cliffs to the south
of the belt expose the highest beds of the Burnham Chalk. The
base of the Flamborough Chalk reappears at High Stacks, on
the south side of Flamborough Head. The Burnham Chalk to
basal Flamborough Chalk section from Common Hole (round
the cheek of the south side of Selwicks Bay) to High Stacks was
described by Lamplugh (1896) and is summarised in Figure 4;
it is only accessible safely by boat.
2.3. Inland sections
Only a few inland exposures remain, some of which are
gradually being filled in. They are at Bainton Balk and
Langtoft (Whitham 1991, fig. 13), Beverley (Queensgate),
Ruston Parva, Nafferton Grange and Bessingby (Fig. 1). The
last two localities expose chalks higher than those visible on the
coast. Figure 1 also shows the apparent position of the highest
beds ever recorded, from a now infilled quarry at White Hill
[TA 167 696], and at East Leys Farm [TA 146 575] north-west
of Bridlington.
3. LITHOSTRATIGRAPHY
The name Flamborough Chalk Formation was proposed
(Wood & Smith 1978) for the highest, flintless chalk of the
Chalk Group. Its base is defined by the top of the High Stacks
Flint at High Stacks, Flamborough Head [TA 258 704] (Wood
& Smith 1978). This is a band of yellow-skinned, smooth grey
flint nodules 3 to 5cm thick (Fig. 5), which is also seen at Kindle
Scar on the north side of Selwicks Bay [TA 254 709].
The formation is characterised not only by the absence of
flint but by the presence of numerous marl bands
(approximately 193 in 195m of exposed chalk, equal to 1 per
1.01m). This is in marked contrast to the numbers in the three
lower formations (83 in a total of 215m, i.e. 1 per 2.59m). Many
of the marls are very thin but there are thicker (up to 12cm)
bands. Some of the latter are more complex, commonly
branching out into a series of fine marl plexi, or splitting into
twinned or triple bands. A number of the thicker, more
persistent marls provide good marker horizons and are named
here. Together with macrofossil horizons and some microfossil
evidence, they are used to correlate the coastal section with
inland exposures of the Flamborough Chalk. The splitting of
some of the marls complicates the correlation.
The total measured thickness of the Flamborough Chalk
from its base at High Stacks to Sewerby Steps is 165m. There
is probably a gap between the highest beds exposed at Sewerby
Steps and the 30m of higher beds exposed inland. Even higher
sequences were formerly exposed at White Hill and East Leys,
adding a further 20m. So the total thickness of the formation
exposed in the Flamborough area is over 215m. However,
boreholes in Holderness indicate that it may exceed 300m
beneath drift (Wood & Smith 1978), where it appears to be
overlain by another flinty chalk unit.

Danes
Dyke
Marls
-A- Blocks
on beach
Daneswood Marls Maidlands Marls West Nook M a r l s

Inoceramus lingua Z o n e Upper Hagenowia rostrata Zone

Marsupites testudinartus Zone Uintacrinus socialis Zone

SEWERBY DANES DYKE SOUTH LANDING MEMBERS

Fig. 2. Map of the coast south of Flamborough showing the position of the newly defined members and some of the marl-marker horizons in the
Flamborough Chalk Formation.
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238 F. WHITHAM

220' STRATI GRAPHICAL LOCATIONS KEY FAUNAL GROUPS

210
-2
o c
<=
0<B
200 = 3
m
Z w 3

< cm
i
1' P Nafferton Grange
5 F. 4cm u i
* _ Upper Marls
E. 3cm
DC Z
LU < 12 Nafferton Grange s L
r
III Q- D. 5cm
180- Middle Marl
C. 2cm
Nafferton Grange
LU < B. 2cm
Lower Marls I II
A. 2cm
O

6cm Sewerby Steps Marl

160-
item Sewerby Hall Marl

Oft
-1m Massive Sponge Bed
P
fX
O 140- 40 4cm Marton Hall Marl i p 1

ll
QC
CO LU
6cm Longwood Marl
GC
LU o -Sponge Beds

! f
120 5cm Daneswood Upper Marl
LU
4cm Daneswood Middle Marl
CO
9cm Daneswood Lower Marl < o

1 9

100

4cm Danes Dyke Upper Marl

X
3cm
(3 DC
2cm Danes Dyke Lower Marls
ZD
CO * L
80-
o LU
4cm
3cm
Maidlands Upper Marls
c

o 3
2cm
3cm Maidlands Lower Marls
3cm
CO
LU 3cm Hartendale Marl east
< 60- side of Hartendale Gutter 12
_J
*-> o 4cm Beacon Hill Farm Upper
>
Q 5cm Beacon Hill Farm Middle
8cm Beacon Hill Farm Lower
CO
LU <
Marls
fr E =

Z 3cm West Nook Marls

< CO 40.

Q
~ E
3cm East Nook Marl 9. = S
CD
3cm South Cliff Marl
20 2cm Twinning marls

D
_ILU
a. 10
a.
D 2cm High Stacks Marl f CO *
High Stacks Flint ^ iS

Composite succession through the Flamborough Chalk Formation, showing the main marl marker horizons, key faunal horizons and the
stratigraphical ranges of the various sections. Actual fossil occurrences are indicated by solid blocks; the fine vertical lines are for guidance
only and do not indicate the total range of the species.
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FLAMBOROUGH CHALK FORMATION 239

39"
STOTTLE BANK S E L W I C K S BAY
North side

CD
C
5cm chalk marl
C
35'
Thin marl
Estimated 1 2 ra
13 of chalk with
O many marl bands
CO in upper part
of cliff
d 1cm marl
LL

X
Thin marl
0 30'
20cm thin bedded
=> chalk and marl
o
DC 1 cm marl
O 0 2 cm chalk marl
00 Q.
Q. 1 Hardground
ZD Several beds of
massive chalk Laminate chalk
bed H I G H STACKS
Low tide
25- 1 cm marl 0.5cm thin flint High Stacks Flint
5 cm semi-tabu- sssx* assssas 3-5cm High 5cm Grey/yellow
lar flintOiighest) flint nodules
Stacks Flint
5 cm lenticular Flaggy hard chalk
Thin marl
flint
Thin tabular 10cm soft marl
Thin marl
flint band
3cm flints
15cm platey
Lenticular flints marly chalk
20' Echinocorys sp. Compact flaggy
Semi-tabular lumpy chalk
rl
fi-'i*r flints Some flints in
S E L W I C K S BAY Selwicks Bay
< Lenticular
flints
South s i d e
Small flint
<s iSh <sa nodules
Cliff base 5cm band ramose
DC Estimated 5 m palmate flints
O of flinty t)
LL Line of larger
15 chalk in upper*
flint nodules
cliff a
Inaccessible ~
Compact flaggy
and partly
chalk
obscured a.
Scattered flints
and occasional
gal-STO C E S S 3 cm semi- flint bands
CO
tabular flint
5 cm lentic- Line of flint
O 10
ular flints and flint in
c joints
0 Postulated S3a <eC9 csza 3 cm flints
CD stratigraphical
< CO level for this Thick bedded
X 2 cm marl
I part of the , chalk
<T.'.'-'.'.--
A Thin semitabu-
succession
lar flints to Many bands of
DC thin palmate
flints
4 cm flints
CD
. j y - ;ra * r ? r . ( 7 cm semi- 1 Compact chalk
tabular flint
4S& ^S5>
3 - ? cm tabular
flint
COMMON HOLE
2 2 3 ? C222& Carious flints
? Low t i d e
Selwicks Bay Flints
Double line of 6 cm
5S2? 3E0 lenticular flints
on t i d e
Sections across the flinty/flintless chalk boundary at Selwicks Bay [TA 254 709], Stottie Bank [TA 253 712] and High Stacks [TA 258 704]
Flamborough Head.
 Downloaded from http://pygs.lyellcollection.org/ at University of Leeds on November 12, 2016
240 F. WHITHAM
Chalk in the lower part of the formation (from High Stacks
to South Landing) is generally extremely hard and massive,
with the exception of some horizons where thin marls dissect
the chalk. The massive, hard beds are so resistant to erosion
that they were used in the walls of older buildings in the area.
The deep ravines at South Landing (approximately 3.2km west
of High Stacks) and Danes Dyke (about 1.2km farther west)
(Fig. 2) probably occur on faulted lines of weakness where
numerous marls and thinner bedded chalks appear in the
succession. This thinner bedded sequence is followed farther
west by a reversion to more thickly bedded, softer chalks with
many stylolitic planes. These three major lithological units
form the basis for introducing three new members within the
formation, namely the South Landing, Danes Dyke and
Sewerby members. All three names were used in a recent field
guide (Whitham in Rawson & Wright 1992, fig. 35) but the
units are formally defined here.
3.1. South Landing Member (new name)
Basal marker horizon. Top of the High Stacks Flint at shore
level, High Stacks, Flamborough Head [TA 258 704]. This is a
band of yellow-skinned, smooth grey flint nodules 3 to 5cm
thick (Fig. 5), which is also seen at Kindle Scar on the north
side of Selwicks Bay [TA 254 709].
The South Landing Member is about 26m thick, its base
coinciding with the base of the Flamborough Chalk. Through
most of the member there is little lithological variation, the
unit consisting of poorly fossiliferous (excepting Lamplugh's
fossil bed, noted below), hard white chalk, massively bedded
with thin marls occurring at an average frequency of 1 per 1.3m
(about 20 bands in 26m of beds). The marl frequency increases
upwards to form more thinly bedded chalk which grades into
the overlying Danes Dyke Member. Two of the thicker, more
prominent marls are formally named below.
The type section extends for about 3km from High Stacks to
South Landing ravine [TA 231 692], dipping to the west from
High Stacks for about 500m before levelling out near to
Cattlemere Scar [TA 256 699] (Fig. 2) and becoming almost
horizontal until within 400m of South Landing, beyond which
point the beds dip again at a low angle, bringing the highest
beds near to beach level close to the ravine. Lamplugh's (1895)
measurement of the overall thickness along this section is
confirmed here and some of his individual beds can be
recognised, including his 3-inch thick crushed chalk and marl
band (Fig. 5, SL 4). However, his higher, fossiliferous three-
bed sequence (6ft, 4ft 6in and 4ft 4in; totalling 4.52m)
"occupying the base of the cliff for one and a half miles from
East Nook to Cattlemere Scar" (Figs 2, 5) is recorded some 3
to 4m below the same bed sequence recognised by the present
author (Fig. 5, SL 15-17), which also follows the shoreline.
At present, there are few inland exposures in the South
Landing Member. In a quarry south of Langtoft [TA 012 661], on
the west side of the road, 7.5m of flintless chalk overlies about
8m of chalk with flints. A roadside section on the south-east
side of the road close to Langtoft Quarry may also exhibit part
of the member. It exposes flintless chalk which is almost
horizontal at the south end of the quarry, but folded and
brecciated at the northern end (see Rawson in Rawson &
Wright 1992). Higher beds of the member may be represented
also by the lowest 3-4m of beds (which contain a band of white
pseudo-flints) at Bracken Quarry, Bainton Balk (Whitham
1991, fig. 13), where the chalk is thinner, softer and more
fossiliferous than on the coast.
Marl-band marker horizons. Two persistent marl bands are
here named.
High Stacks Marl. A 2cm thick grey, silty marl (Fig. 5; SL 2)
occurring about 3.5m above the High Stacks Flint; represented
by a deep groove in the lower part of the cliff at High Stacks.
A further thin marl groove lies 0.95m below.
South Cliff Marl. A 3cm thick grey, silty marl (Fig. 5, SL 16)
occurring near the top of Lamplugh's fossil beds.
3.2. Danes Dyke Member (new name)
Basal marker horizon. Base of the 2 to 3cm East Nook Marl
(Fig. 6, DD 1), which occurs about 2.3m above the bottom of
the cliff on the west side of South Landing [TA 231 692] and
dips westwards down to shore level within a short distance of
the ravine. It may also be present in the highest part of the cliff
on the east side (Figs 5, 6). It is a grey, silty/chalky marl with a
sharp base.
The Danes Dyke Member is 66.7m thick and the type
section extends for about 1.5km from South Landing to Danes
Dyke (Fig. 2). There is a distinct lithological change from the
more massive bedding and exceptionally hard chalk
characteristic of the South Landing Member to the thinner
bedded sequences with more numerous marls that comprise
the lower and middle parts of the Danes Dyke Member. The
chalk is less hard than in the underlying member and is
composed of alternating beds of hard and softer, monotonous
chalks with a number of stylolitic horizons, reverting back to
more massive chalks in the upper part.
About 86 marls occur in the 66.7m section, giving an average
of 1 per 0.77m. The thicker, more persistent marls provide
useful markers and six are here named (Fig. 3). Two of the
most important groups, the Beacon Hill Farm Marls and the
Maidlands Marls, occur close to the lower and upper zonal
boundaries (Figs 6, 7). Nodules of marcasite are abundant at a
number of levels. Fossils are common in bands, otherwise the
fauna is sparse and of low diversity.
The Danes Dyke Member is much more difficult to log than
the underlying member because of numerous small faults,
several large cliff-falls and slips (one over 35m in length), the
widely varying thickness of individual chalk units and the
discontinuous nature of some of the marl bands, which tend
locally to develop into crush zones. Despite this, Lamplugh's
(1895) total thickness of 214ft 4in (65.39m) is remarkably close
to the 66.7m detailed here. However, it is very difficult to
recognise many of his individual beds, mainly because he
grouped together several sequences of thinner beds into more
massive units up to 15ft 8in (4.78m) in thickness, and did not
record several important marls. However, in the lowest 26m of
his succession, the basal marl (equivalent to the East Nook
Marl), several of his crushed chalk horizons and his 2in (5cm)
marl (?Beacon Hill Farm Lower Marl) can be recognised.
The thickness quoted by Rowe (1904) of 200ft (61.02m) for
the same section was 14ft 4in (4.37m) less than that given by
Lamplugh.
Marl-band marker horizons. A number of conspicuous marl
bands occur within the Danes Dyke Member and six of the
thicker, more persistent bands are here named as markers.
West Nook Marls [TA 227 691]. A group of three (DD 22-24)
grey, silty marls, each 2 to 3cm thick and 0.5m apart. The
lowest (DD 22) occurs 13.7m above the basal marker East
Nook Marl (DD 1) (see above).
Beacon Hill Farm Marls [TA 226 692]. These are the three
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FLAMBOROUGH CHALK FORMATION 241

SL G. westfalica westfalicaO)
Hagenowia blackmorei(20)
Inoceramus sp. ? pachtii
Actinocamax verus,sponges Estimated Boulder Clay
(? Lamplugh's fossil bed)
14 !\' to 4 cm marl at base
Inoceramus shell band
20-
Porosphaera globularis
1 5 cm crushed chalk band LU
exposed for 3 0 0 m at Estimated upper
- Cattlemere Hole part of cliff
CD 1 0 cm crushed chalk band
c Q
o - 30 -
N 1 cm marl
DC Verruculina sp
LU - 2 cm marl
CO CO
CD
LU
Z o This section may
LU

< c form part of west

Q CD side of landing
crj Gonioteuthis westfalica
-* O)
15"
CO westfalica ( 1 ) CO
^_
w
2T> Echinocorys sp. ( 1 ) < I 1 0 cm crushed chalk
and marl bed
CO
o
i_ O
z
z -
Q 25
Cliff section east
of South Landing
8 cm crushed chalk band
CD < Z
CD
Q.
Z
z _
1 0 cm crushed chalk band
< a
5
Uniillllililf 1 0 cm soft chalk bed
ID
o Echinocorys sp.
z 1
Gonioteuthis westfalica
CO
18

< z CO - Hagenowia blackmorei

westfalica ( 1 )
G. westfalica
1 0 cm crushed chalk band
<
CO o ? Lamplugh's 3 inch bed
westfalica ( 8 )
'South Cliff Marl
c 10-
( 3 cm) at base
0
D)
CO Echinocorys sp. (thin te,st)
I (1)
1 0 cm crushed chalk
band
-
i
i-
Very hard massive bedded
white chalk
oCO V
CD Fig. 5 .
Q.
The type section of the South Landing
o.
5- Member between High Stacks and South
\ 2 cm High Stacks Marl Landing, Flamborough Head. NOTE: on
this and subsequent figures, a number in
brackets after a fossil name refers to the
number of specimens.

M
a>
m -

High Stacks Flint

 Downloaded from http://pygs.lyellcollection.org/ at University of Leeds on November 12, 2016

242 F. WHITHAM

33 2 cm grey marl (2)

DD 44 Gonioteuthis granulata
32 2 cm grey marl
East side of large fall -Maidlands Lower Marls
below Beacon Hill near 3 cm grey marl
diorite block (? Rowe's 3 - 5 cm grey marl
block 1 9 0 4 ) . Gonioteuthis granulata
Thin marls
20-
CD Banded marly chalk
c
o
N
1 2 cm crushed chalk band <Z> Uintacrinus socialis
DC thin marl at base at 7 5 cm level
LU 18 cm crushed chalk band
(abundant)
00
^ 40.
LU DC
2 cm grey silty marl
LU Pseudoperna boucheroni
CD U. socialis,Sponges,
CD Inoceramus debris
3 cm
c Faulted sequence
- - 3 cm West Nook Marls LU o 61
CO U. socialis,
5 0 m east of Beacon N
*-> Echinocorys scutata
J 3 cm Hill cliff fall
CO
V- 15 Fault in cliff
-t> U. socialis
CO Echinocorys sp.
Platyceramus sp.
O 60
_ 2 - 3 cm Hartendale Marl
v_ expands to 1 0 cm complex
z Fault in cliff
1 0 cm crushed chalk band Inoceramus fragments
< Gonioteuthis granulata
KE

Echinocorys sp.
Z Thin marls
35 U. socialis,
> O -
Z Inoceramus fragments

Q h- 2 cm marl < Echinocorys planodoma,

z Fragmented shells
LU Verruculina sp.
<
CO CO
Cidarid spines
Uintacrinus socialis
C P
2 cm marl Q common

o 55 Sphenoceramus
10 >
c
CD
2 cm grey marls < pinniformis,
E. scutata ( 3 )
D) 5 Stylolitic bands CO 2 cm marls
CO Terebratula sp. U. socialis
I Porosphaera globularis 52
- 4 - 5 cm Beacon Hill
1 0 cm soft chalk and marl
Farm Upper Marl
bands Echinocorys sp.
CO 1 cm marls
o
LU Porosphaera globularis, 30
E. planodoma
Starfish ossicles
Gonioteuthis w. westfalica
<

Q Hagenowia blackmorei CO CO
- 5 cm Beacon Hill
Farm Middle Marl
5 bed sequence LU D
i_ Hagenowia blackmorei, Z C
i, U. socialis,Cidarid sp.
0 Inoceramus sp.,Cidarid sp. < i_
Q
Q. 3 cm chalky marl
O 1 0 cm chalk and marl
Q. 5- Hagenowia blackmorei
CO
3 Stylolitic bands c 3 - 1 0 cm crushed chalk
Porosphaera globularis
Pseudoperna boucheroni,

Hagenowia blackmorei,
5 U. socialis

Actinocamax verus Echinocorys sp.

1 cm marl twinning to 5 cm - 8 cm Beacon Hill
25- 39
Burrows Farm Lower Marl
O
z m
- 2 - 3 cm East Nook Marl
>
Q Uintacrinus socialis
Z .
Stylolitic bedding First appearance
<
_J E. scutata

CO Base South Landing west

Fig. 6. The type section of the Danes Dyke Member: (1) between South Landing west and the Maidlands Lower Marls horizon.
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FLAMBOROUGH CHALK FORMATION 243

70
Danes Dyke East
Estimated chalk at top
of cliff Estimated Boulder
Clay at top of
CD cliff
C
o 65 4i 68 -
N
Estimated chalk

_ Seen in upper cliff

east of Danes Dyke

DC CO
DDb
LU ZJ 86
00
85
CO
LU c
60
u
-t<
Isolated Marsupites
plates
CO 84 ~] 2-3 cm grey marls
0 85 j - Danes Dyke Lower Marls
82

Porosphaera globularis
Fragmented inoceramids
81
2-3 cm Twinning grey marl
Rare Marsupites plates

80 6 cm crushed chalk and marl

LU CO 79 11 cm chalk marly complex &
CD 78 twin thin marls
-ti 77
Verruculina sp.
a Porosphaera globularis
55
CO
< V
CO
First appearance
Rare Marsupites plates
CO
76 Thin marl develops into
4-5 cm marly chalk band

75 4 - 5 cm chalky marl
(? Rowe's 1 9 0 4 horizon)
CO 74
CO - Maidlands Upper Marls
LU CO
z
<5> Uintacrinus socialis
(Highest recorded by
< o
o 50
author)75cm above b/plane
2 5 0 m from Danes Dyke
Q CO
73 2 - 3 cm grey marl,silty
twinning up to 4 cm
Massive cliff slippage
extending 3 5 m
CO
Fig. 7 .
C
The type section of the Danes Dyke
Uintacrinus socialis Member: (2) from the Maidlands Lower
o 72
P. globularis,Cidarid Marls to Danes Dyke east.
CO 71 spines,Starfish ossicles
70

69 1 - 2 cm grey marl
5 Sponges
**5
 Downloaded from http://pygs.lyellcollection.org/ at University of Leeds on November 12, 2016

244 F. WHITHAM

SY SY Echinocorys sp.
Daneswood Middle Marl
Inoceramus lingua
4 - 5 cm grey marl, silty 44-

Large domed Echinocorys sp.

- G. granulataquadrata 3 cm grey marl
39
z Sponges
Echinocorys sp.
< 38
on

20 - 23 Verruculina sp. (thin tested)

N Inoceramus lingua
Z
<
Q_ Near 4 calcrete blocks(25m)
,Daneswood Lower Marl
to 22 /Top of Sponge Bed
9 cm grey marl and chalk
T P. boucheroni
< ( ? 3 inch marl of Rowe
Sponges
o c 1 9 0 4 and Lamplugh 1 8 9 5 )
(Sample 1 }
40.
TRIPLE CHALK AND
-t- MARL BEDS
Thin marl twinning to 5 cm
P. boucheroni,
Salenia granulosa
{K\ 53 03 / Band of Echinocorys sp. ( 5 ) Common sponges
~ Laosciadia plana
to 20 1 - 3 cm grey marl Amphithelion
DC Inoceramid shell Stichophyma tumidum
LU DC debris_G.granulataquadrata CO
am

Siphonia koenigi
19
DO LU 15 " Inoceramus lingua
< CD
Pachinion scriptum
0 Many fragmented
O Q_ c
inoceramid shells mainly Large domed
LU
o_ l
no

I. lingua Echinocorys sp (3)

Shell debris
< ^Longwood Marl
6 cm grey marl
Burrows
35. tSPONGE BIDS
18 4 thin marls in 2 0 cm band
(Rowe 1 9 0 4 )
Opposite 4 calcrete blocks
Highest Marsupites seen
Large influx of fragmented S. patootensis
17 I. lingua,two 2 cm marls cv ri r> / P. boucheroni
16 T M . testudmarius
15 G. granulataquadrata) S. pinniformis
CO
D A. verus (RQ=5.7)5 Marly complex
> \_ 10 .
14 > f\ C A P. boucheroni
Echinocorys sp
CD CO DC
DC c DC (large,thick test)

LU
"D LU LU G. granulataquadrata
Thin bedded chalk 30
"a
3 M. testudinarius common
Asteroid ossicles
-
LU CO LU Thin bedded crushed
Pseudoperna boucheroni
CO 0 CO chalk and marl
13 1 - 5 cm grey marl (Fault) 30 Sponges
z 12 1 0 cm crushed chalk & marl

<

11 5 cm chalk and marl band

Small sponges
Base of Sponge Beds
z

o
y
z 5.
10
9
Marsupites plates
Shell fragments

<
CO
8 Thin marls
29
G. granulataquadrata
Daneswood Upper Marl
7 5 cm grey marl near
6 | Marsupites, shell debris
to 2 calcrete blocks
0 S 2 cm grey marl S. pinniformis
5
4
S. pinniformis
up

to 25 G. granulataquadrata
Marsupites on beach scars (large specimen RQ=)
CO Sponge 5.2)
Marly chalk
2 3-k cm grey marl(triple in
2 cm grey marl
parts)
X < Danes Dyke Upper Marl
1 Thin marls
\ k cm grey chalky,marly
band
d Base Danes Dyke West

The type section of the Sewerby Member: (1) from Danes Dyke west to the Marton Hall Marl. This section includes the main Sponge Beds.
 Downloaded from http://pygs.lyellcollection.org/ at University of Leeds on November 12, 2016

FLAMBOROUGH CHALK FORMATION 245

SY
61

Boulder Clay
65- 60 -
Thin marls
59
Offaster pilula
Crushed green coated
Cardiotaxis sp. ( 6 )
Large Orbirhynchia sp.(3)
Echinocorys sp. (1)
Sewerby Hall Marl SY

58 '
4-5 cm Grey chalky marl N
(Sample 2 ) z CO"
- -
CD < CO Upper section
c 57 1 cm grey marl twinning
>
CD z
13
CO
above steps beds
beds partly covered
o to 1 0 cm apart

I
70 -
N

ER

odo
PA
56 G. granulataquadrata ( 1 )
z Shore level Sewerby Steps
Sphenoceramus patootensis, c
<
60- Cidarid spines
Thin marl twinning to 6cm LU 15
DC 55
< Q
LU z Large Orbirhynchia sp. CO o
CD Porosphaera globularis
< L. 63 Sewerby Steps Marl
Up to 6 cm brown
62
clayey marl
ME

(Sample J>)
AM

- Inoceramus lingua
I, lobatus
Crushed chalk bed
Q
Beach platform east side
5^ of cliff fall

-
ua

55
Near large fault
c 55- Hagenowia sp. recorded
(S. Mitchell 1 9 9 2 ) ( 2 0 )
52
Laosciadia plana,Siphonia
>
CD
koenigi & Amphithelion sp.
I. lingua. This bed extends
DC about 100m forming shore line
LU 51 1 0 cm crushed marly chalk
DC 1 0 - 1 5 crushed chalk bed
Rare sponges
lii LU
CO - Glyptoxoceras sp. ( 2 )
50
O 2 - 4 cmg r
y ye y c l a e n l a r l s

_i 49
Rare sponges
to - 48 Thin bedded chalk
D
E
Terebratula sp.
I . lingua
crj 50- 47
i_ 1-3 grey clayey marl
CD Inoceramid debris,Cidarid
O spines
O 46 I. lingua
c 1 cm marl
45

44 2 cm marl (Large Fault)

- 43
42 2 cm grey marl
> 41 Q. granulataquadrata

z
Inoceramid shells Fig. 9.
4 cm grey silty Marl The type section of the Sewerby Member:
40 .Marton Hall Marl

9 Echinocorys sp. ( 2 )
(2) from the Marton Hall Marl to
45. Sewerby Steps.
Terebratula sp.Sponges
 Downloaded from http://pygs.lyellcollection.org/ at University of Leeds on November 12, 2016
246
thickest and most prominent marls in the member, occurring
over a 5.8m sequence below Beacon Hill Farm (Fig. 6), not to
be confused with the Beacon Hill Marl of Wood & Smith
(1978). The lowest, thickest marl (DD 39) is 8cm thick, dark
grey, silty and has a fairly sharp base. It locally expands to
12cm with inclusions of thin chalk lenses. The middle marl
(DD 48), up to 5cm thick, is brown and silty with a sharp base,
and occurs about 3.9m above the lower marl. The upper marl
(DD 52), about 1.9m higher, is 4 to 5cm thick, green-brown
and unctuous, with a fairly sharp base.
Hartendale Marl. A 2 to 3cm thick grey silty marl (DD 60)
expanding into a 10cm chalk and marl complex. Well seen
2.5m above the shore on the east side of the gutter [TA 2215
6920].
Maidlands Lower Marls. A group of three over 1,4m (DD 6 5 -
68), grey, chalky marls with a sharp base. The lowest (DD 65)
is up to 5cm thick, the middle and upper are 3 and 2cm thick.
These occur near to a small headland 300m west of Hartendale
Gutter [TA 219 692].
Maidlands Upper Marls. [TA 2185 6920]. A pair of marls, the
lower (DD 73) 2 to 3cm thick, grey, silty and twinning up to
4cm. The upper marl is 2.6m higher, 4 to 5cm thick, chalky and
gradational.
Danes Dyke Lower Marls [TA 2165 6920]. A group of three
(DD 82-84), each 2 to 3cm thick, pale grey, silty and partly
gradational. These occur near the base of the cliff just east of
Danes Dyke.
3.3. Sewerby Member (new name)
Basal marker horizon. Base of the Danes Dyke Upper Marl
[TA 2155 6915], a 3 to 4cm thick, grey, chalky marl near the
base of the cliff on the west side of Danes Dyke (Fig. 8, marl
SY 1). It may be present also in the higher part of the cliff on
the east side (Fig 7).
The Sewerby Member extends along the coast from the west
side of Danes Dyke ravine for about 1.5km to approximately
300m beyond Sewerby Steps [TA 202 687], dipping to the
south-west (Figs 8, 9). The section terminates at the well
known Sewerby Buried Cliff section (Lamplugh 1888; Rawson
in Rawson & Wright 1992), but higher beds are exposed
inland, at Nafferton Grange and Bessingby.
3.3.1. The Sewerby section
The section from the west side of Danes Dyke to Sewerby
exposes the top lm of the Danes Dyke Member, overlain by
71.5m of Sewerby Member chalk. The same section was
measured by Lamplugh (1895) as 239ft 4in (73.02m) and by
Rowe (1904) as 241ft 7in (73.7m). The base of the Sewerby
Member is marked by the appearance of thinly bedded chalks
with many stylolites. More massive, harder chalks appear
higher up, interspaced with some softer, thinner-bedded
sequences, the latter occurring more commonly in the Sponge
Beds. Massive bedding predominates in the sequence above
the Sponge Beds, where some laminated chalk horizons occur.
A lm thick, massive bed, packed with sponges, occurs about
18m below the top of the section. Stylolitic surfaces are less
numerous in these upper beds than lower in the member.
A number of small faults dissect the chalk and, as in the
underlying member, the beds thicken and thin irregularly
adding to the difficulty in logging an accurate section. About
63 marls are present in the 71.5m of chalk giving an average
frequency of 1 per 1.13m. They include a number of thicker
F. WHITHAM
marls (up to 9cm) at a frequency higher than that encountered
in the lower members.
Marl-band marker horizons. Seven of the thickest and most
persistent marls are here named as distinctive markers (Figs 3,
8, 9).
Daneswood Lower Marl [TA 213 690]. A 9cm thick grey, silty,
sharp-based marl (SY 22) with compacted marly chalk. It
occurs 17m above the basal marker Danes Dyke Upper Marl
(SY 1) (see above), about 200m west of Danes Dyke. It is
believed to be the 3-inch marl of Rowe (1904) near to four
seaweed-covered blocks (which are still present on the shore).
The marl reaches beach level 25m west of the blocks.
Daneswood Middle Marl [TA 2128 6900]. A 4-5cm thick grey,
fairly compact, silty, chalky marl (SY 25) with a sharp base. It
reaches beach level about 25m west of the lower marl near to
two calcrete blocks.
Daneswood Upper Marl [TA 2125 6900]. A 5cm thick grey,
clayey marl (SY 29) with a sharp base. It reaches shore level
35m west of the middle marl close to two further calcrete
blocks. The main Sponge Beds commence about 1.5m above
this marl.
Longwood Marl [TA 2095 6890]. A 6cm thick grey, sharp-
based marl (SY 34) with silt and compacted clay. It occurs in
the upper part of the Sponge Beds, and is overlain by three
distinctive bands of chalk and marl (SY 35-37) over 2m.
Marton Hall Marl [TA 208 688]. A 4cm thick sharp-based, silty
grey marl (SY 40). Lying nearer to Sewerby Steps than to
Danes Dyke.
Sewerby Hall Marl [TA 2017 6866]. A 4-5cm thick light grey
marl and crushed chalk (SY 58), with a tendency to develop
into a chalky marl locally. Seen below and to the east of
Sewerby Steps.
Sewerby Steps Marl [TA 2015 6865]. Up to 6cm thick brown
clayey marl (SY 63), with sharp base. Occurs half way up the
steps.
3.3.2. Inland exposures
Only two inland sections remain that can be compared with the
Sewerby Cliff sequence, but two others show beds higher than
any exposed on the coast.
At Queensgate Quarry, Beverley [TA 021 383] (pit no. 30 of
Wright & Wright 1942), the lowest 29m of beds are assigned to
the Danes Dyke Member while the top 8.5m are tentatively
assigned to the Sewerby Member. It is difficult to correlate this
section with the coastal sequence because of the lack of
comparative lithological features. The proposed boundary
between the members shown in Figure 10 is based on the
relative position of some of the marl horizons and to some
extent on the macrofauna, with supporting microfaunal
evidence. A comparative analysis by M. J. Home (University
of Hull) of microfaunas from the 5cm marl QG 3 from
Queensgate (Fig. 10) and the 4~5cm Maidlands Upper Marl
D D 75 on the coast (Fig. 7) suggests that the two marls can be
correlated. Both have a similar ratio of planktonic and
agglutinated foraminifera; Ammodiscus and small, smooth
Marsupites plates are common to both. As on the coast, the
part of the section just above marl QG 3 exhibits thinner
bedding with a number of marl horizons. The beds beneath
consist of medium hard, white, massive chalk.
Lowthorpe Quarry, Ruston Parva (Fig. 11) [TA 070 615],
exposes about 30m of massive chalk with numerous marl
 Downloaded from http://pygs.lyellcollection.org/ at University of Leeds on November 12, 2016

FLAMBOROUGH CHALK FORMATION 247

C. Triple thin marls

B. ? Danes Dyke Lower
A. Marls
13-15 QG,
Marsupites testudinarius
oo loose plates
D ft 1 2
Thinly bedded rubbly chalk
i_
40.
with marl in 2 5 c m band
ro 11 Boulder
C 20-
Clays
XI
1 0 c m rubbly chalk bed with -
D
w Gonioteuthis granulata
i/i 10 LU
<U CO
-j
Thin marl
9 Z QG
I 1 1
1.1 *

Z
OO
Yellow stained thinly
111
<U Sj} 0 . 5 c m marls bedded chalk
CO *- Gonioteuthis granulata
Z Q_
lJ Gonioteuthis granulata
3 0 . 5 c m marls
LU Large broken shells
OO Band of Echinocorys Inoceramus sp.
z var. elevatus,Small smooth
35-
Thin marly chalk bed
ro
15 plated Marsupites calyx, Sphenoceramus
z E. s. tectiformis pinniformis, I.lingua,
- I. (Platyceramus) sp.
>-
Echinocorys scutata
CD
z tectiformis (large) ,
Gap. Upper quarry floor CC Sponges (oxide films)
LU
< OO

<u
B. 5cm marl, Marsupites
plates in marl z
Z LU

oh - Chalk with wispy

up

OO
< 00
26
marls
LU -? Maidlands Upper Marls
z z re -

>- o <U <

oo
z 25

Q r c 30. 0.5cm marls

z O
10 .
N
J
A. 1cm marl
< 22

-? Danes Dyke Upper

21
Marl

Massive hard white chalk
00 Massive white chalk
KE

ro
>-
O Q
1cm marl ? Maidlands
oo 00
Lower Marls (top)
1 1 1
111
20
Thin marls
z oo
< 25"
Q 5 "
LU

z Thin marls
00

D < 2cm marl

C Massive hard white chalk
i_ - Thin marls
U Marsupites complete
ro calyces,Gonioteuthis
4-)
granulata , A . verus
c
D

0*
v -

V Fig. 1 0 . The section at Queensgate Quarry, Beverley, showing marl

horizons that apparently correlate with those on the coastal
section.
 Downloaded from http://pygs.lyellcollection.org/ at University of Leeds on November 12, 2016

248 F. WHITHAM

R P f\ RP Soil and chalk

rubble
Thin marls

1 AN
30 - 3cm marl
Thinly bedded chalk 38 ) (Sample 6 )
1cm.Marl ro
25
3 -
OS

PAN
1cm marl spreading up to
20' 7cm triple marl c
V

E R BY
J 3
Thin twinning marls

CAM
37
1cm Twinning marl
"22 36
Thin marl
1cm marl
Triple marl over 7cm
21
Triple marl over 6cm
"20
Thin marls 11 i & 1cm marl
in .32
c "19
3
Sphenoceramus
pinniformis
o If 2cm marl
a: 31

1 n oc e r a m
N 25 " 0 . 5 c m marl
z LU
30
Thin triple marl

< 4 cm marl

LOW
1? 3cm marl
OC 29
15
LU
CO < 2cm marl - 28
Thin marl
Z Q_ & 16
Inoceramus lingua
UJ z ? Glyptoxoceras sp.
Large domed Echinocorys sp.
< 1*
1cm marl
u 1cm marl
14
1cm marl
13

\ 2cm twinning marl

rO 12

c (Sample 5 )
Inoceramus lingua
10 . 2cm marls
Inoceramus lingua
>-
A .
CO
Inoceramus lingua

LU
a:
3cm marl
UJ
UJ
i/5

O
\ 1 c m marl

1cm marl

1 . 5 c marl
Fig. 11.
1cm marl The section at Lowthorpe Quarry,
Ruston Parva. The suggested correlation
of this section with the Sewerby Member
on the coast is shown in Figure 12.
6 c m marl
(Sample 4)
Triple thin marls
over 40cm
 Downloaded from http://pygs.lyellcollection.org/ at University of Leeds on November 12, 2016

FLAMBOROUGH CHALK FORMATION 249

72 .
c
o Echinocorys (globose sp.)
4cm, marl 2cm marl
N Inoceramus (Cataceramus)

-
balticus.'I. lingua 4cm marl 2 - 2 c m marls
Sphenoceramus patootensis, 1cm marl
Radially ribbed sp. ? S. 3cm marl
0 . 5 c m marl
steenstrupi.,Echinocorys ?'
(tall conical sp.) 1.5cm marl

BESSINGBY
O
O 6o-
C \ 5 c m marl
Band of Echinocorys sp. ? pyramidata n.sp.

2 - 2 c m marl

1 . 5 c m marl

z
o x:
a.
2 - 2 c m marls

ro
< LU
u
2cm marl
o
z u

o SEWERBY NAF FERTON

o Cliff Top GRANGE

6 c m Sewerby
40 Steps Marl

4 c m Sewerby
Hall Marl
3cm marl
2cm marl
1 cm marl
c
z o 1cm marl
< N
1 cm marl
3cm marl
z 1cm marl
<
Q_ 1 to 7 c m marly
1 cm
LU
z ro
marl complex
Postulated comparative
CO
< 3
- horizon with the
u 00
c 2cm marl
2 c m marl
Sewerby Cliff section
4 cm marl
20 4 c m MartonHall
2cm marl
Marl
Thin marls 2-1cm marls

3cm marl Twin 2cm marls

2 - 2 c m marls 2-2cm marls

3cm marl
1 to 5 c m marl
2 c m marl
Top of Sponge 1.5cm marl
o Bed

6cm Longwood 6cm marl

Marl

RUST ON
PARVA

Fig. 12. The approximate correlation of the Ruston Parva section with Sewerby Cliff, and the Nafferton Grange sequence with Bessingby.
 Downloaded from http://pygs.lyellcollection.org/ at University of Leeds on November 12, 2016
250 F. WHITHAM
bands, broadly similar to the higher beds of the Sewerby
section. However, detailed correlation is difficult. The shell
beds at the base of the lingua Zone at Sewerby and the main
Sponge Beds appear to be absent, although less common
sponges and Inoceramus lingua Goldfuss do occur. Mr M. J.
Home has compared the microfauna of the thickest marl at
Ruston Parva, the 6cm RP 4 (Fig. 11), with that of the 6cm
Longwood Marl (SY 34) at Sewerby. They have very different
ratios of planktonic and agglutinated foraminifera. A 4cm marl
at Ruston Parva (RP 17) was compared with the 4cm and 2cm
Sewerby Marls (SY 40, SY 41; Fig. 9). They contained virtually
no planktonic foraminifera and benthic genera occurred in
different ratios.
Despite the inconclusive foraminiferal evidence, the
marked lithological similarity, nannofloral evidence and the
absence of the major macrofossil bands (Inoceramus lingua
and Sponge Beds) at Ruston Parva, all indicate that the
sequence there correlates with the beds between the Sponge
Beds and the Sewerby Steps Marl on the coast (Fig. 12). This
supports Wright & Wright's (1942) interpretation of the
sequence. They had disputed Rowe's (1904) belief that it
represented the highest chalk in Yorkshire. He had assigned it
to the quadrata chalk (equivalent to high in the lingua Zone of
this paper) because of the depth of the alveolus of the
belemnites found there. However, it seems probable that
Rowe was referring to a different section. He referred to a
quarry (his pit 33) half a mile north of the church on the 150ft
(45.7m) contour, the position of which cannot be recognised
now. The present section (equivalent to pit 97 of Wright &
Wright 1942) lies south-east of the village on the 30m contour.
So Rowe's (1904) quarry could have exposed higher beds with
a more advanced form of Gonioteuthis with deeper alveolus
(see section 5.).
The highest beds of the Sewerby Member are those
containing Scaphites. They include the uppermost 3-4m of
chalk exposed on the coast above the base of the Sewerby
Steps Marl. Inland exposures of beds higher than those seen on
the coast are very limited so that it is difficult to establish a
sequence. The numerous pits detailed by Rowe (1904) and
Wright & Wright (1942) are no longer extant, and only
Nafferton Grange and Bessingby remain.
At Nafferton Grange Quarry [TA 049 611), 17km south-
west of Sewerby, the chalk fades in the lower part is similar to
that seen at Ruston Parva and in the highest beds on the coast,
although there is no sign of the Sewerby Steps Marl. At
Nafferton the chalk is generally fairly hard and massive, apart
from a thinly bedded 2m sequence in the middle part and a
softer, thinner series of beds near the top of the exposure
(Fig. 13). The 25m section is divided by a series of 20 marls
including nine which are 2cm and more in thickness. Most of
the marls are compacted, hard silty bands, grey-brown in
colour, with distinctive sharp top and basal bedding planes.
The middle, 5cm thick marl (NG 12) is a grey, compacted silty
marl set in finely laminated, banded chalks; it has a fairly sharp
base.
Belemnites from the basal part of the quarry have an
alveolus depth of 18mm, which is marginally deeper (by about
2mm) than in specimens from the highest coastal chalk,
suggesting a slightly higher horizon at Nafferton, with a minor
gap between the two sections. Nannofloral analysis of selected
marl samples from Nafferton suggests that the chalk there is
younger than the Sewerby Steps Marl at Sewerby.
Bessingby Quarry, near Bridlington [TA 164 699] (Fig. 14),
is poorly exposed and mostly overgrown, with the exception of
a small exposure on the north side of the pit. This shows a
similar lithofacies to that seen at the top of Nafferton Quarry,
but with more creamy coloured chalk in the upper part. The
sequence consists of about 8m of fairly soft and generally thinly
bedded chalks with a number of thin marl bands. Nannofloral
evidence suggests that a 2cm grey-brown, hard, compacted
silty marl (BY 6) about 6m above the base correlates with marl
NG 20 at the top of the Nafferton section.
Temporary trench sections were made in 1985/6 during the
construction of the new Bridlington and District General
Hospital [TA 166 670], about 400m to the north-west of
Bessingby Quarry and lying on the same contour line. They
exposed 3.5m of chalk (Fig. 14), thinly bedded with several
thin marls in the upper part and more thickly bedded at the
base. This correlates with beds in the upper part of the quarry
and there is a similar fauna, including common scaphitids and
inoceramids.
Higher beds were formerly exposed to the north of
Bridlington, at White Hill [TA 168 696], White Hill Reservoir
[TA 165 713] (pits 109 and 112 of Wright & Wright 1942) and
East Leys Farm [TA 146 575] (pit 110). All these exposures are
now filled in.
4. BIOSTRATIGRAPHY
4.1. Flamborough Chalk Formation faunas
The ranges of the more important species occurring in the
Flamborough Chalk are summarised in Figure 3. Some
elements of the fauna are less diverse than in the lower
formations. Brachiopods are not common with only two or
three species of small rhynchonellids and rare small
terebratulids. Inoceramid bivalves (mostly fragmentary) are
very common at certain horizons and 11 species are recognised
(including two left in open nomenclature) although some beds
yield many broken shells which are not determinable. This
small number of species is in marked contrast to the 30 or more
found in the three underlying formations. There are several
long-ranging forms in the Flamborough Chalk, including
Sphenoceramus pinniformis (Willett), S. patootensis (de
Loriol) and Inoceramus lingua. The fewer overall number of
species and the smaller number of short-ranged forms limits
the stratigraphical value of inoceramids here.
In the upper rostrata Zone, Hagenowia blackmorei Wright
& Wright (a small, thin-tested echinoid with a slender
extended rostrum, formerly misidentified as the larger
Hagenowia rostrata (Forbes)) is restricted to several bands
spread over about 10m in the middle of the zone. Rare
examples reappear in higher zones: Rowe (1904) recorded it
from the socialis, testudinarius and lower lingua Zones, and
Wright & Wright (1942) noted a further specimen from the
binodosus Subzone at East Leys Farm pit (Pit 110). More
recently, S. Mitchell of Liverpool University (pers. comm.
1992) has found Hagenowia sp. (yet to be determined) in the
lingua Zone at Sewerby (Fig. 9). The crinoids Uintacrinus and
Marsupites are also limited to certain levels and are absent in
parts of their respective zones.
Sponges are common, especially in the Flamborough
Sponge Beds. In contrast, ammonites are rare, except in the
higher beds where scaphitids are common. Belemnite
occurrences are discussed in section 5.
 Downloaded from http://pygs.lyellcollection.org/ at University of Leeds on November 12, 2016

FLAMBOROUGH CHALK FORMATION 251

Boulder Clay and

NG 'Sphenoceramus patootensis 00
chalk rubble
Sphenoceramus steenstrupi z <L>
4-> 25 '
Echinocorys sp.(tall tested CO
< Thinly bedded chalk
conical example) cC z -1= Terebratula sp.
Q_ Verruculina sp.
/ T E, 3cm Nafferton Grange L U < ra

Dis cose;
1 G.5cm marl (Sample 3)
L Upper Marl Group

L.C AMP
I.lingua Baculites sp.
Inoceramus (Cataceramus)
v
-N.Grange Upper Marls
balticus v
L U
20- Echinocorys sp.(globose)
OO -
Sponges s
v
Scaphites inflatus
F. h cm marl
1 . 5 c m marl
-
Scaphites inflatus
c loose on scree
o
N - Upper working level
ro

Discoscaphites binodosus
c S . patootensis,I. lingua
Orbirhynchia sp.

z
- 1 c m marls
< (LI
c
BE

o
z N
15" (Sample 2 )
Rare Gonioteuthis quadrata
ub

z
PA

Dm 5cm Nafferton Grange

L U uo Middle Marl.Micraster schroederi
Z
z Hand of Echinocorys (? early
pyramidata), M. plyphus sp.
< 11
u Thinly bedded chalks
I. lingua,Orbirhynchia sp.
Echinoid spines,Sponges,
Iron nodules, I. lobatus
- 2cm marl
uo 10
uo
2cm marl
o -
9
-o
o
\ 6 Discoscaphites binodosus

c Middle working level

10'
_ D

1 . 5 c m marl

Iron nodules

>-
CO
L U
a: I. lobatus
L U
$ 1/5
S.
I.
patootensis,!. lingua
(C) balticus,Sponges
O
<L>
C. 2cm marl
L U

oo _ C -
C l
ro B. Nafferton Grange
4 - LowerMarls 2cm
U
CO
5
O
u
00

Lower working level

Q Fig. 13.
I.lingua,C.balticus,
Rare Gonioteuthis quadrata
The section at Nafferton Grange Quarry,
Echinocorys pyramidata near Nafferton, Driffield. This is the best
A. S. patootensis exposure of the Discoscaphites binodosus
(Sample 1 ) Subzone.
T

Sponges (oxide films)

o>
Large radial species
 Downloaded from http://pygs.lyellcollection.org/ at University of Leeds on November 12, 2016
252 F. WHITHAM
4.2. Upper Hagenowia rostrata Zone
The lower (flinty) rostrata Zone (Burnham Chalk Formation)
was described by Whitham (1991). The main exposures of the
upper (flintless) rostrata Zone are on the coast at Flamborough
Head, where they extend from the base of the Flamborough
Chalk at High Stacks (Fig. 5) westward for about 3.5km to
Beacon Hill [TA 226 692], approximately 500m west of South
Landing (Fig. 6). The lowest 13m are also exposed on the north
side of Selwicks Bay [TA 254 709] (Fig. 4). Rowe (1904)
combined the measurements made by Lamplugh (1895) for the
High Stacks to South Landing section (including cliff
estimates) with his own measurements from South Landing to
Beacon Hill to give a total thickness for the upper rostrata
Zone of 161ft 6in (49.27m). This compares with 46m in the
present work. South Landing effectively separates the zone
into two halves.
Fossils are scarce, usually being confined to specific
horizons, and the faunas are of low diversity. Small fossils,
including the first Hagenowia blackmorei, are fairly common
at one level in a bed just above marl band SL 15 (Fig. 5) which
lies almost horizontal along the shoreline for about 2km equi-
distant between High Stacks and South Landing (Lamplugh
1895). A little higher in the sequence a band of mostly crushed
Echinocorys sp. occurs about 2.5m above beach level where
the bedding is horizontal, then dips down to shore level near
the east side of the Landing.
Several species occur only rarely in the lower half of the
sequence (to South Landing) including poorly preserved small
terebratulids, Orbirhynchia pisiformis Pettitt, Sphenoceramus
pinniformis and Sphenoceramus sp. (?pachtii (Archangelsky)).
The coral Parasmilia is fairly common and a number of
sponges occur. The latter are generally not as well preserved as
those from higher in the formation, but include extremely
common Porosphaera globularis (Phillips). Micraster appears
to be extremely rare. Although Rowe (1904) recorded
fragments of M. coranguinum (Leske) none has been seen by
the author. Echinocorys and Hagenowia (mostly distorted) are
the only complete echinoids to be found, whereas Cidaris is
represented by spines alone. Gonioteuthis westfalica westfalica
(Schliiter) is fairly common at several horizons (Fig. 5),
together with rare Actinocamax verus Miller. Outlines of very
large ammonites (?Parapuzosid) have been seen on the beach
platform (following exposure by storms) opposite South
Landing ravine.
The upper 23m of upper rostrata Zone chalk are exposed
west of South Landing. In the lowest 8m of these beds several
further bands of Hagenowia blackmorei occur (Fig. 6), the
highest apparently marking the upper limit of the range of this
species within the zone. A false impression of its abundance
and range is given by minor faulting which lifts and lowers its
horizon for some distance along the shoreline.
The remainder of the fauna in these higher beds is restricted
to rare brachiopods, Gonioteuthis westfalica westfalica, Actino-
camax verus, thick-tested Echinocorys sp., fragmented
inoceramid shells and sponges. The sponges are in most cases
better preserved than in the lower beds and include
Amphithelion, small varieties of Laosciadia plana (Phillips),
Siphonia koenigi (Mantell), Stichophyma tumidum (Hinde)
and abundant Porosphaera globularis.
Inland exposures occur in the lower part of the sequence at
Bracken Quarry, Bainton Balk, and in the upper part of
Langtoft Quarry. At Bainton, several layers of Sphenoceramus
pinniformis occur in association with fragmented Inoceramus
sp. (?digitatus J. de C. Sowerby non Schliiter). A species
apparently close to Inoceramus (Cataceramus) balticus Bdhm
is present in the upper beds. Other fossils include early
examples of Echinocorys scutata tectiformis Griffith &
Brydone (commonly hollow), Gonioteuthis westfalica-
granulata (Stolley), Orbirhynchia pisiformis, Acutostrea
boucheroni (Woods non Coquand), Porosphaera globularis
and unidentified sponges. Langtoft Quarry yields E. scutata
tectiformis, P. globularis, Terebratulina striatula (Mantell) and
Inoceramus sp.
4.3. Uintacrinus socialis Zone
The basal boundary of the socialis Zone lies at the base of the
55cm chalk bed about 2m below the Beacon Hill Farm Lower
Marl (Fig. 6; DD 39). The zonal index first appears in this bed,
which overlies a 20cm chalk bed enclosed between two thin
marl bands. This horizon is clearly seen on the west side of the
huge cliff fall below Beacon Hill [TA 226 692]. It corresponds
approximately to the boundary quoted by Rowe (1904), who
located it in relation to some marl bands and also to a lm cube
of diorite on the white scars. Such a block is still present on the
shore slightly east of Beacon Hill (Fig. 6, at 20m level), but
may not be in the same position now.
The socialis Zone is about 29m thick on the coast, compared
with Rowe's measurement of 87ft 5in (26.67m). In the past the
section between Danes Dyke and South Landing was one of
the very few in England to yield complete calyces of
Uintacrinus socialis Grinnell. It is now impossible, because of
over-collecting, to find complete specimens in the accessible
lower part of the cliffs. Isolated plates are abundant at some
horizons, and small groups of plates, up to ten or more
(possibly all forming part of the same individual) can be seen
on air-weathered surfaces. The abundance of plates gradually
diminishes up the zone; the highest plate was found 1.6m
below the top (Fig. 7; believed to be about the same horizon
indicated by Rowe 1904). Although U. socialis is common on
the coast it is comparatively rare in the few inland exposures,
except at Bainton where it is fairly common in the highest beds
there.
A bed of fragmented inoceramids occurs about 2.5m above
the Hartendale Marl (Fig. 6; DD 60) and reaches the beach a
short distance to the west of Hartendale Gutter. Although
difficult to extract, the fragments appear to be allied to
Sphenoceramus pinniformis, a species which first appears in
the higher part of the upper rostrata Zone and ranges up to a
few metres below the base of the binodosus Subzone at
Sewerby Steps. Two thick-tested morphotypes of Echinocorys
occur, one slightly flat-topped but otherwise like E. scutata,
the other displaying a higher, less ovate and almost straight-
sided test, identified as E. planodoma. Both species occur at
the 30 to 34m level (Fig. 6). The remainder of the fauna
includes some well preserved sponges as listed for the previous
zone, Orbirhynchia pisiformis, Pseudoperna boucheroni
(Coquand), Parasmilia globularis and P. sp. Gonioteuthis
westfalicagranulata is fairly common at specific horizons.
Actinocamax verus occurs rarely.
The lowest beds of the socialis Zone form the upper part of
Bracken Quarry, Bainton Balk. The upper beds are
apparently represented by the lowest 13m of chalk at
Queensgate Quarry, Beverley (Fig. 10). The latter beds are
almost barren and despite a careful search no Uintacrinus
plates have been found, suggesting a comparison with the
highest part of the zone on the coast. This is confirmed by the
discovery immediately above (just above marl QG 4) of a
 Downloaded from http://pygs.lyellcollection.org/ at University of Leeds on November 12, 2016

FLAMBOROUGH CHALK FORMATION 253

single complete, smooth-plated calyx of Marsupites indicating
the succeeding testudinarium Zone (see 4.4. below).
4.4. Marsupites testudinarius Zone
The zone is characterised by the occurrence of isolated plates
and rare complete calyces of M. testudinarius (Schlotheim).
Rare, isolated plates first appear in the chalk bed overlying the
basal marker of the zone, the Maidlands Upper Marls (Fig. 7;
DD 75). This marl is exposed about 270m to the east of Danes
Dyke [TA 2185 6920] and is thought to be the same horizon as
that identified by Rowe (1904) as the base of the zone.
It is difficult to give an exact thickness for the zone due to the
extended gap in the cliff section at Danes Dyke and the
distortions within the beds on the west side of the Dyke. This
area effectively separates the zone into two halves.
Measurements taken from the base of the zone up to, and
including, the cliff section on the east side of Danes Dyke
(Fig. 7) total about 13.5m. There are a further 12.5m on the
west side up to the highest recorded specimens of Marsupites
which occur just above the first influx of fragmented
inoceramid shells (a conspicuous feature near the four
seaweed-covered blocks of Rowe 1904; Fig. 8). This gives a
total of approximately 26m. The overall measurement given by
Rowe (1904) for his Marsupites Zone was 120ft 7in (36.79m);
this thickness included 22ft 7in (6.89m) of contorted chalk
which may have been overstated. His measurement of 42ft 6in
(12.96m) for the west side of the Dyke compares well with the
author's measurement (12.5m). However, Rowe's measure-
ments of 56ft lin (17.11m) for the section east of the Dyke
exceed the author's figure by 3.61m. It is not known where the
discrepancy lies as Rowe did not publish a detailed section.
Calycinal plates of the zonal index occur sparingly within the
lower part of the zone up to Danes Dyke. Other fossils are not
common there, being restricted to sporadic squashed Echino-
corys, rare examples of Gonioteuthis granulata (Blainville),
Orbirhynchia pisiformis, Porosphaera globularis, poorly
preserved sponges, and sparse beds of inoceramid debris.
Isolated plates of the zonal index are fairly common on the
beach platform close to the west of the Dyke, and are
abundant, together with complete calyces, about 100m farther
west. This flood of the zonal fossil is spread over about 5m of
chalk, with the greatest concentration in the middle part. It
dies out close to the top of the zone (Fig. 8). Other species
occurring to the west of the Dyke include Pseudoperna
boucheroni (in bands), Orbirhynchia pisiformis, sporadic
specimens of Echinocorys scutata tectiformis, E. scutata
elevatus Griffith & Brydone, asteroid ossicles, echinoid spines,
sponges (including Porosphaera globularis and radiating
varieties of Rhizopoterion) and large examples of Gonioteuthis
granulata exhibiting a more pronounced deepening of the
alveolus than in earlier forms, with a rostrum up to 16mm in
diameter. Rare examples of Actinocamax verus also occur.
Inland, at Queensgate Quarry, Beverley (Fig. 10), the upper
24.5m of chalk is assigned to the testudinarius Zone on
macrofaunal and microfaunal evidence. The base of the zone is
taken at the base of the 5cm marl QG 3, which is tentatively
correlated with the Maidlands Upper Marl DD 75 on the coast.
The beds here appear to be more fossiliferous than on the
coast. Echinocorys scutata elevatus and E. scutata tectiformis
occur in a band about 2m above the base of the zone and
Gonioteuthis granulata is common about 4m higher (Fig. 10).
Fragments of the large ammonite Parapuzosia have been
found on the scree about 9m above the base. Gonioteuthis
granulata and complete calyces of Marsupites are fairly
common just above this level. Other species recorded from the
lower beds include Orbirhynchia pisiformis, Bourgueticrinus
ellipticus Miller, Pseudoperna boucheroni, echinoid spines and
fish vertebrae.
Directly below the uppermost 3m of thinly bedded, poorly
fossiliferous chalks, sponges, echinoids and bivalves occur in a

BESSINGBY
B Y )
BRIDLINGTON
C Thinly bedded chalk N ew h o s p i t a I
N
o 8 - s i t e 1985 (? Early sp.)
Sphenoceramus patootensis E. pyramidata (Loose)
_Q T BH)
Z Z) rv.9 Inoceramus lingua z oo
Thinly bedded chalk
S. patootensis
OO - Scaphites ? inflatus
>-
< (Sample k) CO <
I. linguaiScaphites
binodosus
"Zi
z 2cm marl? G 2 0 Naf f erton z 2 c m marl ? G 2 0
-
<
>- a .
Grange Marl (Upper)
Discoscaphites binodosus
1 i1
< ro N.Grange (Upper)
MP
sop

Orbirhynchia sp.
v Orbirhynchia sp.
1/1
CO Z o
V 6 LU O 1cm marl Micraster sp.
a:
< C
5 " S.patootensis,I.lingua
uo < u

A
2 S.binodosus.
UJ u _o
Sponges, Burrows
u 6 Echinocorys sp.(tall
conical), I.lingua
-
1cm marl ? E. Nafferton
Grange Marl (Upper)
1 . 3 Triple marl over 5cm
in base of trench
111
uu
LOWER

oo
Di s c o s c a ph i t e s

Gonioteuthis quadrata

Slumped and scree

covered chalk

tu
\
m
Fig. 14. The section at Bessingby Quarry, near Bridlington, and the
s temporary exposure at the Bridlington Hospital site.
 Downloaded from http://pygs.lyellcollection.org/ at University of Leeds on November 12, 2016
254 F. WHITHAM
1.5m bed (Fig. 10). Marsupites plates are absent. Sponges are
represented by radiating varieties of Rhizopoterion,
unidentified species preserved as iron oxide films and a funnel-
shaped specimen. Very large and commonly distorted tests of
Echinocorys scutata tectiformis also occur. Inoceramids here
include Sphenoceramus pinniformis, Inoceramus (Platy-
ceramus) and a large (25cm long) Inoceramus sp. with
numerous elongated ribs. Early examples of /. lingua also
occur. These are also known in the highest beds of the zone on
the coast, but at Queensgate they could indicate the base of the
lingua Zone instead, in which case the testudinarius Zone at
Beverley could be reduced to 21.5m compared with 26m on the
coast.
4.5. Inoceramus lingua Zone
The remaining 60m of chalk in the coastal region and higher
beds inland (possibly another 45 to 50m including sections now
filled in) belong to the Inoceramus lingua Zone (the name
Inoceramus is retained for the zonal index, though it may
belong to Sphenoceramus). The common occurrence of /.
lingua throughout the Campanian chalk in the Northern
Province led Rowe (1904) to propose this species as a local
equivalent of the Actinocamax quadratus Zone as then used in
southern England. Subsequently, Wright & Wright (1942)
proposed a subzone of Discoscaphites binodosus for the upper
part of the lingua Zone, above the highest chalk exposed in
Sewerby Cliff. Wood (1980) suggested that the whole of the
lingua Zone (including the binodosus Subzone) corresponds to
the Offaster pilula Zone (Lower Campanian) of southern
England.
4.5.1. Inoceramus lingua Zone (lower part)
The base of the zone is taken at a bedding plane just above the
last appearance of Marsupites plates, in the middle of a lm
thick chalk sequence packed with fragmented Inoceramus
lingua (Fig. 8). This horizon, which also marks the junction of
the Santonian and Campanian stages, occurs about 200m west
of Danes Dyke.
Chalk of the lingua Zone is generally more fossiliferous than
that of the underlying zone, with /. lingua the dominant
bivalve, along with rare examples of Sphenoceramus pinni-
formis and S. patootensis. The last species occurs only in the
higher part of the succession, first appearing about 8m beneath
the binodosus Subzone (Fig. 9).
Sponges are far more common in the lingua Zone chalk than
in any of the other biozones, with the finest and best developed
concentration of hexactinellid and lithistid species occurring in
the famous Flamborough Sponge Beds, which extend to just
over 11m in thickness (Figs 8, 9). The base lies about 17m
above the base of the zone. Due to the shallower dip where the
Sponge Beds reach shore level, they are exposed on the beach
platform for a considerable distance commencing about 350m
from Danes Dyke, the main exposure lying nearer to that
ravine than to Sewerby. Sponges still occur higher in the
succession, but less frequently than lower down (a lm bed
occurs near Sewerby Steps; see SY 52, Fig. 9).
Many fine sponges occur in the Sponge Beds both in the cliff
and on the beach platform, including Pachinion scriptum
(Roemer), Stichophyma tumidum, varieties of Laosciadia
plana, Siphonia koenegi, Rhizopoterion cribosum (Phillips),
Amphithelion (Verruculina) and Porosphaera globularis.
Additionally, Wood (1980) recorded the hexactinellids Wolle-
mannia laevis (Phillips), Sporadoscinia strips Schrammen and
Leiostracosia punctata Schrammen. The main recent accounts
of chalk sponges are by Reid (1954-64, 1958, 1961, 1962a, b)
and Wood (1987).
Large, thick-tested, high-domed varieties of Echinocorys
sp. (up to 80mm long, 70mm wide, 68mm high) are present in
the Sponge Beds and smaller, thin-tested species occur
elsewhere in the zone (Figs 8, 9). Sporadic, well preserved
examples can be found, but most are crushed or fragmented
making identification difficult. The genus becomes progress-
ively less common in the higher beds on the coast. Just east of
Sewerby Steps, Mr S. Mitchell (Liverpool University) has
discovered an horizon with several examples of Offaster pilula
(Lamarck). This probably correlates with a similar band
recorded there previously, and also at the top of two pits at
Carnaby, now filled in (Rowe 1904, pits 31, 32; Wright &
Wright 1942, pit 106). These appear to be the only records of
this species from Yorkshire.
Other fossils recorded from the lower and middle parts of
the zone (i.e. beneath the binodosus Subzone) include an
undescribed form of Cardiotaxis (large and rounded),
Orbirhynchia sp., Hypoxytoma tenuicostata (Roemer),
common echinoid spines, asteroid ossicles and a small
specimen of Salenia granulosa Woodward recorded just below
the top of the Sponge Beds (Fig. 8). Rare ammonites include
Hauericeras pseudogardeni (Schliiter) from the Sponge Beds
(Wright & Wright 1942), two fragmentary specimens of
Glyptoxoceras (about 16m below the top of the Zone; Fig. 9)
and a fairly large, oval-whorled specimen (probably
Glyptoxoceras) seen on the bedding surface of a newly fallen
chalk block about midway between Danes Dyke and Sewerby
Steps; its exact horizon is uncertain. Gonioteuthis
granulataquadrata (Stolley) is fairly common but, like
Echinocorys, becomes increasingly rare upwards.
There remains one important inland exposure in the middle
part of the zone, at Lowthorpe Quarry, Ruston Parva
(Fig. 11). The fauna here is rather sparse, although Flam-
borough type sponges (Porosphaera globularis, Rhizo-
poterion sp.) and Orbirhynchia pisiformis occur. Inoceramus
lingua is fairly common in the middle beds, and a large
Sphenoceramus pinniformis (in the site office) came from the
upper beds. Fragments of a large ammonite, probably
Parapuzosia sp., have been found. A small, oval-whorled
ammonite, probably Glyptoxoceras (now lost), found about
14.5m above the base (Fig. 11; RP 16) may represent a similar
horizon to that of the two Glyptoxoceras seen on the coast (Fig.
9; SY 50). Gonioteuthis has not been found, and the apparent
absence of Scaphites here indicates an horizon lower than the
Sewerby Steps Marl.
4.5.2. Discoscaphites binodosus Subzone
The subzone is characterised by the occurrence of D.
binodosus (Roemer). None of the coastal sequence was
included in the subzone by Wright & Wright (1942). However,
the Sewerby Steps Marl (Fig. 9; SY 63) and the remaining 4m
of chalk immediately above are here referred to the binodosus
Subzone, following the recent discovery of Discoscaphites
binodosus there. The specimen was found in 1991 by Dr
Martin Whyte (Sheffield University) on the face of a newly
fallen block of chalk, which he was able to relate to its former
position in the cliff just above the marl. Lamplugh (1888) and
Rowe (1904) found Scaphites in rolled boulders along this part
of the section. Higher chalks are exposed at Nafferton Grange
(Fig. 13) and Bessingby (Fig. 14); characteristic fossils have
 Downloaded from http://pygs.lyellcollection.org/ at University of Leeds on November 12, 2016
FLAMBOROUGH CHALK FORMATION
been collected also from a temporary section at Bridlington
Hospital (see section 3.3.2.).
Important changes in the macrofauna in this subzone
include the reappearance of Micraster, the appearance of
advanced forms of Echinocorys and the evolutionary stage
reached by Gonioteuthis. Micraster is represented by fairly
large, early Micraster schroederi Stolley (narrow form) and M.
glyphus (Schliiter) (broad form) 14m above the base of the
Nafferton Grange section. A much smaller M. sp. with a deep
anterior sulcus occurs at Bessingby (Fig. 14; BY 4), slightly
higher in the sequence. All have the labrum very near the
anterior margin and are Northern Province (Norfolk and NW
Germany) rather than Southern Province forms (C. W.
Wright, pers. comm.). Echinocorys shows considerable
variation. Some of the highest specimens are close to E.
subglobosa (Goldfuss) whereas others are closely related to E.
pyramidata Portlock. Two tall, conical Echinocorys were
found in the highest beds at Nafferton and Bridlington
Hospital.
At Nafferton, other macrofossils include fairly common D.
binodosus in the lower beds, increasing in numbers higher up.
Fragmentary outer whorls of a large Puzosia have been found
loose on the scree. In the basal beds rare specimens of deeply
alveolate (20mm; Riedel Quotient R.Q. = 3.54; see 5. for
explanation) Gonioteuthis quadrata occur and fragments are
found just above Middle Marl "D". Inoceramids are common
through the sequence, with a predominance of Sphenoceramus
patootensis and Inoceramus lobatus Goldfuss and diminished
occurrences oil. lingua. The Nafferton S. patootensis is a more
advanced form than that occurring at lower levels on the coast,
with increased inflation of the shell (in some specimens) and a
more exaggerated development of the large, irregularly spaced
rugae which separate the smaller, closely spaced ribbing of the
valve. Less common species include /. (Cataceramus) balticus
and much rarer examples of a radially ribbed variety,
?Sphenoceramus steenstrupi (de Loriol); a rare, small,
unidentified inoceramid also occurs.
Sponges are present in most beds, including Laosciadia
plana, Stichophyma tumidum, Amphithelion (Verruculina),
Rhizopoterion sp. and P. globularis. Many oxide films of
sponges occur throughout the sequence, most commonly in the
lower part where some radiating species exceed 30cm. Other,
rarer fossils include Orbirhynchia sp., Terebratula sp.
(unidentified small variety in upper beds), Hypoxytoma
tenuicostata and a rare whelk-like gastropod (height 40mm).
At Bessingby many scaphitids occur in the higher beds (Fig.
14; BY 5 & 8), including common D. binodosus and rare
examples of its dimorph, Scaphites inflatus Defrance. A poorly
preserved, fine-ribbed fragment of an unidentified ammonite
above marl BY 8 appears to be a large scaphitid 165mm in
diameter which may compare with some giant forms from the
U.S. A. A single Gonioteuthis quadrata (alveolar depth 22mm;
R.Q. = 3.31) is the highest example recorded by the author.
Other fossils include a small Micraster sp. (^schroederi) with a
deep alveolar sulcus, Inoceramus lingua, I. lobatus, Spheno-
ceramus patootensis, Orbirhynchia sp., Lissaptychus (?Para-
puzosia) and poorly preserved sponges. Wright & Wright
(1942) recorded additional species, but the quarry has not been
worked for some years and collecting is now difficult.
The temporary exposures at Bridlington Hospital yielded
common D. binodosus, rare Scaphites inflatus, Spheno-
ceramus patootensis, I. lobatus and less common /. lingua. A
single Nautilus ?darupensis Schliiter and numerous sponges
255
(some well preserved) also occurred.
Even younger binodosus Subzone-faunas were recorded
from former exposures near Bridlington. White Hill Quarry
yielded Gonioteuthis (Stather 1911, as Actinocamax), but the
specimens were lost when the Hull Museum was bombed.
White Hill reservoir yielded the only known Yorkshire
Belemnitella (Wright & Wright 1942). The East Leys Farm
section, 1.5km to the north, was said to be highly fossiliferous
(Wright & Wright 1942, pit 110), and yielded Scaphites and
inoceramids. It probably represents the highest in situ
exposure of the Flamborough Chalk Formation.
Due to the apparent absence of Offaster pilula at Nafferton
Grange and Bessingby it is difficult to correlate the binodosus
Subzone chalks with those of southern England or north
Germany. However, both the Micraster and Echinocorys
species are closely related to forms from the upper part of the
Lower Campanian (sensu Germanica) of the Hannover
district, North Germany (Ernst 1975). The presence of
Micraster schroederi, associated with Inoceramus lingua,
Sphenoceramus patootensis and /. (Cataceramus) balticus
suggests a position high in the pilula Zone, possibly close to the
boundary of the pilulalsenonensis Subzones of the German
sequence (Ernst et al. 1979).
4.6. Biostratigraphic evidence of higher chalks
Higher chalk than that seen at outcrop was proved when
boreholes were drilled north of Hornsea, in Holderness,
proving a total chalk thickness of 490m. Microfaunal evidence
indicated that the highest beds belonged to the Upper
Campanian Belemnitella mucronata Zone (Wood 1980).
Further evidence appeared in 1987 when several chalk rafts up
to 6m long and 0.75m thick were exposed in the Boulder Clay
cliffs 1km north of Skipsea (near to the borehole site). These
have presumably been derived from the adjacent floor of the
North Sea. One raft, with a rather pasty matrix of reworked
chalk, yielded 5 fragments of Belemnitella mucronata
(Schlotheim) and a valve of the brachiopod Magas pumilis J.
Sowerby. Microfaunas from the same chalk indicated a late
Campanian/early Maastrichtian age.
Other erratic specimens of B. mucronata have been found
along the Holderness coast and along the banks of the Humber
as far inland as North and South Ferriby. At South Ferriby a
large (100mm long) globular Echinocorys (now lost) was of a
type not seen in the northern chalk. In addition, two small
conical echinoids found loose on the beach at Barmston (south
of Bridlington) and Flamborough have been identified by Dr
C. W. Wright as Galerites abbreviatus (Desor). This ranges
from the upper mucronata Zone (Upper Campanian) to the
Belemnella lanceolata Zone (Maastrichtian). The preservation
of these two specimens in flint suggests a resumption of flint
development in the higher part of the Chalk Group, not seen
to occur at outcrop. Although most of these derived fossils
probably came from chalk exposed on the floor of the North
Sea, some of the Belemnitella mucronata found in the high
ground drift to the north of Bridlington may have been derived
locally from still higher chalk occurring in that area but as yet
not exposed.
5. BELEMNITE ZONATION
Belemnites of the genera Actinocamax and Gonioteuthis occur
 Downloaded from http://pygs.lyellcollection.org/ at University of Leeds on November 12, 2016

256 F. WHITHAM

REIDEL QUOTIENT

REIDEL QUOTIENT
N.E. ENGLAND
N.W. GERMANY

NUMBER IN
ZONATION BELEM NITE STANDARD STRATI G R A P H I C A L

SAMPLE
ivi c n in

IVI M IN
STAGE NORTHWEST ZONES BIOZONES SUCCESSION I

GERMANY N.W. E U R O P E N . E . E N G L A N D N.E.ENGLAND

gracilis/ quadrata
Mi sbu rg
G

icoscaphites binodosus S/zone

Hove r
mucron ata gracilis/
4.5
Zone B.mucronata
corneal G. quadrata

Danes Dyk;e t o S<s w e r b y Steps

g raci 1 i s gracilis 4.5
part

Zone
LOWEER CAMPANIAN

1
papil losa

Naf f e r t o n Grange
4.1
Zone
Upper

senonensi s U

B e s s ingby
Zone 3.7
CD

3 to Danes Dyke

1
pilula/
senonensis G.q. quadrata 3.8
Zone ^
\
'

r -uj
pilula Zone not 5 1
1 1
Bracken Quarry

Zone r ecog n ised

part

i n Lagerdorf 3.9 3.9 4

area
/ noc e ramus c Queensgate |
lingua/ lingua "D
quad rata
Lower

cn C
Zone
L c CO 4.0
~ TJ - _1
granul ata- G.granulata- C Lagerdorf
CO
quadrata quadrata 5.5 5.7 10
3
Zone _J
O
- sz CO
Mar sup i t es/ Marsupites c 3
granulata U testudinarius o o 6.5 7.0 21
Zone G. granulata c CO
id o
Uintacrinus/ U intacrinus CO
granulata L socialis CD CO 8.1 8.5 7
Zone 11
ANTONIA

rogalaef G. westfalica-
w. granulata
Zone
rogalae/
granulata
:
I
8.8 8.7 7

westfalica U Upper 11 10.9 8

Zone
CO corangu i nam/ G. westfalica
west fa 1 i ca westfalica 13 11.0 10
Zone
_j
pacht i/undul- L Hagenowia
atoplicatus rost rata
Zone
bucailli/p rae- G. westfalica
z> west fa 1 i ca prae- 13
Zone westfalica
i nvolu tus/
DNIACIAN

Lower
bucai11i
Zone
koener, i
Zone

O deform is M icraste r
Zone cortest-
ud i narium

Fig. 15. Biozonal correlation table of the Santonian-Lower Campanian chalks of north-east England and north-west Germany, based on the
Riedel Quotient of the belemnite genus Gonioteuthis. Columns 2, 3 , 6 based on Christensen (1990,1991).
 Downloaded from http://pygs.lyellcollection.org/ at University of Leeds on November 12, 2016
FLAMBOROUGH CHALK FORMATION
sporadically in the Flamborough Chalk Formation. Examples
were described briefly by Rowe (1904), Crick (1906), Stather
(1911) and Wright & Wright (1942, 1951). Ernst (1966)
reviewed Yorkshire records of Gonioteuthis, recording G.
westfalica, G. westfalicagranulata and G. granulata. He noted
the apparently retrograde evolutionary stage reached by
Gonioteuthis in the socialis and overlying zones compared with
that seen at equivalent levels in Germany. There and in
Denmark a zonation has been established based on the
evolutionary stages of Gonioteuthis. This has been
progressively refined over the last 20 years by several workers
(e.g. Christensen 1975, 1976, 1990, 1991; Ernst 1964, 1966,
1968; Ernst et al. 1979; Schulz et al. 1984) on the basis of the
mean Riedel Quotient (R.Q. = length of guard divided by the
depth of the pseudoalveolus). This method has been shown to
be workable, but only for samples of a certain size
(Christensen 1990).
The Yorkshire Gonioteuthis recorded here consist of just
over 100 specimens, collected over a period of some 25 years.
The genus is too rare for large samples to be collected from
specific horizons in order to obtain a mean Riedel Quotient.
However, the mean R.Q. values of the small samples which
have been collected over fairly broad stratigraphic horizons
compare reasonably well with those obtained from correlative
horizons at Lagerdorf and Misburg/Hover, in NW Germany
(Christensen 1990,1991). The comparisons are summarised in
Figure 15. Columns 2, 3 and 6 of that figure are adapted from
Christensen (1991, figs 1, 7), who pointed out (pers. comm.)
that the zonation in column 2 is for the white chalk of
Lagerdorf, where a pilulalsenonensis Zone has not been
recognised. He also stated that: "Gonioteuthis has not been
recorded from the pachtilundulatoplicatilis Zone at Lagerdorf.
However, G. westfalica westfalica occurs together with /.
pachti on the island of Bornholm, Denmark. The mean values
of the R.Q. samples have therefore been lifted". Column 6
now reflects these changes and the boundaries between some
samples of Gonioteuthis have also been changed.
6. DISCUSSION
There are lithological and faunal differences between the
Flamborough Chalk Formation and its Southern Province
correlatives, the upper part of the Seaford Chalk Member and
the Newhaven Chalk Member of Mortimore (1986). In
particular, the exposed thickness of the upper, Lower
Campanian, part of the Flamborough Chalk (110m) is about
twice that in the Sussex Trough (40-50m). However, some of
the newly named thicker groups of marls in the Flamborough
Chalk, particularly the Beacon Hill Farm and Daneswood
marl groups, may prove to correlate with marls in the southern
sequences.
Mortimore (1986) also detailed the faunal sequences in the
Sussex Trough. Although there are many species in common,
there are significant differences between the faunas of the two
areas. Micraster coranguinum is so rare in the Flamborough
Chalk that Hagenowia rostrata is used as a zonal index instead.
In the Lower Campanian sequence, Offaster pilula is
extremely rare in the north but common in the south, whereas
Sphenoceramus patootensis, Inoceramus lingua and scaphitid
ammonites are abundant in the Flamborough Chalk but rare in
the south. Some forms of Echinocorys also appear to exhibit
differences in shape of the test, but some of these may be
attributed to the poor state of preservation in most of the
257
northern examples.
The Flamborough Chalk shows stronger links with the north
German succession of the Lagerdorf-Kronsmoor-Hemmoor
districts, where the Lower Campanian sequence is of
comparable thickness (116m) (Schulz et al. 1984). Some of the
marl bands may correlate from Flamborough to Germany. The
faunas have much in common. For example, Inoceramus
lingua is used as a zonal index in both areas and there are
echinoid (especially Echinocorys and Micraster) and scaphitid
species in common. Gonioteuthis goes through similar stages in
the evolution of the depth of the alveolus. The present
research has strengthened the faunal evidence for regarding
the Yorkshire and north German chalks as parts of a single
Northern Province.
Acknowledgements. Many thanks are due to Mike Home for his
valuable assistance in analysing selected marl samples for correlating
microfaunas, and to Lyndon Emery who, along with Mike Home,
assisted in measuring many of the exposures, with additional help from
other members of the Hull Geological Society who took part in the
field work.
I am very much indebted to Dr P. F. Rawson (University College,
London) for his unstinting help and constructive criticisms of the
manuscript, and to Dr J. Burnett (University College, London) for
identifying the nannoflora from selected marl samples and
commenting on their relative ages. I sincerely thank Dr W. K.
Christensen (Geological Museum, Copenhagen) for his helpful
comments and Mr C. J. Wood for his useful comments on the first
draft. Thanks are also due to Dr Martin Whyte (Sheffield University)
and Mr Simon Mitchell (Liverpool University) for additional
information on the fauna.
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