Excursion to Ayot and Wheathampstead. Saturday, May 9th, 1914 - Geologists' Association excursion
Geologists' Association Circular No. 166. Session 1913-1914. p.4-5
Excursion to Ayot and Wheathampstead. Saturday, May 9th, 1914 (Transcription from: GA Circular No. 166. Session 1913-1914. p.4-5)
DIRECTOR: R. L. SHERLOCK, D. Sc.., F.G.S.
EXCURSION SECRETARY: T. W. READER, 17, Gloucester Road, Finsbury Park.
Leave King's Cross (G.N.R.) 1.15 p.m. Take half-day return tickets to Wheathampstead, price 2/6 ; alight at Ayot.
Close to the station is Ayot Brickyard, the chief object of the excursion. Permission to visit the sections has been given by the owner, J. Fenwick Owen, Esq. These pits show remarkable sections in Eocene and Glacial Drift. The former consists for the most part of current-bedded white and buff sands (Reading Beds) with strings of flint-pebbles. In one place a mass of green clay projects as a reef through the sand, which dips off it and contains fragments of the clay as pebbles. Above the sand there is horizontally bedded sandy clay which appears to be unconforrnable to the sands below. From this upper deposit fossils have been obtained, comprising sharks' teeth and lamellibranchs. The Reading Bed sands are greatly disturbed and the chalk floor is uneven. Above the Eocene beds are Chalky Boulder Clay and Glacial Gravel. The junction of the two may he visible, but the:,ections seen vary considerably from time to time. The Glacial Gravel contains chiefly flint-pebbles, but Bunter quartzites and other constituents occur. The height of the gravel is about 420 ft.. above O.D., and this is about the highest point reached by the Chalky Drift which came through the Chiltern Gaps.
The party will then proceed by country lanes and footpaths to Wheathampstead. On the way the extensive gravel pits, one mile from Wheathamstead, will be visited. The gravel lies in the Lea Valley a considerable height above the river and is of glacial origin. It contains much red clay as well as sand. The stones are chiefly flints and flint-pebbles, but there is in addition a great variety of stones, including Bunter pebbles, igneous rocks, and fossiliferous pebbles apparently derived from Budleigh Salterton.
Tea will be taken at the Bull Inn,Wheathampstead ; plain tea. 1/-, with eggs 1/4.
Return train from Wheathampstead 6.55 p.m.
Several interesting sections should be photographed.
Walking distance four miles.
REFERENCES,
Geological Map 1 inch, O.S. 46 S.E. (Hatfield)
Geology in the Field, Parts I and II, pp. 25–26.
H. W. MONCKTON,—"On a section in the Westleton Beds at Ayot Brickfield." Geol. Mag. (1899), pp. 50–60.
Images
Excursion to Ayot, May 9th 1914
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Section of Westleton Shingle at 406 ft.
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Basement beds of the London Clay, bent into sharp curves.
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Reading Sands, consisting of current bedded white and buff sands with strings of flint pebbles, much disturbed and bending down to fill hollow in the Chalk.
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Reading Sands, consisting of current bedded white and buff sands with strings of flint pebbles, much disturbed and bending down to fill hollow in the Chalk.
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A mass of pebbles driven into the Boulder Clay.
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Reading Beds.
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Current bedded white and buff sands of the Reading Series.
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A mass of green clay projecting as a reef through the sand which dips off it and contains fragments of the clay as pebbles.
List of photographs
Excursion to Ayot, May 9th 1914
| Page 29 | P804688 | Section of Westleton Shingle at 406 ft. OD, being a gravel of flint pebbles, quartz pebbles, blocks of quartz, subangular flints, sand etc. Excursion to Ayot, May 9th 1914. Added note: Westleton Shingle; Boulder Clay. [Bottom to top.]. |
| Page 29 | P804689 | Basement beds of the London Clay, bent into sharp curves. Excursion to Ayot, May 9th 1914. |
| Page 29 | P804690 | Reading Sands, consisting of current bedded white and buff sands with strings of flint pebbles, much disturbed and bending down to fill hollow in the Chalk. Excursion to Ayot, May 9th 1914. |
| Page 29 | P804691 | Reading Sands, consisting of current bedded white and buff sands with strings of flint pebbles, much disturbed and bending down to fill hollow in the Chalk. Excursion to Ayot, May 9th 1914. |
| Page 31 | P804692 | A mass of pebbles driven into the Boulder Clay. Excursion to Ayot, May 9th 1914. |
| Page 31 | P804693 | Reading Beds. Excursion to Ayot, May 9th 1914. |
| Page 31 | P804694 | Current bedded white and buff sands of the Reading Series. Excursion to Ayot, May 9th 1914. |
| Page 31 | P804695 | A mass of green clay projecting as a reef through the sand which dips off it and contains fragments of the clay as pebbles. Excursion to Ayot, May 9th 1914. |