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A braidplain facies model for the Westphalian B Coal Measures of north-east England

Abstract

The Westphalian B (Coal Measure) sediments of Northumberland, Durham, and the other northern English coalfields were deposited on extensive coastal plains between several peripheral source areas and the Saint George's Land block to the south. We report here a facies model resulting from studies of fluvial sandstones in the Westphalian B of Northumberland and Durham and suggest that sandy braidplains were an important feature of the depositional environment in this coalfield. Braid-plain sand sheets, and associated washouts in underlying coal seams, formed following tectonic uplift of local source areas supplying recycled sands. Parts of this model may be extended to other coalfields in northern Britain.

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Haszeldine, R., Anderton, R. A braidplain facies model for the Westphalian B Coal Measures of north-east England. Nature 284, 51–53 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/284051a0

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