The stratigraphy of the Upper Greensand Formation (Albian, Cretaceous) of the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, UK

The Upper Greensand Formation, prominent along the Devon coast, exhibits significant lateral and stratigraphic variations in its composition, including sandstone, calcarenite, carbonate cement, glauconite, and chert. These variations are linked to shallow-water marine environments and penecontemporaneous fault movements, particularly evident in the Isle of Purbeck. The formation is divided into three members—Foxmould, Whitecliff Chert, and Bindon Sandstone—each bounded by erosion surfaces that extend across the Wessex Basin. While much of the fauna lacks age-diagnostic features, diverse ammonite faunas at specific levels enable correlation with other regions in east Devon and west Dorset. This study provides critical insights into the stratigraphic complexity and geological history of this Cretaceous formation.

Gallois, R., & Owen, H. (2017). The stratigraphy of the Upper Greensand Formation (Albian, Cretaceous) of the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, UK. Acta Geologica Polonica, 67(3), 405–424. https://doi.org/10.1515/agp-2017-0016