TECHNICAL REPORT WA/90/14

Geology and land-use planning:

Morpeth-Bedlington-Ashington

Part 1 LAND-USEPLANNING
I Jackson and D J D Lawrence
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 BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

TECHNICAL REPORT WA/90/14

Onshore Geology Series

Geology and land-use planning:

Morpeth-Bedlington-Ashington

Part 1 LAND-USEPLANNING

1:25000 sheets NZ28 and

NZ 38

Parts of 1:50000 geological sheets 9 (Rothbury),

10 (Newbiggin), 14 (Morpeth) and 15 (Tynemouth)

I Jackson and D J D Lawrence

This study was commissionedby

the Department of the Environ-
ment, but the views expressed in
it are not necessarily those of the
Department

Maps and diagrams in this book

use topography based on
Ordnance Survey mapping

Geographical index
UK, England, Northumberland

Subject index
Land-use planning, thematic
maps, resources, mining, engin-
eering geology, Quaternary,
Carboniferous

Bibliographic reference
Jackson, I, and Lawrence,
D J D. 1990. Geology and land-
use planning: Morpeth-
Bedlington-Ashington. Part 1:
Land-use planning. British
Geological Survey Technical
Report WA/90/14

0 NERC copyright 1990 Keyworth,NottinghamBritish Geological Survey1990

BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

The full range of Survey publications is available through the Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG
Sales Desks at Keyworth, Murchison House, Edinburgh, and at Plumtree (06077)6111 Telex
378173 BGSKEY G
the BGS London Information Office in the Geological Museum. Fax 06077-6602
The adjacent Geological Museum bookshop stocks the more
popular books for sale over the counter. Most BGS books and Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3LA
reports are listed in HMSOs Sectional List 45, and can be
bought from HMSO and through HMSO agents and retailers. 031-667 1000 Telex 727343 SEISED G
Maps are listed in theBGS Map Catalogue and theOrdnance Fax 031-668 2683
Surveys Trade Catalogue, and can be bought from Ordnance
Survey agents as well as from BGS. London Information Office at theGeological Museum,
Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DE
The British Geological Survey carries out the geological survey 071-589 4090 Fax 071-584 8270
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the latteras an agency 071-938 9056/57
service for the governmentof Northern Ireland), and of the
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The British Geological Survey is a component bodyof the

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Data used in preparing
this
report
and PREFACE
associated maps are lodged at the Newcastle
uponTyneoffice of theBritishGeological Thisreport is one of twodescribingthe
Survey. Any enquiries
concerning these resultsofa survey of the geology of the
documents should be directed to that office. Morpeth-Bedlington- Ashington
district.
Thisvolume, Part I, reviews the geological
factorsrelevanttoland-useplanningand
Reportsare alsoavailableforthefollowing
development. A second volume, Part 11,
1:25 000 sheets:
describes the geology of the area in detail.
Thedistrict is coveredby 1: 10 000 sheets
NZ 15: Chopwell,RowlandsGill,Consett
NZ 28 NW, NE, SW, SE and NZ 38NW,
and Stanley NZ25: Kibblesworth, Birtley,
SW and lies within 1 5 0 000 geological
Craghead
Chester-le-Street
and NZ27:
sheets
(Rothbury),
9 10 (Newbiggin),
Cramlington,Killingworthand Wide Open
14 (Morpeth)and 15
(Tynemouth). The
NZ17E & 18E: Ponteland-Morpeth
district was firstsurveyedatthesix-inch
scale byH.H. Howell and W. Topleyand
published on Northumberland Old Meridian
County maps between 1867 and 1879. A
resurveybyG.A.Burnett, V.A. Eyles and
A. Fowlerbetween 1929 and 1950 was
published on the New Meridian.
Thepresent
survey,
which was funded
Department
jointly
theby of the
Environment and
the
British Geological
Survey,revised the geological
maps and
prepared thematic maps designed for use by
NOTES
plannersanddevelopers.Thesurvey was
undertaken between 1986 and 1989 by
All National Grid referencesinthisreport
I. Jackson (NZ 28 NE, SE, NZ 38 SW) and
lie within
the 100 kmsquare
NZ. Grid
referencesaregiventoeithereightfigures
D.J.D. Lawrence (NZ 28 NW, sw,
NZNW).38 R.A.
Monkhouse, BGS
(accuratetowithin lOm), orsixfiguresfor
Hydrogeology Research Group,
provided
extensive locations.
informationongroundwaterresourcesand
pollution
while A. Forster
and
Eachboreholeorshaftregisteredwith BGS
M.G. Culshaw of the BGS Engineering
is identifiedby a four-elementcode (e.g.
Research
theadvised
Group
on
NZ 28SE 58). Thefirstelementsdefine
establishment of thegeotechnicaldatabase
the 10 kmsquare (of theNationalGrid)in
subsequent
and analyses.
dataThe
whichtheborehole is situated;thethird
programmemanagerswereDr. D.J. Fettes
element defines the quadrant of that square,
(BGS) and Mr. H. Mallett (DOE).
andthefourth is the accession number of
that borehole. Inthetext of thereportthe
borehole/shaft is normallyreferred to by
thelast threeelementsalone (e.g. 28 SF, F.G. Larminie, OBE, Director
58). British Geological Survey
Keyworth
The
word
'district'
unqualified,
this
in Nottingham NG12 5GG
account means the whole ground covered by
NZ 28NW, NE, SW, SE andNZ 38 NW January 1990
and SW.

1
This page is blank
CONTENTS 5. SUMMARY OF GEOLOGICAL
FACTORS
FOR
CONSIDERATION IN
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY LAND-USE PLANNING (MAP 10)

1 INTRODUCTION 5.1 SHALLOW MINING

5.2 SOFT GROUND
1.1 OBJECTIVES
5.3 FILL AND ARTIFICIAL DEPOSITS
1.2 GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING (MADE GROUND)
1.3 DATA SOURCES AND LANDSLIPS
5.4
METHODOLOGY
5.5 SAND AND GRAVEL RESOURCES
1.4 PRESENTATION OF RESULTS
5.6 WATER RESOURCES
1.5 LIMITATIONS
1.6 CONFIDENTIALITY
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
1.7 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
GLOSSARY

2 GEOLOGICAL
SUMMARY
(MAPS 1-4) APPENDIX A: DATA SOURCES
APPENDIX B: THE BOREHOLE
2.0 INTRODUCTION
DATABASE
2.1 SOLID
GEOLOGY
APPENDIX C: THE GEOTECHNICAL
2.2 DRIFTGEOLOGY DATABASE

3 LAND STABILITY AND GROUND

FIGURES
CONDITIONS (MAPS 5 - 8)
3.0 INTRODUCTION 1. Locationdiagram.
3.1 COAL MINING 2. Generalizedverticalsection.
3.2 ENGINEERING GEOLOGY 3. Solid geology.
3.3 SLOPE STEEPNESS AND 4. Horizontalsections.
STABILITY 5. Drift geology.
3.4 FLOODING 6. Rockheadelevation.
3.5 EFFECTS OF COAL-MINING ON 7. Drift thickness.
HYDROGEOLOGY 8. Shallow mining.
3.6 NATURAL DISCHARGE OF 9. EngineeringGeology.
METHANE AND 10. Made and disturbed ground.
DEOXYGENATED AIR 11. Slope steepness.
12. Flooding.
13. Mineral and water resources (excluding
4 MINERAL
WATER
ANDRESOURCES coal).
(MAP 9 ) 14.factors
Geological for consideration in
land-use planning).
4.0 INTRODUCTION
4.1 COAL
4.2 SANDSTONE TABLES
4.3 MUDSTONE AND SILTSTONE
1. Presentation of results.
4.4 IRONSTONE
2. Coal seam nomenclature.
4.5 SEATEARTH
3. Former collieries with a take in the
4.6 IGNEOUS ROCK
district.
4.7 METALLIFEROUS MINERALS
4. Opencast coal sites.
4.8 SAND AND GRAVEL
5. Engineering geology divisions
4.9 GLACIAL CLAYS
6. Geotechnical properties.
4.10 GROUNDWATER
7. Made ground.
8. Former sandstone quarries.
9. Former clay pits for brick and tile
making.

2
MAPS
1:25 000 scale thematic maps [in folder]
1. Solid geology.
2. Drift geology.
3. Rockhead elevation.
4. Drift thickness.
5. Shallow mining.
6 . Made and disturbed ground.
7. Borehole and shaft sites.
8. Engineering geology.
9. Mineral and water resources (excluding
coal).
10. Geological factors for consideration in
land-use planning.

1:lO 000 scale standard geological maps

[available separately]
NZ 28 NW Pegswood
NZ 28 NEAshington
NZ 28 SW Nedderton
NZ 28 SE Bedlington
NZ 38 NW Newbiggin
NZ 38 SW Blyth

COVER PHOTOGRAPH
Woodhorn Colliery

Taken by M r T Bain, BGS Photographic Unit

3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
To
b) collect,
evaluate and
interpret
available
information
on geology,
INTRODUCTION geotechnical
ground
properties,
conditions,
geomorphology,
and
The Morpeth-Ashington-Bedlington area
hydrogeology.
forms part of the Northumberland Coalfield.
Coal mining and its decline has left a legacy
of reclaimedandunreclaimed spoilheaps, c) To organise the information obtained into
uncharted old
workings,subsidence
and a data-base/ archive.
abandonedshafts.Largeareas of variably
restored
opencastcoal
and
brick
clay
workings are
equally common.
This
has d) To present basic data and interpretations
given
rise
to
variableground conditions forselectedparts of thestudyareas as
whichcan pose problemsfordevelopment thematic maps andaccompanyingreports
and
derelictland
reclamation. When set in a form easilyunderstoodbyplanners
against
this
backgroundthe
need
for and
others
not
trained
in geology,
comprehensiveandup-to-dateinformation mining,
civil
engineering
related
or
on
the geological environment is readily disciplines.
apparent.
To
identify
e) the
need
for
further
investigations
specialist
or advice
in
This
study was thereforeundertaken
to
relation
specific
to
planning
and
examine and upgrade the geological database
development objectives and proposals.
and associateddatasets and
present
the
results in a formtoaidplanners,engineers
and geologists. Two sets of maps and
METHODOLOGY
accompanying reports have been prepared:
The
work
involved
the
collation
and
interpretation of datafrommanydifferent
1 (thisreport): A series of tenthematic
sources:- aspeciallycommissioned 1: 10 000
maps at the 1:25 000 scale
with an
scale field geological survey, coal
explanatory text.
exploration
boreholes,
deep
mine
and
opencast
coal
abandonmentplans,
site
2 (published separately, WA/90/19): A investigationboreholesandreports,existing
series
of
six
geological
maps
the
at geological
maps and memoirs and other
1: 10 000 scale with an explanatory text. archival
material
held
by
third
parties.
Computerised databases of boreholeand
geotechnical information were established.
The
study was fundedjointly
by
the
Department of the Environment and
the
CONCLUSIONS
BritishGeologicalSurvey (BGS). Thework
was carried out by BGS staff the
at
1. Thesurvey hascollatedandinterpreted
Newcastle
upon Tyne
office,
with
available
geological data
fromall
known
contributions
from
staff of the BGS
sources. It is the mostcomprehensivestudy
EngineeringGeology
and
Hydrogeology
of the geologyof thedistrictfor 50 years
research
Keyworth
groups
atand
and has resultedinsubstantialrevision of
Wallingford.
the geological maps. Theten 1:25 000 scale
thematic
maps,
six
new 1:lO 000 scale
geologicalstandards,explanatorytexts and
OBJECTIVES
thecomputeriseddatabasesprovideasound
The detailed objectives of the study were: basis fortheevaluation of geological issues
in land-use planning decisions.
a) Tocomplete,wherenecessary, new basic
field geological
mapping of the
study
2. Almost all the
district has been
area and produce revised maps.
undermined for coal. Shalfow mine

4
workings,present
in
many areas,
are
a 6 . Despitethe long history of mininglarge
potential cause oflandinstability,whereas resources of coalremainand,leaving aside
it is reasonabletoassumethatsubsidence planning
and
environmental
constraints,
caused
by deep
mining is generally there is considerablepotentialforopencast
complete. Over 240 disused shafts and adits extraction.
havebeenlocated andothersundoubtedly
exist. 7. Sand gravel
anddeposits
occur
extensively inthearea east of Morpeth.
Little
detailed
information
their
on
3. Below the top
weathered zone, till, thickness
composition
and exists
but
glacial sand and
gravel
and solid rock, inadvertent
sterilization
development
by
whichtogethercoveralargepart of the prior to assessment should be avoided.
district, provide good foundation conditions.
More variable conditions exist in the buried
valleys, where deposits of laminated silt and 8. Larger sandstone
units
the
in
Coal
clay may be present, and in the river valleys Measures are the principal aquifers. Mining
andestuaries,wherealluvialclay,siltand has caused significantmodification to the
peat possess relatively weakgeotechnical natural
hydrogeological
regime
and
its
properties. effects
considered
need
beto when
evaluating potential leachate movement from
4. Made ground and fill is extensive and of landfill sites.
variable
composition,
consolidation
and
thickness. Many restored opencast coal sites
exist but these are well documented; smaller 9. There is aremoterisk of methaneor
disused and infilled clay pits and sandstone oxygen-deficient
air
build-up
in
certain
quarries may producefoundation problems areas, especially those above unventilated
if not identified prior to construction. old mine workings.

Thisstudy has collatedandpresented all

5. Slopes, especially those driftin
available geological data but is not a
sediments,
mayprove
unstable
and
are
substitute for on site investigation. Where
liable toslip if oversteepenedorundercut
mining is suspected the
mine plans and
by rivers and the sea or disturbed by man.
shaft atlases maintained by British
Coal
should be consulted in the first instance.

5
1 INTRODUCTION incised valleys of the rivers
Blyth
and
Wansbeck andthe low sandstone hills upon
whichBedlington andNorth Seatonstand.
1.1 OBJECTIVES
Inthe west theground is moreundulating
This
report
describesthe results of a andsouth of Morpeth rises toover 85 m
research project fundedjointly by the above
sea level. The rivers Blyth
and
Department of the Environment and
the Wansbeck which drain
the
area,
flow
BGS (Contract PECD
7/1/241).
The eastwardsthrough gorges tomeet the coast
objectives of the project were to provide an at Blyth and Cambois. At Cambois the
up-to-date geological database for
~ the coastisa dune-fringedsandy baywhich
Morpeth,Bedlington andAshingtonarea as separates the low rocky headlands of
fo-undation
a for land-use planning and Newbiggin and North Blyth.
development, effective future geological
research andthesafeguarding of mineral
1.3
SOURCES
DATA AND
resources. The presentstudy is thethird METHODOLOGY
DOE sponsoredapplied geological mapping
project
south-east
in Northumberland, Severalcenturies of coalminingand,in
previous
surveys
covered
have the recentdecades, an extensive search for coal
Cramlington-Killingworth - NZ27 and seams which could be worked opencast have
Ponteland-Morpethdistricts - NZ17E and provided a wealth of geological data for the
18E (see Figure 1). BGS has undertaken district.
compiling
In this
report
and
thesestudies as part of itsprogrammeto accompanying maps data from the following
maintainitscoverage of 1:10 000 scale sources were collated and interpreted:
geological maps of the UK.
* detailed geological field survey at
1:10 000 scale
1.2 GEOGRAPHICAL
SETTING
The area described in this report lies to the
* deep mine coal boreholes and shaft
records
north of Newcastleupon Tynewithinthe
BlythValley,Castle Morpeth and Wansbeck * deep mine coal abandonment plans
districts of theCounty of Northumberland
(Figure 1). Thebuilt-up areas of Blyth,
* opencastcoalprospectingboreholes
Morpeth,Ashington,Bedlington,Newbiggin * opencastcoalcompletionplans
and
Stakeford
make up significant
a
proportion (~25%)of the land areabutin
* siteinvestigationboreholes,trialpits
and reports
the main the district is rural. The east coast
railline andthe A1 trunk road cross the * existing geological maps
district in the west.
* aerialphotographs
Coal mining was for centuries the dominant * Water Authoritydata
industryand has left
its
markon
the
landscape intheform of collierybuildings
* Local Authoritydata
and
terraces,
shafts,pit
heapsand
the * geological reportsandjournals
effects of subsidence.
Although
underground mining is now confined to one Thetype,quantity,qualityandlimitations
small privatemine,opencastcoalmining of each of these data sourcesisdealtwith
continuesandButterwell,currentlyone of in Appendix A.
the largest sites in Europe, is situated in the
north-west of district. the With the Computerised databases of borehole and
exception of opencastmining andthelarge geotechnical information
comprising
more
aluminium
electricity
smelting
and than 40 600 recordswereestablished. Their
generatingplantsatLynemouthand Blyth structure
and value, bothcurrent
and
respectively, industryinthedistrict inis described
now arepotential,
chieflybasedonsmalllightunitsinand AppendicesBand C. Computer-aidedand
around the urban areas. conventional
techniques
were used to
produce
the 1:10 000 scalestandard
Topographically, the east of the district is a
geological maps, the 1:25 000 scale thematic
featurelesstillplainrelievedonlybythe
maps and the accompanying reports.

6
 NORTH

NORTHUMBERLAND \
PONTELAND

- 70

KEY
A I
Major roads
---- Railways
- 0 - 0 - County boundarres

(7 Urban area

Recent BGS survey areas

I Current
survey area

0 5 10 krn
I I I
Scale

Figure 1. Location diagram

7
 1.6 CONFIDENTIALITY
1.4 PRESENTATION OF RESULTS Confidential
data,
chiefly
British Coal
Opencast Executive prospecting information,
Theresults of thestudyaredetailedin has beentakenintoaccountandusedina
Table 1. generalizedwayduringthepreparation of
the geologicalmaps, butdetails of specific
1.5 LIMITATIONS
boreholes are not individually quoted.
Thisreportandaccompanying mapshave
been
produced
the
by collation and 1.7 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
interpretation of geological, geotechnical Thehelpandcooperation of thefollowing
andrelateddatafrom awidevariety of are gratefully acknowledged:
sources.
However extensivethis
research
may seem thedataarenotcomprehensive BritishCoalDeepMines andOpencast
anddovaryinquality.It is inevitablethat Executive
this
will bereflected
in
the
documents Northumberland County Council
presented; local features and conditions may
not be represented and many boundaries Northumbrian Water Authority
may be only approximate. Landownersandtenantsinthesurvey
area.
Theaim has
been to
produce general
a
descriptionofthegeologicalfactorswhich
are
relevant
land-use
to planning
and
development. This
report
and
associated
documentscancontributetodraftingand
evaluatingstructureand local planpolicies,
they
mayalert
planners,
engineers
and
developers by highlighting particular aspects
of the geology of the district
but
they
cannot and should not replacesite-specific
surveys
aimed at evaluating potential
resources or hazards. Usersmustsatisfy
seeking
themselves
by appropriate
professionaladviceand
by
carryingout
groundsurveysthatconditionsaresuitable
for any particular land-use or development.

The maps were constructed in May 1989, no

information
subsequentto
that
date has
been taken into account.

8
 Table 1. Presentation of Results

Part I: report with ten 1:25 000 scale maps listed below (This report)

LE NUMBER MAP

1 Solid geology major rockunits,named

coals, faults.

Drift 2 geology Recent and glacial

(superficial) deposits.

3 elevation
Rockhead Contours at 10m intervals
on bedrock surface.

4 Drift thickness Thickness of superficial

deposits contoured at 10m
intervals.

5 Shallow mining Areas of known, probable

and possible coal mining
within 30 m of surface.

6 Made and disturbed Differentiation of

ground artificial ground,
location of landfill
sites.

Borehole and shaft Location of shafts,

sites boreholes, adits and
trial pits.

Engineering geology Surface rocks and soils

classified in geotechnical
terms.

Mineral and water Potential mineral deposits

resources (excluding and sites of extraction
coal)
10 factors
Geological Significant elements from
for consideration in individualthematicmaps
land-use planning presented together.

Part I1 report describing six 1:lO 000 scale standard geological maps listed below

NAME
NUMBER
MAP
NZ 28 NW Pegswood
NZ 28 NE Ashington
NZ 28 SW Nedderton
NZ 28 SE Bedlington
NZ 38 NW Newbiggin
NZ 38 SW Blvth
 2. GEOLOGICAL
SUMMARY
TheCoalMeasuressequenceincludesthe
(MAPS 1-4)
following lithologies:
2.0 INTRODUCTION
Mudstone is the most dominant lithology
The followingaccount is an introduction to and ranges in colour from light grey to dark
the geology of the district; its purpose is to grey.
Although
fossiliferous
immediately
provide sufficientbackground toplace in aboveacoalseam,mudstonesaregenerally
context the subsequent sectionsonland-use devoid of organicremainselsewhere. The
planning
elements. Adetailed
description mudstonesusuallybecomeincreasinglysilty
of the geology is given inasecondreport upwardsandgradeintosiltstones,or pass
(Part 11) which is published separately. by intercalation
and
interlamination of
sandybeds(striped-beds)intofine-grained
The
district is underlain by geological sandstone.
deposits of twovery different ages. Firstly,
thesolidrocks of theUpperCarboniferous Sandstone and Siltstone eitherformthin,
period
which
were
deposited 300-320 widespread sheets, less than
5 m in
million
years ago andcomprise Coal thickness,
elongate
or channel deposits.
Measuresstrata,
underlain
depth
at by 'Washouts' occur where
such channel
Millstone Grit (Figures 2,and
3 4*). sandstones cutdowninto,andremovethe
Secondly, Quaternary (Drift) depositswhich coal seams; the sandstone containing pebbles
are less than 18 000 years old andforman and fragments of derived mudstone and coal
unconsolidatedsuperficial
layer
which is ('scares'). Channel sandstonesalwayshave
generally between 5 and 20 m thick (Figures coarse bases althoughoverallgrain-size of
5 and 7). sandstonesdecreases the
up succession.
Sandstones are usually pale grey or cream at
depth, but nearthesurfacetheyweather to
2.1 SOLIDGEOLOGY(MAP 1)
rusty
brown
or, less commonly, white.
Theyare generally
well-cemented
with
2.1.1 Carboniferous Rocks
quartz being the dominant component.
In Carboniferous timesthearea lay ina
subsiding
basin - the
Northumberland Seatearths (fireclay or
ganister)
underlie
Trough. Vast delta systems fed
sediment every
coal
seam and
representthe
soil
from the surrounding landsurfacesintothe accumulation
vegetation
whichon
trough,
accumulatingsuccession
a over flourished.There is nocorrelationbetween
2 000 mthick.The successioncomprisesa the thickness or character of a seatearth and
series of cycles of sedimentation.Each of that of theoverlying coal. Seatearths are
these cycles began with an abrupt change of morepersistent thantheirassociated coals
relative
level
giving
seamarine
or and
grade from sandstone (ganister) to
near-marine conditions. The water mudstone(fireclay).Theyaredistinguished
shallowedassedimentsbuiltup to water from underlyingstrata by thepresence of
level and thefull
cycle ended
withthe rootlets
and
absence,
the extreme
or
establishment of forests and swamps on the disruption, of bedding with abundant highly
newly formed land. Eachcycle
gave a polished (listric) surfaces.
repeated
sequence of types
rock
(cyclothem)**ideallystartingwitha basal Coals are of bituminousrankandrangein
marinemudstoneandcontinuingupwards thickness fromthin coaltraces to about
throughnon-marine mudstone, siltstone, 2 m. All seams varylaterallyinthickness;
sandstone andseatearth to coal. However some thin and
die
out, although
their
cycles
the rarely
are
complete
and position may beindicatedbytheassociated
commonly die out or split laterally. andmorepersistentseatearth. Some seams
split
are by interdigitation of other
* The Figures reducedfrom the 1:25 000 sediment; splits may be on either a regional
scale
maps aresimplified portrayals. The
ora local scale.Many seams have2or
appropriate map shouldalways be consulted
cm
3 of cannel coal
immediately above.
for detailed information.
The coal seams formed from vegetation
** A shortglossary of technicalterms used which
swamps
grew
in which
were
in this report is presented on page 55. sufficientlyde-oxygenatedforthepartial

10
 aregenerally less than 5 mwideand, in
preservation of vegetable matter. The most cases, arebothlaterallyandvertically
thicknesstowhichacoalseamdeveloped
discontinuous.
Surface
evidence of their
and
the
amount of splitting
by
other
presence is limitedtosections in opencast
sediments was determinedbytherate of
coalworkings,twopossiblequarriesanda
subsidence of the original vegetation surface
formerexposureontheforeshoreatBlyth
and its potential inundation.
[3185 82201.
Thereare
approximately 35 named coal
seams inthedistrict,at least 22 of which
have
been
mined.Despite
(or
perhaps 2.2 DRIFTGEOLOGY(MAP2)
because of)the longhistory of miningin Overmuch of thedistrictthebedrockor
thearea,coal seamnomenclaturesuffers rockheadsurface is coveredbyQuaternary
considerably from homonyms (different coal deposits (Figure 5). The form of the
seamscalled the same name, e.g. High rockhead surface on which these deposits lie
Main)andsynonyms(the samecoalseams is illustratedby
the
rockhead elevation
called different names, e.g. Beaumont and contours of Figure 6 and MAP 3. These
Harvey); some due to mis-correlation, others showa majorpre-glacial
valley
system
introduced for
commercial reasons. The entering the
districtfromthe west and
seamnameswhich appearonthe geological south-westanddecliningtoadepthwell
maps andinthisreportareforthe most below present
sea
levelat
Cambois. In
part those adopted Land
by (1974). these
valleys
variedglacial
sediments,
a
Correlation has been made with the standard product of the last ice age, reach thicknesses
classificationusedbyBritish Coal andthe in excess of 60 m (Figure 7 and MAP 4).
appropriate seam index letter has been Incontrasttheinterfluvialareasgenerally
includedinthe generalisedverticalsection haveathin (less than 10 m) drift covering
of each 1:10 000 scale geological map, consistingalmost entirely oftill(boulder
togetherwith
commonly occurring
local clay). The youngest deposits (less than
names and Table 2 lists the more significant 12000 yearsold andthereforepost-dating
variations.Adetailed
descriptioncan be the lastice sheet) are the silts, muds,sands
found in the Part I1 report. and gravelswhich flankthepresentrivers
and coastline.
Sideritic
Ironstone (whin) is common,
developed
either as nodules,
generally 2.2.1 Till
flattened paralleltobedding, or aslayers.
In themetreor so abovecoalseamsit Till(BoulderClay) is present over much of
typically forms laterally continuous beds up district.Atdepth,whereit is unweathered,
to about 10 cmin thickness. Ferruginous thetillusuallycomprisesastiffgreyto
concretions are common in seatearths. grey-brownsilty,sandy,stonyclay.Near
surface however, in the first metre or so till
is usually represented
mottled
a by
2.1.2 Structure orange-brown and pale grey silty, sandy and
sporadically
onlyTill
clay.
stony
The
rocks
were all foldedand
faulted thicknesses of over 40m have been recorded
during
late
Carboniferous times
(about in boreholes and may exceed 60m inthe
280 millionyears ago). Subsequently,about Stobhill andStannington areas. Thin lenses
60 million years ago, they were tilted gently and partings of sand and gravel and silt and
eastwardswithsome furtherfaulting.The clay arecommonlyfoundinthetilland
regional dip of thestrata is tothe east or stones and boulders,
while generally less
south-eastbutthere is considerable local than 100mm, may
exceptionally reach
variation(Figure 4). The estimatedposition several metres across.
of thelarger
faults is shownon
the
geological map (MAP 1).
2.2.2 Glacial Sand and Gravel
2.1.3 Igneous Dykes The mostextensivedeposit of glacialsand
Severaligneous dykes of Tertiary agehave and gravel occurs in the west of the district
been
recordedin
mineworkings
in
the aroundParkHouse,Shadfen,Hepscottand
district.Theseintrusionstrend WNW-ESE, North
Choppington to
the
south of the

14
Table 2 Coalseamnomenclature

This report Local or county name(s) British Coal

Index Letter

Moorland Blackclose DE 1

Ashington High Main, Upper High Main, Ashington High

Main DE2

High Main Diamond, Top Main, New Main E

Me tal Top Main, Middle Main, Grey, Top Grey F1

Five-quarter Bottom Main, Bottom Grey F2

Bentinck Top Yard G1

Top Bensham Top Maudlin, Cowpen Bensham, Cambois

Duke, Bensham H1

Bottom Bensham Bottom Maudlin, Stone, Cowpen Five-

quarter, Cambois Five-quarter, Quarry,
Six-quarter H2

Durham Low Five-quarter, Pegswood Band, Cowpen Brass

Main Thill J

Northumberland Brass Thill, Pegswood Yard K

Low Main

Plessey Hutton, Low Low Main L

Bottom Plessey Cheeveley, Lower Yard, Ruler M

Beaumont Harvey, Pegswood Tilley N

Tilley Widdrington Yard, Denton Low Main P

Top Busty Barmoor, Pegswood Harvey, Widdrington

Five-quarter Q1

Bottom Busty Pegswood Top Busty, Splint, Old Man,

Hepscott, Widdrington Main (or Top Main) Q2

Three-quarter Widdrington Main (or Bottom Main), Little,

Pegswood Bottom Busty R

Brockwell Bandy S

Victoria Choppington Brockwell T

Marshall Green Choppington Victoria U

 River Wansbeck. It consists of brown and 2.2.8 Blown Sand
greymedium-grainedsandandsandysilt
These wind-transported sediments fringe the
ranging to 18m in thickness* . coast
dunes,
as the
inland
edge of which are
boreholesrecord apparently less persistent
generallyindistinct.Likethedepositsabove
deposits atvarying levels withinthe glacial
theymaychangetheirextentandthickness
sequence. in a relatively short period of time.
2.2.3 Laminated Silt and Clay
Thisdeposithasnotbeendifferentiated at
surface
known
but
is from borehole
..
.
evidenceandclaypitworkingsto bemost
prevalent
the
inburied valley between
Choppingtonand Cambois. the deposits are
usually finelylaminated
and
virtually
stone-free and may
be
intercalated
with
fine-grainedsand
partings
andthin
till
units.

2.2.4 River Terrace Deposits

Theseare
developed along the Wansbeck
where they comprise sand and gravel which
is hard-packedtowardsthe base andupto
4 m thick. Very few
other details are
available.

2.2.5 Alluvium
Sedimentdepositedbyriversandstreams
flanks
many of the watercourses in the
district
and is variable
a deposit of
sand/silt/clay/gravel ofcontaining
ten
. organicdebris.
2.2.6 Marine
or Estuarine Alluvium
ThesesedimentsoccurbelowtheNormal
TidalLimit.The most extensivespread has
beenmappedon
the
south
bank of the
Blyth Estuary [290 8221, where it consists of
beds of silty,pebblyclayandsandand
gravel. Thedeposit also occursbeneaththe
tidalflats of theriver Wansbeck buthere
' comprisesupto 11.6m of sandandgravel.
2.2.7 Marine Beach and Tidal Flat
The beaches are chiefly of sandwith
subordinateshingle.Tidalflats of mud and
silt occur
the
in Blyth and Wansbeck
estuaries.
All of these deposits are
in
a
dynamicsituation (likelyto be affected by
the action o f the rivers and the sea) and are
therefore
subject
to changes of extent,
thickness and composition over a very short
timescale.

17
 3.1 COAL
MINING
3 LAND STABILITY AND GROUND
Almost all the district has been undermined
CONDITIONS (MAPS 5-8)
and, in general, the number of seams which
have
been removedincreases
to
the
east
(Table 3). However, with
the
closure of
3.O INTRODUCTION Ashington Colliery in 1988, large scale deep
mining of coal inthedistrict ceased. The
Thissectiondescribesfactorswhichmay presence of such extensive
underground
affectgroundconditionsandstabilityand workings poses twoquestionswhichshould
thereforehaveimportantimplicationsfor always be asked prior to any development.
planninganddevelopment. Coal Mining is
These are:
likelytobe theprincipalcause of potential
ground instability in this district and mining 1) "Has the area been undermined?"
methods
stability
the
and
problems 2) If so, "at what depth and by what method?
associated withthemarereviewed. MAP 5
indicatesareas
which
are
thought to
be
underlain by shallow mining and locates The last question is fundamental because the
shaftsandaditsknowto BGS andBritish depthand style of anyminingisdirectly
Coal. The particular
hazards posed by linked
to
the
subsequent stability of the
shafts and adits are also detailed below. groundsurface.Forthis reason,ahistory
of miningmethods intheNorthumberland
coalfield is outlined below.
Under Engineering Geology the rocks and
superficial
depositsare
describedin a
3.1.1 History of Mining Methods
geotechnicalcontext,
and
the
essentially
qualitative descriptions are supplemented by Coal was probably worked in this region by
information from adatabasecreatedduring theRomans,buttheearliestdocumented
theproject. MAP 8 classifies the deposits working is fromtheyear 1236 whenthe
exposed at surface in engineering terms and monks of Newminster,nearMorpeth,were
indicatesthesites of thoseboreholes with granted
mining
rights
near Blyth
geotechnical
test
results.
Madeground, (Galloway, 1882). Thefirstworkingswere
depicted on MAP 8, is also the subject of a likely to have been at outcrop, either on the
separatemap, MAP 6 , wheretheextent of coastal cliffsorinthe valleysides. By the
disturbed
landscaped
or ground is end of 13th century coal was being
additionallyshownand
made ground is extracted from shallow driftsoraditsand
subdivided on the basis of composition. frombell-pits.Thelatterconsisted of a
shaft, usually about 1 m across sunk through
the
overlying
strata
the
to
coal at a
MAP 7 illustrates sites
the of all
maximumdepth of about 12 m. The coal
non-confidential boreholes, shafts, adits and
was thenworkedallaroundtheshaftuntil
trial pits held by BGS and for which further
unsupported
the roof became unsafe.
information is available. Slope movement
Anotherpit was thensunkadjacenttothe
may cause foundation problems, therefore
first
and
the process
repeated.
The
areas of steep slopeshavebeendelineated
excavatedarea of coal was roughly circular
on Figure 11 and known landslips are shown
and no morethan 20 m across. Although
more
indetail
on MAP 8. Data on
crude, with careful management, the system
flooding, actual and potential, was provided
recoveredahighpercentage of the seam.
by theNorthumbrian Water Authorityand
Because of the depth limitation, only narrow
this has beensupplementedbyinformation
strips close totheoutcropcould bemined
fromthe BGS field survey
(Figure 12).
andthepotentialreserveswereaccordingly
Brief reviews of theeffects of coal mining
small. No positive examples of bell
pits
on the local hydrogeology andthepotential
have been noted in the district.
problems of methane and deoxygenatedair
conclude the section.
It is of morethanacademicinterestthat
almost every major industrial dispute in the
miningindustry(includingthe 1984 strike)
has seen a return to these primitive methods

20
Table 3 Former collieries with a take within the district

Colliery Approximate Date workings

Grid Reference abandoned
of Mine Entrance

Ashington 266 880 1988

Barmoor 217 840 1911
Barrington 265 237 1938
Bates 306 823 1986
Bedlington A 274 830 1971
Bedlington D (or Doctor) 260 822 1968
Bedlington E (or West Sleekburn) 281848 1962
Bedlington F (or Bomarsund) 270 847 1968
Bessie Grey (New) 210 865 1937
Bothal Park 232 878 1961
Cambois 303 847 1968
Catchburn 203 831 1921
Choppington A 250 841 1966
Choppington B (or High) 242 848 1966
Choppington North 242 848 ?
Clifton 203 827 1899
Clifton West 199 832 1947
Cottingwood West 205 873 1918
Cowpen 306 815 1946
Ewart Hill 246 807 1954
Hartford 269 794 1961
Hepscott 239 838 1924
Horton Grange (or Bebside) 281 813 1962
Howburn 208 868 1962
Isabella (or Cowpen Isabella) 300 807 1966
Lilly 209 814 1926
Longhirst 238 890 1961
Longhirst Drift 233 887 1969
Longhirst Grange 215 881 1901
Mill (or Crofton Mill) 316 811 1969
Morpeth Banks 215 875 ?
Morpeth Moor 211 870 1917
Netherton (or Hartley West) 233 819 1974
Netherton Hall 231837 1943
Newbiggin 309 885 1967
Newsham (or New Delaval) 292 802 1955
North Seaton 290 858 1966
Park House 214 861 1931
Pegswood 228 872 1969
Woodhorn 289 884 1981

Note: other small coal workings exist throughout the district

Table 4 Opencast coal sites

Site Grid Date Coal seam(s) Coal

Reference coaling worked recovered
completed Mg (tomes)
Active
Butterwell 211810 - Victoria to
?Durham Low Main

Cowpen Road 286 814 - Moorland -

Abandoned

Abyssinia I+IIA 250 885 1955 High Main 18860"

and Metal

Acorn Bank + 255 805 1966 High

Main, Metal, 6830
871
Extensions Five-Quarter,
Bentinck, Yard

Bebside 278 820 1985 Moorland ?

(Furnance Bank)

Bebside 284 808 1970 Ryhope Five- 42 837

(Hathery Lane) Quarter, Ryhope
Little

Bedlington 266 824 1983 Moorland 11794

Reclamation
Heap

Climbing Tree 226 868 1957 Bensham, Durham Low 140 545
Main, Northumberland
Low Main, Plessey,
Bottom Plessey

Ewart Hill and 250 812 1954 High Main, Metal, 2 263 083
Ewart Hill Deep Five-Quarter

Fawdon House 217872 1945 Durham Low Main 31 620

Netherton I+II 230 825 1948 Top Durham Low Main, 166132
Northumberland
Low Main

Pegswood Moor 223 871 1945 Bensham, Durham 500" 118

Low Main, Northumberland
Low Main

Stepping Stones 269 808 1958 Moorland 349 101

of working withlittleattempt to reinstate excavation has increased to more than
shafts or workings afterwards. 100 m. One of the largest opencastsites in
Europe is situated at Butterwell to
the
In medieval times deeper resources of coal north-east of Morpeth [210 8901. A list of
were worked by driving headings from a the opencast sites within the district is given
shaft through the coal seams with cross cuts in Table 4.
atirregularintervals.Adequateventilation 3.1.2 Stability Problems caused by Mining
was usually the limiting factor to the extent
of the workings. This mining style The most serious hazard whichtheearly
progressively developed regulara pattern methods of working present to a planner or
with roadways intersecting at right angles developer is that in most cases they are not
and unmined pillars of coal leftsupporting documentedandany plans which do exist
the roof - amethod known as pillar and are likely to be inaccurate.
stall or bord and pillar. It became the
established system of mining in the Althoughthis
survey did notencounter
Northumberland and
Durham
Coalfield, ancient bell pit workings it cannot be
withinitial
extraction
rates of 40-50% assumed that they do not exist, or that they
commonly increased by the practise of have necessarily collapsed and are now
removing the pillars on retreating. Most satisfactorilycompacted. It is known from
seams mined in this district have been other areas that bell pitswere commonly
worked at some point by the pillar and stall only partlybackfilled
and
the
state of
method. Occasionally the early
irregular compaction was not good. If any
are
mining is revealed when opencast workings presenttheyarelikelytooccurwithinthe
cutinto
in shallow seams, (e.g. Cowpen 30m limits shown on MAP 5. Shallow drifts
Road, Bebside [286 8151). associated with outcrop workings (including
those workedduringstrikes) mayalsobe
Although a mechanized version of pillar and left in poor condition.
stall mining is still used today at Ellington
Colliery justnorth of thedistrict, by the Shallow pillar andstall workings have been
beginning of the 19th century, many identified at a number of locations and are
collieries were workinglarger areas of coal pxobably present elsewhere within the
by the shortwall
or panel method. This district.
Near
surface
they
can pose
system extracted coal from a broad face particular problems. Theydo not collapse
withthe roof supported by wooden props, when mining has ceased since earth
leaving a space which was subsequently pressures, at shallow depths were not
packed withdebrisand small coal allowing sufficient. However, the roof becomes
the roof to settledown steadily. Extraction weaker with time and sudden
failure,
rates of up to 80% were achieved andthe particularly
through loading by new
method was sometimes used inconjunction construction, may occur.
with, or used to rework, areas of pillar and
stall. Site investigations need to be properly
designed andexecuted to identifythistype
Longwall mining developed from this of working as much of the coal is left
method and in its mechanized form was the undisturbed in pillars and, if too few
last system of mining to beused inthe boreholes aredrilled or if theyaredrilled
district. Two parallel headings, typically on aregulargrid,they may only find the
about 200 m apart, are driven from a main pillars and miss the voids.
development road. Between these headings
the coal was excavated. As theface was Additionally, because packing of workings
advancedthe roof behindthe working face with rock was not necessary, and where
was allowed to collapse. roof measures have subsided to rest on the
seatearthwithslightdisturbance,the only
In thetwentiethcentury,thedevelopment evidencein borehole cores may be alittle
of mechanical earth-movers made powdered coalstained,aon slightly
large-scale opencastminingpractical.The weathered andperhapsrustyseatearth.It
initial sites developed during the early 1940s is, thereforeimportant that
in
anysite
were seldom excavated deeperthan 20 m, investigation
potential
the problems
but since then the economic limit to associated with pillar and stall workingare

23
 allowed andfor comprehensive
a
report
mining
geotechnical
and Piggottand
Eynon (1978) identified the
commissioned. squeeze of floor or roof strata as a common
cause of failure of shallowcoalworkings.
Piggott andEynon (1978) noted
three In such cases, the strength of the coal pillars
principalmechanisms of failure of pillar such
is
that
the
earth
pressures
are
and stall workings:- transferredtotheflooror roof strataand
their
bearingcapacity
becomescritical
a
' i) collapse of roof bedsspanningadjacent
pillars factor. If the pillar is strong enoughto
carry the load, it will be 'punched' into the
ii) pillar- failure roof orfloor measures, particularlywhere
low strengthseatearthsunderliethecoalor
iii) squeeze of floor or roof strata
whereformerworkingsareflooded.The
lastsituationmaybecomemoresignificant
Suddencollapse of the bedsspanningthe
as minewaterlevelsrise as aresult of the
stalls
is the
major cause of ground
cessation of pumping (see 3.5).
instabilityproblems. The void propagates
upwardsunderthecombinedinfluences of
Much has been published
on
subsidence
gravity and weathering, until the whole void
induced by longwallmining (see Bell et al.,
becomes choke-filledwithdebris, or more
1988). Generallytheamountofsubsidence
competentbedsarereached. If the void
is a function of depth,thewidth of the
reaches thesurface,itforms acrownhole
panel
mined and
the
thickness of strata
(pitfall).
whole
series
A of these
removed.Subsidence occurs
rapidly
after
depressions
occur west of the
mining and is usually complete about a year
Ashington-EllingtonRoad [260 8861 where
after extraction, although a small amount of
shallowworkings in
the
Ashington Seam
residual subsidence may occur over the next
havecollapsed.Piggott andEynon (1978)
few years.Consequentlywhilethismethod
showedempirically
that
the
maximum
problems
cause
may for existing
height of collapse in BritishCoalmeasures
developments it poses few problems for
is commonly up to 6 times the height of the
subsequent development of the land.
minevoid but may, exceptionally exceed 10
times theheight.Thisrelationship is also
Subsidencecausedbyall of thesemining
considered valid
by
Garrard and
Taylor
methodswill
usually
extendbeyond
the
(1988) although they have reservations about
limit of working(thedraw zone) and may
the bulking theory and regard arching as the
be influencedbynaturalfaulting (2.1 2 )
dominantvoid-arrestingmechanism;stating
which is often reactivated by mining.
that up to 70%of the old workings in their
studywerelikelytosuffer some further
3.1.3 Shallow Mining(MAP 5)
collapse if disturbed, (for
instance
by
additional
loading).
However, as Carter Shallow coalworkings
shown
are on
(1984) has noted, 'safe-depth'
rules
are Figure8and MAP 5 whereanattempt has
often broken in real-life situations. been
madedelimit
to areas of known,
inferredand possiblemining atdepths of
It is possible that the deterioration of pillars less than 30 m fromsurface.Theareas
may take place after many years but delineatedaregeneralizedanddonottake
generallypillarfailure is rarein shallow intoaccountsubsidencedraw zones which
coal
working, provided that
the
original will extendbeyondthe
limits
shown. In
pillar geometry was sufficient to support the consideringparticularsites it is essential to
roof.PiggottandEynon (1978) commented consult the original documents (held
by
that the pillars left by ancient mining were BritishCoalMiningRecordsOffice,Mine
usually muchgreaterin cross-section than Service Centre,Tursdale, Co. Durham,
was required support
to the over-lying DH65NT)
from
which
much of the
strata.However,failure may occurwhere information has beenabstracted. Workings
pillars arevery small orhavebeenrobbed knownfrommine planscan beanticipated
at later
a date.Pillars may also collapse but
the
areas of inferredor possible
long aftermining has ceasedwhen piles workingshownon MAP 5 aremuch less
associated withmodernconstruction,create certain. It is important to remember that
highly concentrated loads. ancient, unrecorded workings -may occur at

24
shallow depth in any area where a coal thick
enough to beworkedlies near the surface 3. Presence of gas
(see individual 1: 10 000 scale geological Various gases may be found in
standards for detailedinformation on coal unventilated old workings. These include
positions). carbon dioxide and nitrogen (blackdamp),
3.1.4 Shafts and adits which may create an
oxygen-deficient
atmosphere and cause asphyxiation;
The sites of shafts and aditsare shown on methane (firedamp), which is explosive
MAPS 1 , 5, 7 and 10 and also on the
inamixture of 5 - 15940 withairand
1: 10 000 scale geological standards. All
finallycarbon monoxide and hydrogen
shaftsandadits known to BGS and British sulphide(stinkdamp), both of which are
Coal have been plotted but their positions in
poisonous even at low concentrations.
somecases may be inaccurateand it is not The escape of oxygen-deficient air
claimed that all have been traced. during periods low of atmospheric
Particular
care should be taken in those pressure has proved aparticular problem
areas wherethe Moorland (or Blackclose) inthe Cramlington and Seaton Delaval
seam lies at shallow depth,for example at areas immediately south of the district.
and around Blyth and Bedlington and
north-east of Stakeford Bridge.
4. Pollution o f water supplies
Old shafts provide artificial channels
The location and condition of disused shafts allowing water topass from one aquifer
clearly affectsthesafety of any proposed to another. If one aquifer becomes
development and poses the following polluted, ashaft can act as apath for
specific hazards. spreadingthe pollution to otheraquifers
1. Accidental Entry (see section on Effects of Coal Mining on
Hydrogeology; 3.5).
fall
Adownshaft
a results almost
inevitably in serious injury or death.
Much of this section has been drawnfrom
Apart from afall,there is danger of National Coal Board publication "The
drowning, suffocation
or poisoning by Treatment Disused
of Mine Shafts and
gas. Inanaditthere isalso a danger Adits" (1982); this handbook contains useful
from falls of roof strata. information
about
the location and
treatment of disused shafts and adits and is
2. Movement or collapse o f ground
commended to planners and developers who
The surface near a shaft may subside or may encounter unsuspected old workings.
collapse. If the shaft lining has
deteriorated,
the collapse may not be
confined to the diameter of the shaft but
may spread to form crater.
a The
diameter of the crater is afunction of
thedepth to competentstrata and the
angle of repose of the incompetent strata
that collapses. Collapsesmayalso occur
beneath competent strata in a shaft; these
may not immediately affectthesurface
the
but collapse may reduce the
load-bearing
capacity of the ground
around the shaft.

Old mine shafts may collapse because of

changes in ground water levels, additional
surface loadings due tonew structures or
tipping,
vibration
from
traffic, mining
subsidence or blasting. The collapse of
one shaft may cause nearby shafts, linked
by underground workings, become
to
unstable.

26
3.2 ENGINEERING GEOLOGY (MAP 8) Table 6 summarises the geotechnical
properties values and their
variation,
The geological materials of the district have
obtained from a simple statistical analysis of
been allocated to fiveprincipal groups on
the geotechnical database established for the
the basis of their predicted behaviour in an
project (see Appendix C). Apart from
engineering context; in certain cases the simple visual checks of scatterplots and
engineering divisions split or combine
histograms, no attempt was made to validate
geological units (Table 5). With the
individual test results or to take account of
exception of laminated silt and clay, MAP 8
the depth or location of samples, so that all
(Figure 9) shows thenature of only the are equally 'weighted'. For most samples
topmost material likely to be encountered only a few geotechnical tests had been
during development or investigation. The
carriedoutandrarely was a full range of
5 m drift thickness contour is delineated on
test results available for particular
a
the map as an indication of the areas in
lithological/geotechnical unitwithin one
which some foundations or trenches for
borehole. In most cases, the
difference
services may encounter solid rock; outside between the maximum and minimum values
this area, MAPS 3 and 4 (Figures 6 and 7)
is large. The information should only be
should be consulted foran indication of
used,therefore,asaguide when planning a
likely drift thickness or rockhead elevation.
site investigation and not asa substitute for
The geotechnical propertiesand behaviour
a sampling and testing programme.
of theengineering divisions and their
constituent geological units are discussed
Details of the tests andthe methods of
below according to their engineering
applying them insite investigations can be
geology classification.
found
in publications of the British
Standards Institution, B.S. 1377 and
B.S. 5930. A summary of the tests and their
applications is given in Appendix C.
Table 5 Engineering Geology Divisions

Description Lithology Geological Formation

ROCKS Sandstone, siltstone, Coal Measures and

mudstone, coal Millstone Grit
seatearth

SOILS
Normally Clays and silts Alluvium
consolidated Marine Beach and Tidal Flat
cohesive Marine and Estuarine Alluvium
Laminated Silt and Clay
Overconsolidated Clay Till
cohesive
Non-cohesive Sand and gravel Blown Sand
Alluvium
Marine Beach and Tidal Flat
Marine and Estuarine Alluvium
Glacial Sand and Gravel
Fill, made ground Highly variable Made Ground

27
3.2.1 Rock bridge piers are concerned. Chemical tests
indicate that no special precautions need be
Rock generally has adequate bearing taken against sulphateattackonconcrete
capacity for domestic and light industrial buried within sandstone.
structures using normal foundations.
However the weathering process commonly Mudstones and Siltstones range from weak
reduces thestrength of a rock and weaker to strong, strength decreasing with
material may beencountered where rock increasing weathering. Their clay minerals
crops out, or at rockhead where drift covers are stable, but mudstones weather rapidly
an old weathered surface. Consequently on exposure andexpandoncontact with
ease
of excavation inthe rock generally water, making them liable to heave, so that
varies with the degree of weathering. excavations should be protected as far as is
Geological faults,or displacement, within possible against wetting and will usually
the solid rocks may have produced broken need support. Explosives are not generally
rock orjuxtaposed rocks of varying type required in surface excavations; weathered
and strength.
Undermining may have mudstones are diggable, but they may need
widened joints in overlying rocks and ripping when fresh. As weathered material
loosened blocks, particularly of sandstone, has a lower bearing capacity than
so that they are unstable in excavations or unweathered it may be necessary to place
above tunnels and may require special foundations (e.g. footingsor piles) beneath
support. the weathered materials. The weathered
Few test results are available for the solid zonehas been recordedin boreholes up to
rocks in the district. It should be noted that about4mthick, for completely weathered
on weathering the rocks gradually change rock, but the degree of weathering decreases
into soils in situ and that the summary beneath this depth. Weathering is greater
values given in Table 5 include a range of where drift cover is less. Thefewsulphate
weathered to unweathered samples. determinationsonthe materials place them
in classes 1and2 of the BRE classifiction
Sandstones fine-
from
vary to (Building Research Establishment, 1983).
coarse-grained. of Some the However, disseminated pyrite may be
coarser-grained sandstones are gritty
and present withinthe rocks, rapid weathering
highly abrasive, othersare quartz-cemented of which leads to ground water of high
and extremely hard.Ganister,a variety of acidity(pH<4)in which abundantsulphate
sandstone seatearth found beneath some ions maybe present so thatthe possibility
coals
is particularly
a tough rock. of attackon
buried
concrete must be
Excavation and tunnelling in sandstones considered. Trenching in mudstones is
generally presents few support problems, generally relatively easy, but tunnelling at
with the possible exception of undermined depths of12 mor less presents substantial
areas (see above). Near rockhead weathered support problems. A recent useful
sandstones will probably be rippable,but
discussion of properties
the Coal
of
explosives may be required to break up Measures mudrocks is given by Taylor
unweathered rock to facilitate excavations. (1988).
The
depth of weathering varies and
probably exceeds 6 min places. It can be Seatearth mudstones probably
are the
extremely difficult
in boreholes to commonest lithology immediately underlying
differentiate between basal drift deposits
coal seams though locally they may occur
containing sand and weathered sandstone unaccompanied by a coal. They are
bedrock, especially where recovery is strikingly different
from
the sandstone
incomplete. Such differentiation is,
seatearths (or ganisters) noted above and
however, extremelyimportant as sandstones typically consist of readily-weathered clay
commonly weather irregularly to produce an minerals andabundant random internal
uneven rockhead surface. Loose sand from polished ("listric") surfaces, which make
weathering can be adjacent to virtually
them potentialy unstable both in excavations
unweathered rock and the different bearing
and under load. Disseminated pyrite may
capacities of the adjacent materials mustbe alsobe present and comments made above
allowed for foundation
in design, concerning the weathering of this mineral in
particularlywheremajorstructures such as mudstones apply here too.

29
 5l
SOLID ROCKS
t
52
SANDSTONE 132( 1 21 ) 14.0
____ 6-500 7.9-1 9.7
:ROCK:
74 26 5 7 7 32 25
"ISToNE AND
99(83) 2.1 2(0.14)1.72(0.18) 18 24 129(94) 7.1 (1 0.6)
SILTSTONE
W I 10-480 11.81 -2.4811.47-1.891 16-24 17-35 3-469 0-34

* see AppendixC for explan ation of

Number of values
Standard
Deviation of values,
classes used
describe
to the
results
givenwhere a t least 10 valuesofconsolidationandsulphatetests.
Mean value superscript
after
present.
The are class value
indicates the number of samples
with that value.
C
SULPHATE
ItbblMlLl IY GRAVEL

CLASS* Mv Mg/m3 Cv CLASS*

DRY DENSITY
Fulu%
ItN,
% % % %

7.0

I 1 1
6.2
5.5-6.9
4

16
109(21)
85-143
9
::5
: 5
1:2
:

39
7-96
17
4-35
67
48-80
4 ;
I I
5
1-1 3
6.4-7.0
7.3(0.5) 161 23
6.0-8.8
83 17 16 87 100
1 06(37) 44(2 5) 27(24) 7.1 (0.5) l 8 5 2 l 1
9-1 82 5-94 4-95 5.0-8.1 4 33

~~

3 3 3 2 2
34 51 7 .O 1
l 5 13-50 43-55
45 5 41 5
73(25) 20(23) 6.8 1
8-99 1-75 6.5-7.5
9 8
83 19

1
45-1 00 2-55
1 3 21 21 5 40 45 26
71 3 1.73(0.08) 14(2) 11 8(8; 19(15) 60(28)
1.60-1.91 1 1 - 1 7 1-32 2-29 2-60 2-98
4 1 13 13 13 63 69
73 3 1.81(0.26) 13(5) 33(35) 57(26)
36-96 1.25-2.08 8-22 1-99 10-99

The values given for geotechnical parameters are the result of an interpretation of data obtained
from site investigation reports. Sampling was not done in a statistically valid way and the mean
and standarddeviation are thereforenotstatistically valid.However, theydo give a useful
indication of values and spread of the geotechnical properties. It must be emphasised that many
of the lithostatigraphical units are variablelaterallyand vertically and that some sands may
occur in predominantly clay units and clays may occur in predominantly sand units.
3.2.2 NormallyConsolidatedCohesive Soils The grey or grey-brown clay of the Marine
and Estuarine alluvium varies from very soft
These soils are commonly very soft to soft,
to stiff, but is generally firm with medium
are highly compressible and are of low
compressibility anda medium to fairly
bearing capacity. Even lightweight
rapid
rate of consolidation. Hydrostatic
structures will commonly require special
foundationstospreadthe load or piles to pressures inthe estuarine alluvium may
transfer
the load to deeper,
stronger fluctuate because of tidal influence.
Groundwater
control for excavations,
foundations. The deposits can vary laterally
together with shoring are usually required.
in composition, leading to possible
differential settlement where structures cross
3.2.3 OverconsolidatedCohesive Soils
compositional boundaries. Gravel layers
within
them may locally provide better Glacial till (boulder clay) is the only deposit
foundation conditions. However, the in this category within the district. It is the
thickness of the gravel andnature of the most widespread surface deposit and is the
deposits underlying it must be determined. material on which most development has
taken place, consequently it has yielded
Laminated silt and clay consists of more geotechnical test data than
other
blue-grey, brown weathering finely deposits (MAPS 2 and 8, Table 6). Thetill
laminated clay, siltand silty clay. It is of usually has a distinct weathered upper layer,
soft to stiff consistency with intermediate generally weaker, less dense, more plastic
plasticity, low to moderate compressibility and with a higher moisture content than the
and medium to fairly fast
rate of underlying unweathered material. This
consolidation (owing to the drainage effect weathered layer was identified as a distinct
of thesilty laminae). MAP 8 indicates the unitin several site investigation reports,
areas in which it may be present within although it was not mapped as aseparate
other glacial deposits; these areas are based unit. Its test results have been enteredinto
on an interpretation of information derived the geotechnical database under the heading
from boreholes andformer exposures. A of 'Superficial Mottled Clay'. It is a
maximum known thickness 12 of m is red-brown
or mottled grey-brown and
recorded former
the
from Foggos orange-brown sandy silty or clay with
Brickworks [250 8351. Laminated clay and pebbles. Thedepth to which the till has
silt have a low safe angle of rest and been affected by weathering varies. It is
excavations need close support. commonly weathered to 3 or 4 m, adepth
within which most normal foundations
Peat has not been mapped at surface, but is would be placed and extends to at least 8 m
known to be present within alluvial Northumberland
in (Eyles and Sladen,
deposits, usually associated with soft grey 1981).
organic clays, andbeneath sand dunes (e.g.
Locally the undrained shear strength of the
atNorth Blyth). Geotechnical data for peat
Superficial Mottled Clay may be increased
is available for only 3 boreholes within the
near the surface where the clays are dry or
district. It is essentially highly compressible
with very
a low bearing capacity. In where secondary effects have led to unusual
excavations it may either stand well without compaction. Lower parts can besoftand
plastic, particularlywhereincontact with
support, or flow and require close boarding.
Its propertiesare described in detail
in underlying water- bearing strata (e.g. glacial
sands and gravels), such as was observed to
Hobbs (1 986).
south
the of Morpeth. The reversed
strength gradient which thus can be induced
Clay-rich alluvium is present along the
must be taken fully
into
account
in
flanks of the rivers Blyth and Wansbeck and
foundation design. It is an especial hazard
their
tributaries above the Normal Tidal
in open excavations which are reasonably
Limitand also occurs commonly as peaty
stable where the clays are dry,
but
flats on the surface of the glacial sand and
dangerously unstable where lower parts of
gravel. From the
few geotechnical data
theprofileare wet. Sub-verticaljointsare
available, the alluvium is believed to be a
major
a source of weakness such in
variable materialwith low bearing capacity
situationsand also lead to instabilityon
and generally high compressibility.
natural slopes, particular
in where
superficial
stony clay overlies plastic

32
 laminated clay. supportand"running"conditionsarelikely,
such that below the water table de-watering
Unweatheredtill is primarily a stiffgrey
may, therefore, needed.
beCuttings
stony clay of lowto intermediate plasticity,
through
these
deposits
require
drainage
low to medium compressibility and
with
measures to removewater from perched
mediumtoslowrate of consolidation. Thin
water
tables and
relieve
high
water
lenses of sand, gravel
and
laminated,
pressures inconfinedaquifers (sands and
stone-free silt and clay are also present and
gravelsoverlainby less permeableclays) to
lateral
variation
lithology
in leads
to
avoid heaving or sagging on excavation.
variation in bearing capacity
across
the
deposit. GlacialSand and Gravel occurswidely in
the western half of the district (see MAP 2
Water- bearing deposits of granular materials
and
Figure 5 ) , both as large irregular
inthe till arepronetorunningorpiping
spreadswithrecordedthicknesses in excess
and may cause high inflow of water during
of 18 m, and as smalleraccumulationsor
excavation.
Laminated or
stone-free clay
beds within the till. It is commonly
layers
in the
till may soften rapidlyon
associated withlaminatedsiltandclayin
wetting leading to poor trafficability on site
the
major
drift-filled channels. It is a
and unstable pit or trench walls.
heterogeneous
deposit, but consists
Generallytillprovidessatisfactorysupport predominantly of loose tomediumdense,
for lightweight structures
with
normal fine-tomedium-grainedbrownsandwith
foundation design, although lateral variation subordinate
sandy
and,
silt generally
in
bearingcapacity on site-scale
a may well-sorted,
sand and
gravel layers.
No
cause differentialsettlements.The possible specialprecautionsagainstsulphateattack
presence within the till of large boulders, or on buried concrete are indicated by the test
even of largebodies of detachedbedrock, data.
should also beconsidered.Thefailureto
recognisesuchoccurrencesmay lead toa No geotechnical data are available for blown
misinterpretation of siteinvestigationdata sand fromwithinthedistrict.Thesand is
and
subsequent
problems
executing
in generally fine-grained
uniformly
and
foundationdesign.Sulphatedeterminations graded.
It is expected
be
to of loose
indicate
that generally no special relative density.
precautions are required to prevent sulphate
attackonburiedconcrete,themajority of Marine Beach and Tidal Flat Deposits
the samplesfalling in Class 1 of theBRE comprisethesurfacedepositsfringingthe
Research
classification
(Building coast and extending up the rivers Wansbeck,
Establishment, 1983). However, should
it Blyth andSleekburn.Thebeachdeposits
be notedthatover 10Yo of determinations aremainly of sandinthe bays andshingle
wereBRE Class 2, and fourothers
in around
and
immediately
south of the
Classes 3 and 4. These higher values headlands. Thetidalflatdepositsandthe
probablyresult
from local
groundwater mouths of theriversconsist of a thin layer
contamination (see made and
disturbed of greysiltandclay.Standardpenetration
ground below), butemphasisethe need for test data for the sands indicate that they are
careful
investigation
determine
to the generally medium dense to dense.
geological and geotechnicalvariability
in
three
dimensions
the
scale
at of any The alluvium along theflanks of theriver
particular site prior to development. Wansbeck betweenBothalandtheNormal
Tidal Limit consists mainly of non-cohesive
3.2.4 Non-Cohesive Soils sand
and gravel. Inthe
river Wansbeck,
marine and estuarine alluvium consists of up
Thesegranularmaterialsarecomposed of
variableamounts of sandandgraveland to 11.6 m of gravel and medium dense sand.
The
few
standard
penetration test
data
commonly contain clayey or silty layers.
available for thesedepositsshowthem to
Where denseorverydense,the deposits
provideanadequatebearingcapacityfor range from very loose to dense.
most domesticorlightindustrial purposes
3.2.5 Made and Disturbed Ground
using normalfoundations. Where loose they
havelowerbearingcapacities.Excavations Materialsinthiscategoryexhibit a wide
even
dense
in material, usually
require

33
range of geotechnical properties summarised fill must be expected the in years
in Table 6 . MAP 8 (Figure 9) indicates immediately following restoration, the
their disposition separatedinto two main position former
anddepth of the
types: excavations is well documented and because
of thiscan be takeninto account prior to
(i) Fill placed inquarries, pits andother any development. Engineering problems are
excavations, likely to be mainly due to settlement;
differential settlement may be a problem at
(ii) Made Ground, artificial deposits which the margins of asite should development
have been spread over the natural
land straddle the fill and undisturbed ground.
surface.The recognition of such areas is
important
anin engineering context,
because of the variable foundation Miscellaneous Waste
conditions which may exist within adjacent
tipped materials and their contrast with This category includes domestic,
those of bordering natural deposits. agricultural, building, industrialandquarry
waste. All waste disposal sites known to
Additionally, the possible presence of voids, NorthumberlandCounty Council are shown
methane-generating
and hazardous on MAP 6 and a list of the waste materials
components and the potential of leachate to which may have been placed in them is
contaminate areas outside the spread of given (Table 7).Some sites may not have
made ground may have consequences on been located (two possible sites occur near
health or lead to chemical attack on buried Willow Bridge [253 8331 and Stakeford
concreteandstructures.Carefulattention Bridge [273 8571). Domestic, agricultural
should be given to site investigation in order and industrialrefuse is likely to be highly
to takeintoaccountthe problems outlined variable in composition and geotechnical
above when areas of made ground are properties. Problems of
included
withinthe boundaries of any methane-production, voids, differential
proposed developments. settlement, toxic leachate or toxic solids,
maybe anticipatedin association withthis
MAP 6 (Figure 10) should be consulted for material.
further information on the nature
and
composition of areas of made ground. The Restored and partially restored old clay pits
following description of engineering are common intheChoppingtonarea and
properties uses the categories illustrated on small disused and infilled sandstone quarries
that map. arescatteredthroughoutthedistrict. Where
known approximate
the limit of the
( i ) Worked-out opencast coal-seam areas. excavations is shown on MAP 6. Commonly
thereare no clear surfaceindications of
(ii) Miscellaneous waste.
theirtrueextent(orinafew areas their
(iii) Colliery waste. presence) and in most instances their
location and limits have been derivedfrom
(iv) Landscaped and disturbed ground.
old topographic or geological maps. The
latter however, do not provide any
Worked-out Opencast Coal-Seam Areas indication of the nature of the fill material.
These areas occur chiefly to the south-west
Large parts of the town of Blyth are
of Bedlington andnorth-east of Morpeth
underlain by made ground. In the town
(Table 4). Two of them, Butterwell
centre
a sizeable tidal
creek has been
(currently active) and Acorn Bank (restored infilled
and
adjacent to the
river large
in 1966), are extremely large inarea (137
quantities of ships ballast (chiefly flint
and 342 hectares respectively) whilst the
gravel from the Thames estuary) were
remainder
are generally less than
tipped at the height of the coal trade.
40 hectares. All the sites now restored and
Immediately to thenorth of the town parts
landscaped have been filled with the
of both banks of theestuary have been
overburden which was originally removed
reclaimed and softer estuarine deposits may
fromthem,the composition of the.fill is,
occur below thefill which must be taken
therefore, likely tobe relatively uniform.
into account when designing site -
Although settlementand compaction of the

35
 Table 7 Made Ground
~~~ ~ ~~~~~~~~ ~

A: Miscellaneous waste: known landfill sites

Site Grid Licence or Classes

Name Reference Resolution of waste Status
Number

Alcan (UK) Ltd 299 896 1 12 Closed

Spital House Farm 299 878 2 6,ll Closed
Quarry Woods 210 866 4 6,ll Closed
Barrington 263 383 11 6,9,11 Active
Pegswood Colliery 231878 19 6 Closed
North Blyth 312 828 22 6 Closed
Links Quarry, 308866 24 6,9,11 Closed
Newbiggin
Alcan (UK) Ash 308888 25 9 Closed
Lagoons, Stage 2
Alcan (UK) Pot 304 890 32 12,14 Active
Linings Site 2
Alcan (UK) Ash 307892 38 9 Active
Lagoons, Stage 3
Links Quarry (East) 309 867 45 6 Closed
Choppington Old 248834 51 1,233, Active
Brickfields 4,6,10
Bothal Barns Farm 246 869 56 6 Active
Ellington Road 260 893 R22 1,29697 Active
Stakeford 278861 R23 1,637, Closed
10,11,12
Bomarsund 267847 R28 1,637, Closed
10,11,12
Waste Classification

1. Domestic
and
commercial waste (including 9. Pulverised fuel ash.
street sweepings, litter, market refuse
and gully
contents
but
not wasts falling 10. Non-hazardous industrial waste -
into the following categories) - untreated potentially combustible.
2. Domestic and
commercial
waste (as above) 11. Non-hazardous industrial waste - inert
- pulverised/composted and non-flammable.
3. Domestic
and
commercial waste (as above)- 12. Difficult waste. This will generally be
baled. notifiable waste or waste contaminated
with hazardous quantities or
4. Sewage sludge and pail closet contents. concentrations of notifiable waste, but
also includes certain categories of waste
5. Incinerator residues. which may not be notifiable but which
would cause difficulties in certain
6. Waste from construction or demolition. circumstances.
7. Medical,
surgical
veterinary
and waste. 13. Water treatment sludge.
trailers.
and
vehicles
cars,
8. Old 14. Farm wastes.

Compiled frominformationprovided by NorthumberlandCountyCouncilupdatedMay

1988.

\
B: Miscellaneous waste: fill unknown

Locality Grid Reference Excavation

(if any)

Bebside 278 822 -

Bedlington 272 835 clay pits
Bedlington 2648 8260 -
Bedlington 2805 8235
Blyth 3044 8170 clay pit
Blyth 3075 8230 sandstone quarry
Blyth 3076 8200 sandstone quarry
Blyth 315 817
Blyth 318 806 clay pit
Blyth 3188 8050 clay pit
Blyth 3184 8032 clay pit
Bomarsund 276 847 -
Bothal Park 237 875 clay pit
Cambois 305 843
Cambois 305 837
Cambois 2960 8345
Cambois 298 834
Cambois 303 832 -
Choppington 254 834 clay pit
Cowpen 297818 clay pit
Coney Garth 2515 8730 clay pit
Fawdon House 2176 8833 sandstone quarry
Morpeth 2076 8644 -
Morpeth 2112 8658 sandstone quarry
North Blyth 310 829
North Blyth 317 820
Pegswood 2181 8786 sandstone quarry
Pegswood 2193 8768 sandstone quarry
Pegswood 2156 8779 -
Woodhorn 2995 8906 sandstone quarry
Stobhillgate 2019 8502 clay pit
 C: Colliery Spoil
Grid
Locality Reference Condition

Ashington/Woodhorn Colleries 890270 Partially restored

Barrington 265 836 Partially restored

Bates Pit, Blyth 306 823 Unrestored

-,.
. .
Bedlington A 829 270 Restored

Bedlington Doctor 260 823 Restored

Bomarsund 847 267 Restored

Cambois 847 303 Restored

Choppington840 250 Restored

Coney Garth 877 250 Restored

Cowpen South Pit, Blyth 815 306 Restored

Ellington Road, Ashington 894 261 Restored

Grange Horton 281 813 Partially restored

Hepscott 837 223 Restored

Isabella Pit, Blyth 807 300 Partially restored

Longhirst 891 238 Partially restored

Mill Pit, Blyth 316 808 Restored

Newsham 802 292 Restored

/ Netherton 827 238 Restored

Netherton 827 229 Partially restored

Netherton 822 232 Unrestored

Newbiggin 884 311 Restored

Newbiggin 880 306 Restored

North Seaton 857 290 Restored

Pegswood Restored

212 Pegswood Partially restored

West Sleekburn 847 263 Restored

investigations prior to development and in geotechnical properties, deposited in a
the design of the development itself. controlled manner and compacted to a
specified density.

Colliery Waste
Untilrecent years conspicuous mounds of
colliery spoil were a common feature of the
local landscape; almost all have now been
restored (Table 7). Whilst
some are
still
distinct artificial mounds, the reclamation of
others has involved the redistribution of the
spoil over large areas and dressing the
surfacewith soil and sub-soil. In such
areas, e.g. around Third House Farm
[280 8901, the thickness of the spoil is
highly variable and the limits of the
artificial ground difficult to fix.

Colliery waste is largely composed of rock

fragments whose properties are well
established (Taylor, 1978), but there maybe
substantialquantities of carbonaceous and
pyritous material which may cause
spontaneous combustion andtheproduction
of toxic gases. Inthe past most colliery
heaps inthearea were subject to periodic
self ignition
and some burned for
considerable periods. the
During
reclamation of the heaps it has been the
practice to identify hot spots by drilling and
special procedures have been adopted
(exposure, cooling and compaction) to
ensure thatthe possibility of any future
ignition is remote. However problems
caused by swelling of the mudstone (shale)
fragments causing ground heave must be
addressed foundation
in design if
development takes place. High sulphate
levelsmay require sulphate-resisting mixes
to be used in buried concrete.

Landscaped and Disturbed Ground

This category includes the extensive veneer
of man-made groundwithinurban areas,
landscaped recreationandindustrial areas,
major road andrail lines, coal stockpiles
and the restored areas on theperimeter of
opencast excavations. In general the cover
of landscaped ordisturbedgroundinthe
built-up areas is patchy and usually less
than 2 m thick. It is virtually impossible to
accurately determinethe
distribution of
such deposits without a highly detailed
investigation. Fill placed for road orrail
lines or as part of associated engineering
projects will usually ofbe known

39
3.3SLOPESTEEPNESS AND STABILITY

Figure 11 illustrates the slopes

of the
district classified by the degree of steepness.
The
figure was produced digitally by
computer using 1:25 000 scale Ordnance
Survey contour information. Because the
contoursdo not show detailed variations in
slope angle or direction,
a small scale
generalized portrayal of slope steepness was
judgedappropriate.FromFigure 11 it can
be appreciatedthattheterrain is relatively
subduedandthatsteep slopes occur only
along the incised river valleys and on the
coast. Slope steepness should not be viewed
in isolation as a guide to slope stability , but
considered in conjunction with rock/soil
composition and attitude and hydrogeology.

Landslips and rockfalls occur naturally in

areas where the land surface has been
oversteepened orundercut by rivers or the
sea. In this district examples were noted on
the sides of the Wansbeck Valley at
Parkhouse [215 8601, Sheepwash [2518561
and North Seaton [297 8541 and on the coast
between Cambois [306 8401 and Newbiggin
[310 8701 (see MAP 8 and Figures 9 and 11)
where active marine erosion is taking place
and rock falls and slips occur the
in
sandstone and low boulder clay cliffs.
Coastal defence measures, including the
emplacement of rock cubes and concrete sea
walls, have been adoptedat both Cambois
andNorth Blyth. Landslips mayalso occur
where the ground has been artificially
oversteepened, incuttings,or by removing
material from thefoot of a slope or by
loading slopes during embankment
construction.

40
3.4 FLOODING

Figure 12, Flooding, was compiled from

dataprovided by theNorthumbrian Water
Authority
but,
additionally, indicates the
location of areas of waterlogged or flooded
groundnotedduringthe BGS fieldsurvey
and thought to be due in the main to recent
mining subsidence.

TheNorthumbrian Water Authority have

subdividedtheir
information on flooding
into four categories.

1. Areas which have been flooded.

2. Areas which could potentially flood.
3. Areas subject to tidal flooding.
4. Areas now protected by floodbanks
which were once potentially liable
to flood.
Areas inthe
first category include the
floodplain of the Wansbeck at Morpeth,
Bothal and Sheepwash, small tracts along
Woodhorn, Hepscott and Sleek burnsand
isolated areas of low-lying ground at
Bedlington and Blyth. Included the in
second category areparts of the Woodhorn
Burn and Blyth Valley. The areas identified
as subject to tidal flooding are the
Wansbeck and Blyth river courses up to the
Normal TideLimitanda small part of
Newbiggin town. The construction of an
amenity weir at North Seatonhas reduced
the prospect of tidal flooding inthe lower
Wansbeck Valley and, similarly, flood
protection measures at Morpeth and Blyth
have removed the threat of flooding in
those areas.

42
 3.5 THE EFFECTS OF COAL MINING reservoirs for gases
(see 3.6). If,
in places,
ON HYDROGEOLOGY groundwater levels recover sufficiently
there
are possible implications both for the release
Coal mining has caused two significant of these gases the and geotechnical
modifications theto local hydrogeology. properties of currently
unsaturated rocks
Thefirst change is inthe development of and deposits.
vertical connections between water-bearing
units by fracturingdue to subsidence and
by shaftssunk forthe purpose of mining.
Lateral movement of groundwater has also
been greatlyfacilitated by the connection
between workings instigated by a policy of
passing mine drainage water from one mine
to another towards the coast where it was
finallypumped to the sea. As a result, any
contaminant
entering an old working,
whetheranopenpitorunderground, may
disperse widely and rapidly. Leachate from
landfill waste disposal sites is one example
of asource of such contaminants. While
this appears to pose a potential problem, the
volume of groundwater in storage within the
old mine workings is very large, and the
consequent dilution of thecontaminant is
considered by Northumbrian Water
Authority to be reduced to undetectable
levels. However, Aldous et al. (1986)
concluded that problems may occur if
drainage is free and transmission rapidand
moreover, thatit is relatively difficult to
predict
the
probable
effects waste
of
disposal particular
groundwater
on
discharges. Certainly if water abstraction
boreholes were to be constructed near the
source of such contamination dilution would
be insufficient.

The second effect of coal mining on the

local hydrogeology is inthe lowering of
groundwater levels. Dewatering operations
the
in coal mines caused a general
depression of groundwater head often
amounting to many metres. Some of the
dewatering took place through adits between
adjacent mines. The result was to establish
base drainage levels at a lower altitude than
the
natural level. With the cessation of
large-scale mining activity and
therefore
pumping, groundwater levels have risen
(and may still be rising) although over most
of thedistrictit is unlikely that they will
attainthe levels of pre-mining days. There
are, at present therefore, considerable voids
(comprising old workings as well as joints,
fissures and pores withinthe rock) present
beneath thegroundsurfaceand above the
present water table which may act as

44
 3.6 NATURAL DISCHARGE OF
METHANE AND DEOXYGENATED
AIR

potential
A hazardwhich
should
be
considered inthisdistrictisthe possibility
of a build-up naturallyof occurring
methaneand/oroxygen-deficient air, in
excavations, basements, tunnelsandother
underground space. The up-to-date
informationcontainedin MAPS 1, 4 and 5
may used be evaluate
to geological
structure,thickness of coverandpresence
of oldworkings and
shafts
shouldthe
problem arise.

Stratacontaininghydrocarbonssuch ascoal
tendtogive off methaneas well as other
gases. Normaloxidation processes also tend
to generate carbon
dioxideand,
during
climaticperiodswhenatmosphericpressure
is high,airmaybedrawndownintopore
spaces or voidssuchasoldworkings and
becomede-oxygenated. In places these
gases become
maytrapped
beneath
impermeablecover(such as till) and may
escapewherethis is thin,orbreached (e.g.
by shafts,fissures/faults,
foundations,
cellars),
especially during
periods of low
atmospheric pressure.

Where there is nocontinuous,impermeable

cover the discharge of gases still takes place.
However,unless
concentrated
some
by
means, thedischarge is overawidearea,
dilution
with
the
air is rapid,and
no
particularrisk is present.Nonetheless, the
construction of boreholes,sewers andwater
pipelinescan form paths throughwhich
gases canreadily pass andin whichthey
may collect. Even house cellars,
shallow
wells and similar excavations can pose some
risk. Adequateprecautionstoventilatesuch
works and to disperse the gases are essential.
Local problems in the Cramlington area and
thedisastrousexplosionatAbbeysteadin
Lancashire in 1983 (HMFI, 1985) where
methane was ignited in subsurface
a
chamber
consequent
withfatalities,
emphasises these dangers.

45
 4.2 SANDSTONE
4. MINERAL AND WATER RESOURCES
(MAP 9) Sandstone was formerly quarried on asmall
scale many
at localities throughoutthe
district (see MAP 9, Figure 13 and Table 8).
4.0 INTRODUCTION It was chiefly used as a local building stone,
Nine different mineralproductshavebeen butonequarryatHartford [241 8001 is
extracted
from
the
district.
They
are reported to
have
supplied
stone
for
the
describedbriefly
below and
the
sites of repair of the Houses of Parliament and two
extraction
and,
where
appropriate,
the London Bridges. A thicksandstoneabove
location of thedepositsaredelineatedon the
Kirkbys Marine
Band - theNorth
MAP 9 (Figure 13). Coal was, and is, by Seaton or Woodhorn Sandstone - hasbeen
far the most important mineral in the region particularlywidelyworked, for grindstones
but within this particular district brick clay (shippedmostlytoNorwayandSweden),
and sandstone were also significant. A brief andforfacingsforbuildings.Considerable
discussion of groundwater resources is resources of sandstoneremain of varying
includedinthissection,but pollution and hue
andgrain-size,
both in
the
thicker
the
effects of mining are
considered persistent
the
like
units Woodhorn
elsewhere (3.5). Sandstone,
relatively
the
and
in thin
discontinuous beds.

4.1 COAL 4.3 MUDSTONEAND SILTSTONE

Deep-mined coal is no longer worked in the Theserock-types(oftendescribed as shale)

district
British
by Coal, the last pit, arecommonthroughoutthe CoalMeasures
Ashington,closed in 1988 but small a sequence
and
resources
are
substantial.
shallow private drift mine is still operated at Shale hasbeen
quarried for use in
Shadfen
Park [222 8571. Substantial brick-making elsewhere in Northumberland,
quantities of coal remain at depth but these but no suchquarrieshavebeenidentified
resourcesarecurrentlyregarded by British within
the
district.
The shale
(or brat)
Coal
uneconomic
as and furtherdeep roof of the Northumberland Low Main was
miningappearsunlikely.Opencastmining, formerly mined and extensively employed in
introducedinthe19403, is stillactiveboth brick-making
Ashington
both
at and
on asmall and largescale and,atthetime Pegswood collieries, latter
the was
of writing,further large
exploration producing 40 000 bricksperweek in 1935
programmes are underway. (Fowler, 1936).
Leaving
planning
aside
anyand/or 4.4 IRONSTONE
environmental
contraints,
are
there
considerablecoalresourcesinmuch of the Sideritic ironstone is commonly developed as
areawithpotentialforopencastextraction. nodules or layersabovea number of coal
The generallocation of theseresources can seams. Althoughtheyhavebeenworkedin
be deduced from study of the maps in this the past these deposits contain too little iron
report, the 1:10,000 geologicalmaps and the andare too thinordiscontinuous to be
Part I1 Report. consideredeconomically viabletoday. At
least twoformerironstone
mines
are
However,
potential
the for opencast recordedfromtheNethertonarea of the
extractionisdependent, not
onlyon
the district [233 8231 where bedsabovethe
location of coal seams, but also on the Northumberland Low
Main Coal
were
number,thicknessandquality of individual worked.Theseminessuppliedoretothe
seams inanygivenarea,thethickness of Bedlington IronandEngine Works which
overburden and the extent to which the coal was situated near Furnace Bridge beside the
seams have already been removed by erosion River Blyth [278 8211. This works, now
or by undergroundmining,ordisturbedby demolished,playedseminal
a roleinthe
faulting. nationalandinternationaldevelopment of
A full description of coal seam distribution, early
railroads
and
locomotivesand is
thickness and mining is given in the Part I1 closely associated with the names s f
Report. Stephenson Longridge.
and Curiously,
although its original situation is said to be

46
 4.9 GLACIAL CLAYS
based on the presence ofwood, water, coal
and
iron
nearby,
the
part of the coal Small disused pits and brickfields which
measures sequence exposed near the works formerly worked till or laminated clay have
is not noted for significantquantities of been identified at many localities across the
ironstone. district (see MAP 9 and Table 9) and it is
probable that several other smaller workings
4.5 SEATEARTH have not been located. Clay pitsare most
prevalent on theflanks of the Sleek Burn
Thefireclays below the High Main and
between Scotland Gate [250 8401 andRed
Five-Quarter coals were formerly taken at
Row [273 8381 and records indicatebrick
Ashington Colliery for brick-making. The
and tile making taking place as early as the
Seggar clay below the Northumberland Low
18th century.The pits in thisareaappear
Main Coal is also reported to have been
to have worked lenses ("seams") of relatively
mined locally Netherton
the
in area
stone-free (and probably laminated) clay
[230 8271.
within the more complex glacial sequence of
theburied valley (see2.2). Although many
4.6 IGNEOUS ROCK of these pits closed because theirparticular
seam of clay was exhausted, it is likely that
Several dykes are recorded in mine
considerable resources still exist elsewhere
workings thein
district
but they are
in the buried valley.
generally narrow (usually less than 5 m) and
with one exception, the West Sleekburn
Dyke, discontinous both vertically and
4.10 GROUNDWATER
laterally. Small quarries south of Bedlington
[2648151 and on the east bank of the river Under natural conditions, the Coal Measures
Wansbeck[212786121 probably worked a in this district form a multi-layered aquifer.
valley side exposure of tholeiitic dolerite Groundwater is stored and in, flows
from the Netherton-South Blyth Dyke. through,fissuresinthe sandstone beds and
in the coals. Groundwater movement within
4.7 METALLIFEROUS MINERALS the enclosing mudstones and shales is slow,
amounting only to seepage. The larger
Mineral veins of pyrite, galena, sphalerite,
sandstone units can potentially support
calcite, ankerite
baryte
and occur
useful well yields, but faulting tends to
throughoutthedistrictbut as they rarely
divide these unitsintodiscreteareal blocks
exceed 2 mm inwidth they are of only
to which natural replenishment may be
academic interest. However, there is an
slow. Consequently, yields which initially
exception, at Choppington 'B' or High Pit
maybegood tend to diminish with time as
where, "lead orein considerable quantity
the aquifer storage is depleted. Natural
was foundinafault (and was) worked for
discharge is to the valleys of the river Blyth
some time in 1948" (Martin).
andthe Wansbeck where the boulder clay
cover is absent.
4.8 SAND AND GRAVEL
Sand and gravel occurs within blown sand, Recorded yields of boreholes constructed
glacial andriver
terrace deposits and into the Coal Measures vary widely, usually
alluvium. The thickest and most extensive ranging from less than 70 cubic metres per
development of sand and gravel is within day (m3/d) to more than 2000 m3/d. A few
the glacial deposits flanking the river boreholes have yielded only negligible
Wansbeck inthe westof thearea, where it amounts. The large yields from are
has been worked in several small pits. boreholes of more than 100 mdepth,but
Boreholes have also shown sand and gravel drawdowns tend to increase withdepth so
to be present beneath varying thicknesses of thatthespecific capacity (yield divided by
till overburden elsewhere in the district, but drawdown) actually decreases with depth.
there is little or no available information on The number of abstraction boreholes in the
its grade
quality.
or Blown sand was district too
is small to permit a useful
worked locally in a small pit at Spital Point, analysis of performance (see MAP 9), but it
Newbiggin [309 8681. would appearthata borehole of100 m
depth would have a specific capacity of the
order of 35% less than one of 50 metres.

48
Thequality of groundwaterinundisturbed
Coal Measures strata is rather variable, with
the total dissolved solids generally less than
1000 milligrammes per litre (mg/l) inthe
west
of the
district,
and rising towards
20 000 mg/lnearthe coast. Thechloride
ion concentration follows a similar pattern
with less than 50 mg/l (as Cl) inthe west
and more than 5 000 mg/l in the east. The
sulphate ion concentration follows arather
differentpattern, rising from less than 250
mg/l (as SO4) inthe western outcrop to
more than 500 mg/l centrally, and then
tending to fall towards the coast. Total
hardness (asCaC03) also appears to increase
eastwards to values above 1000 mg/l in
parallel with
the increase in sulphate
concentration.

Groundwater pumped from coal mines is

generally more mineralised. At the Bates
Colliery No. 3 shaft [3108231, the meanof
the total hardness between 1978 and 1984 of
the pumped water was over 6000 mg/l of
which only some 300 mg/l was carbonate
hardness (information provided by the
Northumbrian Water Authority) . Although
sulphate was not monitored over this period,
it probably accounts for the high
non-carbonate hardness.

Discontinuous lenses of sand and gravel

withinthe boulder clay, andrather more
extensive granular deposits on its surface,
form small andunimportantaquifers which
may, inthe past, have been exploited by a
few small wells as formerly on the northern
margin of thedistrict at Broomhill Farm
[215 9021. No data on quality is available.

For details of the relationship between

mineworkings, pollution and groundwater
the section of thereport on the effects of
coal mining on hydrogeology should be
consulted (3.5).

49
 Table 8 Former sandstone quarries

GridLocality Lithology' Sandstone name

Reference or position

Ashington 26 15 8646 "Brown, micaceous". Woodhorn/North Seaton

Sandstonb
Bebside Wood 2662 8082 "Massive, yellow". Below Moorland Coal
Bedlington 2638
8096 Fine with medium- Below Moorland Coal
grained yellow-brown.
Blyth 82303075 - Below Moorland Coal
Blyth 82003076 - Below Moorland Coal
Fawdon House 2176 8827 "grey and brown, Above Bensham Coal
micaceous, bedded and
shaley".
Hartford 8001
2408 - Above Durham Low
Main Coal
Humford Mill 2666 8058 Fine-medium-grained, Below Moorland Coal
yellow-brown.
Humford Mill 26788049 - Below Moorland Coal

Morpeth 2100 8666 - Above Three-quarter Coal

Morpeth 2112 8658 - Above Three-quarter Coal
Netherton 2332 8196 "Massive bedded, coarse- Above Bensham Coal
grained"
Newbiggin 3 143 8943 "Red and grey bedded" Woodhorn Sandstone
Newbiggin 3165 8937 "Red and greyish white, Woodhorn Sandstone
micaceous in partings".
"Medium grain to fine
grain".
North Seaton 30738680 "fine brown" North Seaton Sandstone
North Seaton 308
866 "Medium grained, North Seaton Sandstone
sparingly micaceous".
North Seaton 29268555 "Massive". North Seaton Sandstone
Pegswood 8786
2181 "Grey and greenish grey". Above Bedham Coal
Pegswood 2193
8768 "Micaceous sandstone". Above Bensham Coal

Woodhorn 2974
8918 "Brownish yellow, Woodhorn Sandstone
reddish, very micaceous
in partings".
Woodhorn 2995
8906 "Brown, reddish in Woodhorn Sandstone
places, sparingly
micaecous fine-grained".
Stakeford 8630
2604 Massive, medium-grained, Above Burradon Coal
vellow-brown.
Note: 1. Descriptions in quotes = former exposures
2. Several small sandstone quarriesare also recorded south of FrontStreet, Bedlington.
Table 9 Former clay pits worked for brick and tile making

Site Grid Reference Site Grid Reference

Barrington 263 840 Choppington 253 849

Barrington 2630 8375 Choppington 249 835

Barrington 2636 8358 Choppington 254 834

Bedlington 272 835 Choppington 2575 8340

Bedlington 2700 8340 Coney Garth 2515 8730

Blyth 3044 8170 Cowpen 897 818

Blyth 318 806 Hepscott 2223 8370

Blyth 3188 8050 Hepscott 2217 8358

Blyth 3184 8032 Hepscott Burn 235 837

Bothal Park 237 875 Howard House 2394 8270

Choppington 2510 8435 Morpeth 2076 8644

Choppington 2530 8424 Newbiggin 3107 8914

Choppington 252 841 Stobhillgate 2019 8502

 "5.3 FILL AND ARTIFICIAL DEPOSITS
5. SUMMARY OF GEOLOGICAL (MADE GROUND)
FACTORS FOR CONSIDERATION
IN LAND-USE PLANNING These deposits are extensive and have a
(MAP 10) variable composition, rate of consolidation
and thickness. Many restored opencast coal
MAP 10 is agraphic summary - it brings sites exist buttheyare well documented;
together specific elements fromindividual smaller disused andinfilled clay pits and
thematic maps which are considered to have sandstone quarries (which may have been
significant
a bearing . on planning and used as 'unofficial tips')may produce
development. Such a compilation allows the foundation problems if not identifiedprior
identification of areas where difficulties to construction.
The possibility of
may arise and, conversely, where problems hazardous or methane-generating
are less likely. However, it is importantto components within fill should always be
realise that only selected aspects have been considered.
abstracted and that
difficult geotechnical
conditions may exist elsewhere. MAP 10 5.4 LANDSLIPS
should be used therefore as aguide to the A small number of landslips have been
relevant single theme maps which should be noted. They occur chiefly where thick drift
consulted for contextanddetail. The need sediments are undercut or oversteepened by
properly
for designed and executed the River Wansbeck, but have also been
site-speci f ic investigations cannot
be identified on the coast.
overstated.
5.5 SAND AND GRAVEL RESOURCES
In the following section each of the
elements which may constrain development Sand and gravel commonly occurs within
and which appear on MAP 10 (and Figure variable thicknesses of fluvialand marine
14) are briefly summarised. sediments but it is the glacial deposits,
which are widespread inthe westof the
5.1
SHALLOW MINING district, which may have potential as a
source of aggregate. It is recommended that
Almost all of district
the has been in order to avoid sterilization an assessment
undermined for coal but, whereas of thetrue
extent
andquality of any
subsidence related to longwall deep mining resource should be made prior to extensive
is probably complete, shallow workings, development.
present in many areas, are a potential cause
of land instability. Areas where shallow 5.6
WATER RESOURCES
mining is known from plans or for which
there is otherevidenceare delineated on The four active wells and two licensed
MAP 10, which alsoshows the location of surface water abstraction points are located
240 shaftsandadits known to exist. Where on MAP 10. Large sandstone unitsinthe
mining is suspected acarefulstudy of the Coal Measures are the
principal
natural
detailed mine plans and shaft atlases held by aquifers
but coal mining has caused
British Coal should always be made. significant
modification to the
hydrogeological regime and its affects
5.2
SOFT GROUND should alwaysbe considered when
evaluating potential leachate movement from
Soft ground is associated mainly with recent landfill sites.
alluvial andmarine sediments of the river
valleys, estuariesand coast. The variable 5.7 NOTE
sands, silts, clays and peats of which these Leaving aside any planning and/or
deposits consist possess relatively weak environmental
constraints,
are
there
geotechnical properties. Additionally beds considerable coal resources in much of the
of laminated silt and clay occur withinthe area with potential for opencast extraction.
glacial sequence the in Choppington - The general location of these resources can
Stakeford - Cambois areaand may provide be deduced from study of the maps in this
lower bearing capacities than overlying report, the 1: 10,000 geological maps and the
deposits. Part 11 Report.

52
 and the CoalTrade. London.(First Series).
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
1904. Annals of Coal Mining
ALDOUS, P.J., SMART, P.L. and BLACK, and the Coal
Trade. London. (Second
J.A. 1986. Groundwater
management
Series).
problems in abandoned coal-mined aquifers:
a case study of the Forest of Dean, England. GARRARD, G.F.G. andTAYLOR, R.K.
Quarterly Journal o f Engineering Geology, 1988. Collapse mechanisms of shallow
Vol. 19, 375 - 388. coal-mine
workings fieldfrom
measurements. In: Engineering Geology of
ANON, 1982. The treatment of disused Underground Movements. 23rd Annual
mineshaftsandadits. National Coal Board Conference of the Engineering Group of the
Mining Department. Geological Society. (Eds.
BELL, F.G.,
CULSHAW,M.G., CRIPPS, J.C., LOVELL,
BELL, F.G., CRIPPS, J.C., CULSHAW,
M.A.) (London: Geological
Society
M.G., LOVELL, M.A.1988. Areview of
Engineering
Group Special Publication
groundmovements dueto civil and mining
engineering
operations. In Engineering
NO 5 , 181-192.
Geology of Underground Movements. 23rd HER MAJESTY'S FACTORY
Annual
Conference of theEngineering INSPECTORATE, 1985. The Abbeystead
Group of the Geological Society. (Eds. Explosion: Areportontheinvestigation by
BELL, F.G., CULSHAW, M.G. and theHealthandSafetyExecutiveintothe
CRIPPS, J.C., LOVELL, M.A.) (London: explosion on 23 May 1984 at the valve
Geological
Society Engineering Geology house of the Lune/Wyre Transfer Scheme at
SpecialPublication. No. 5. Abbeystead. HMSO.
BORINGS AND SINKINGS, 1878-1910. HOBBS,N.B.1986. Miremorphology and
Council of the North of England Institute of the properties and behaviour of some British
Mining and Mechanical Engineers. An and
foreign peats. Quarterly Journal o f
account o f the strata of Northumberland and Engineering Geology, Vol. 19, 7-80.
Durham asprovedbyborings and sinkings.
7 volumes in 4 books. Newcastle upon JACKSON, I., LAWRENCE, D.J.D. and
Tyne. FROST, D.V. 1985. Geological notes and
local details for Sheet NZ27. Cramlington,
H BUILDING Killingworth
and Wide Open
ESTABLISHMENT, 1983. Concrete in
(SE Northumberland). Open File
Report,
sulphate - bearing soils andgroundwater.
British Geological Survey.
Digest 250 H.M.S.O., London.
LAND, D.H.
1974. Geology of the
CARTER, P.G. 1984. Case Histories which Tynemouth
District. Memoirs o f the
break
the rules. In: Mineworkings 84.
Geological Survey of Great Britain Sheet 15.
Proceedings of the InternationalConference
on Construction in areas o f abandoned LAWRENCE, D.J.D. and
JACKSON, I.
mineworkings. FORDE,
(Eds. M.C., 1986. Geology of the Ponteland-Morpeth
TOPPING, B.H.V. and WHITTINGTON, district. Research
Report of the
British
H.W.). EngineeringTechnics Press, 20-29. Geological Survey.
1990. Geology
and
EYLES, N. and SLADEN, J.A. 1981.
land-use planning: Morpeth - Bedlington -
Stratigraphyandgeotechnicalproperties of
Ashington.
Part 11: Geology British
in till
lodgement
weathered
Geological
Survey
Technical
Report
Northumberland,
England. Quarterly
WA/90/19.
Journal o f Engineering Geology, Vol. 14,
129-141.
MARTIN, E.S.B.
1974. Bedlington Iron
FOWLER, A. 1936. The geology of the and
Engine Works (1736-1867). A New
country
around
Rothbury,
Ambleand History. NorthernHist0r.y Booklets. No52.
Ashington. Memoirs of the Geological
MARTIN, S.B. unknown.
dates
Survey of Great Britain Sheets 9 and 10. Bedlingtonshire Village History Series,
GALLOWAY, R.L. 1882. Ahistory of coal "Bedlington", West Sleekburn", "Bomarsund
mining in Great Britain, London. and
Stakeford",
"Choppington Township",
"Sleekburn", "Netherton".
1898. Annals of Coal Mining

54
 GLOSSARY
ORCHARD, R. J. 1964. Partial extraction
and subsidence. Transactions o f the ADIT Horizontal passage fromthe surface
Institute of MiningEngineering, Vol.123, into a mine.
417-427. AQUIFER Body of rock sediment
or
sufficiently permeable to conduct
PIGGOTT, R.J. and EYNON, P. 1978. groundwater and yield significant quantities
Ground movements arising from the of water to wells and springs.
presence of shallow abandoned mine
workings. In: Large ground movements and BED Basic unit of rock or sediment.
structures. Proceedings o f the Conference CANNEL Usually impure coal with glassy
heldat the University o f Wales Institute o f fracture.
Technology
andScience (Ed.
GEDDES, J.D.), Cardiff 1977. Pentech CARBONACEOUS Rock orsedimentrich
Press, London, 749-780. in carbon.
TAYLOR, B.J.,BURGESS,
I.C., LAND, COMPETENT Able to withstand force.
D.H.,
MILLS,
D.A.C., SMITH, D.B. and CYCLOTHEM Series of beds deposited in a
WARREN, P.T. 1971. Northern England. cycle.
British
Regional
Geology (4th Edition)
HMSO. DETAIC Laid down in a delta.
TAYLOR, R.K. 1968. Site investigations DRAWDOWN Lowering of water level in a
in coalfields: the problem of shallow mine well due to water withdrawal.
workings. Quarterly Journal o f Engineering DRIFT Unconsolidated sediments deposited
Geology, Vol 1, 115-133. during the Quaternary.
1978. Properties of Mining
GEOLOGICAL STANDARD 1: 10 000 scale
Waste with respect to foundations. In:
map of field geologists interpretation of all
Foundation Engineering in Difficult Ground
available data for a particular area intended
(Ed. BELL, F.G.) (Newnes-Bullerworths for public examination.
London) 175-203.
HYDROGEOLOGY Groundwater geology.
1988.
Coal Measures mudrocks:
composition, classification and weathering HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE Pressure
processes. Quarterly Journal o f Engineering exerted by water at any given pointina
Geology, Vol 21, 85 - 89. body of water at rest.
INCISED Describes riveror stream which
has cut down into the land surface.
INTERFLUVIAL Describes higher ground
between streams or rivers.
LEACHATE Solution produced by water
passing through a substance.
LITHOLOGY Physical character of a rock.
OVERBURDEN Material overlying a
mineral deposit.
PYRITOUS Containing iron-sulphides.
RANK Degree of metamorphism in coal;is
the basis of coal classification.
RESOURCE Total amount of potentially
workable mineral.
ROCKHEAD Bedrock surface.
SIDERITIC Containing ferrous carbonate.
TILL Sediment deposited by a glacier;
commonly a stiff stony clay.

55
 became established at 2 chains to the inch
and subsequently 1:2 500. They may be
APPENDIX A: DATASOURCES
large old linen documents or modern
1. Field survey plastic plans covering agroundarea of
2 km2. Coal mines prior to 1850 are only
Undertakenatthe 1:lO 000 scale by a
patchily recorded and even after 1872,
geologist foot.
on It involves the
when the keeping of accurate plans
examination, recording and interpretation
became mandatory, plans frequently only
of surface morphology and naturaland showed the extent of the working and are
man-made exposures. It attempts to oftendifficult to register withsurface
delimit solid and drift deposits and
topography. After 1947 the plans are
checks for the existence ofold shafts,
considered to be fully reliable and
adits, underground workings and
comprehensive (however these areoften
abandonedandactive pits and quarries.
plans of the lower, deeper seams and
The
amount of detail
identifiable is'
therefore those which the
heavily dependent on
the degree of planner/developer is least concerned).
exposure nature
the
and ,theof Almost all coal mine plans are held by
landforms. In a largely drift covered
the Mines Record Office of British Coal;
area
like
the
current
district
there is a list of those plans withinthesurvey
oftenlittle evidence of the solid rocks.
area is given in the Geology report (Part
Mapping of thenatural drift deposits is
11).
made difficult by the extensive built-up
and man-made areas. 4. British Opencast
CoalExecutive
prospecting boreholes
2. Deep-mined coal boreholes
and shaft
records These datefromtheearly 1940's to the
present day and were drilledin selected
These provide a log of strata encountered prospecting areas, usually at a close
down a borehole or shaft. They may spacing. They are largely openhole and
start
ground
at level from
or an
many of the older boreholes are very
underground position. The method of
poorly logged; however, a small number
drilling
the boreholes may be either of diamond (cored) boreholes were put
open-hole or cored. The earliest
down to control thestratigraphy.Early
borehole for which BGS holds a record
sites were not usually deep (x20 m) and
was drilledin 1731 and boreholes were
thereforethe prospecting boreholes were
still being drilledupuntil the closure of
also shallow and often difficult to
the Past colliery in 1988.Boreholes and correlate. With time progressively deeper
shaftsare lodged inthe BGS archive as seams were exploited and boreholes in
text butare conventionally converted to excessof 50 mdrilled. Prospecting by
graphicformatastandard scale (1:480)
British Coal nowis a much more
forcorrelation. 233 shafts and 1 01 1
structured exercise butthemajority of
deep-mined coal exploration boreholes
holes are still not cored and are only
are held for this district. The records are
logged geophysically. Private licensed
of variable qualityandthe absence or
operators have a varied approach to
inadequacy of certain details, for example exploration and, because of their
surface level, location, strata record, is commercial sensitivity, the boreholes are
common. They are however the main
rarely deposited with BGS. All the
source of informationabout lithological British Coal Opencast Executive borehole
variation across the district.
data are confidential.
3. Deep-mined coal abandonment plans
5. Opencast coal completion plans
These area record of underground Following completion of coaling at a
working inindividual coal seams and,
British Coal opencast sitea plan is
ideally, will show theextent,date and routinely produced at 1:2 500 scale
depth of the working, coal thicknesses, showing limit of working, surveyed
faulting, presence of water and the
coal-base contours, faulting, typical
location of shafts and drifts transecting sections and coal overburden
and
the seam. Initially their scale varied but thickness at specified points. They also

56
 indicate the tonnage extracted from each contains ad hoc desk interpretations of
seam and dates of working and mining and borehole information.
restoration. These documents represent Although older the surveys were
the results of a ''measured survey" and are undertakenwithoutthebenefit of much
therefore
a good datum if seam of the borehole, opencast and mining
correlation is known, although inevitably data available to thecurrent revision a
some of theearly plans are lacking in significant factor in their favour was the
vital detail. Completion plans from lack of urban development and
private sites tend .to be much less landscaping. They therefore
had much
comprehensive. more natural exposureand
this is
reflected
in
the
amount of observed
6. Site investigation
boreholes,
trial
pits detailontheir fieldslips. They did not,
and reports unfortunately,delimit areas of made
In the past boreholes were only rarely put ground.
down to investigate ground conditions
prior to construction; the exceptions were 8. Aerial photographs
structures
like
bridge
foundations
or BGS holds no coverage for this region
harbour works. Today almost every but was able to borrow stereogfaphically
development, from minor residential to paired photographs takenin 1971 for,
major civil, is preceded by some form of NorthumberlandCounty Council and a
site survey, that is, trial pit, or boreholes second set flown in 1981 and held by the
or probe. BGS holds records of 1 454 Department of Environment.
the
boreholes andtrial pits drilled for this Although the 1971 series were at an
purpose inthedistrictand undoubtedly
appropriate scale (approximately
many more exist. They are usually only 1:lO 560) their usefulness was reduced by
shallow explorations, with an average their age. The 1981 photographs were,
depth ofless than 10m; they therefore unfortunately, at too small a scale
tend to be restricted to the drift sequence
(1:25 000) to allow accurate identification
and use a method appropriate to those or delineation of salient features.
deposits, that is shell and auger rig or
mechanical excavator. Initially poor 9. Water authority
data
recording of the sediments has improved
The
Northumbrian Water Authority
greatly but there is an engineering rather
provided information on
flooding
and
than
a geological bias.
Samples are water abstraction and quality.
usually taken for subsequent laboratory
Additionally discussions took place
testing and the results of this together
between theAuthorityand BGS on the
with an interpretive section and the
subject of mine water and leachate
borehole results make up the conventional dilution.
geotechnical report.
10. Local authority data
7. Existing geological maps
.~

Northumberland County Council Waste

There have been two previous full
Disposal section provided information on
surveys of district,
thefirst
the
the location of known landfill sites and
undertaken between 1860 and 1880 and a
composition of deposited waste. The
second between 1929 and 1950. These
Land Reclamation Section of the County
produced field slips and published Council gave access to data on the extent
six-inch geological 'maps on the
of reclamation schemes and the procedure
Northumberland Old Meridian County
for restoring colliery waste. Generaland
Series and New Meridian County Series site specific discussions have taken place
respectively. In additiona largely between theCounty Soils Engineerand
desk-based revision of thesouth-eastern
BGS, and his department has also
part of thedistrict took place between
provided a large quantity of site
1957-1961. The working maps (mostly
investigation Information
data. on
mining slips) for this revision were based
mineral within extraction
onNew Meridian County Series but the
Northumberland was obtained from the
results were published on National Grid
Mineral Planning section. The highways
six-inch sheets. The BGS archive also
departments of Blyth Valley and

57
 Wansbeck district councils have provided
copies of relevant site investigation
reports. (Seealso aerial photographs.)

11. Geological reports and journals

Thebibliographycontains a selection of
those documents consulted duringthe
study,
they range from memoirs
describingthe geology of the region to
academic papers concerning specific
subjects.

58
APPENDIX
B: BOREHOLE
THE fromthe database and mostof thefigures
DATABASE in the accompanying geological report (Part
11) were directly generated by computer.
BGS holds an extensive collection of paper
records which describe
strata
the List of fields in the BGS Newcastle borehole
encountered
sinking
during
the of database
boreholes, mineshaftsandtrial pits, and in
sections measured by BGS geologists(see a) Index table
Appendix A). These records represent a O.S.1: 10000 sheet Reliability
major source of factual data, in some parts
number*
the only source, for geological investigations
and
interpretationswithin
the coalfield. Accession number Start point
Thepaper borehole record is considered to and suffix'
be the authoritative
primary record and National grid reference Inclination
there has been no attempt to replicate it on and accuracy
thecomputer. A computerised database for
the
projectarea was seen as a way of Borehole name Drilling date
utilising the data held in the paper archive Comments Geologist
to maximum effect by allowing rapidand
flexible
retrieval of a wide range of Other borehole number Drilling method
information.
Surf ace level Borehole diameter
and accuracy
All borehole and shaft records in the project
area have been coded following aformat Confidentiality Consulting engineer
which has been developed within BGS.
Purpose Drilling contractor
This work has resulted in the establishment
of a simple system by which borehole Originator Water strike
information can be assigned to two tables of
data, on the basis of the following criteria: b) Lithological table
O.S.1: 10,000 sheet Stratigraphy
a) All data which describes afeature of
number*
the borehole itself, for example, its name,
its location by National gridreference, Accession number Reliability
the date it was drilled, height above (or and suffix'
below) sea level.
Depth Workings
b) All information relating to samples
Lithology Comments
taken from point depths below the
surface for that borehole. Base of bed
A complete list of fieldsin each of these * "the primary key index"
tables within the borehole database is given
below.

Thedata is currently held inan ORACLE

relational database management system
running on a VAX 6410 computer at BGS
Edinburgh.Itcan be interrogated by menu
or specifically by using aquery language
(SQL). It may be used as an index to
available records orfor detailed geological
analysis. Retrieved
data bemay
manipulated and displayed using a number
of statistical graphic
and application
packages andit is possible to automatically
producegraphic vertical sections, scatter
plots, contour maps and three-dimensional
diagrams. Several elements within the
thematic maps were produced by retrievals

59
APPENDIX C: THE GEBTECHNICAL ANON, 1981. British Standard
code of
DATABASE practice for site
investigation, BS 5930.
British Standards Institution, London.
The classification of the geological
formationsinto groups orunits of similar
The Standard penetration test ( S P T ) is a
engineering properties was carried out using
dynamic test carried out at intervals during
geotechnical data
extracted
from
site
the drilling of a borehole, widely used to
investigation reports on sites within the area
give an indication of the relative density of
of theproject. Data was abstracted, coded
granular soils (very loose to very dense),
onto a specially designed form and entered
and the consistency of cohesive soils (very
into an ORACLE relational database
soft to hard). Correlations have also been
management system maintained on a
made between SPT and the bearing capacity
VAX 6410 computer in BGS Edinburgh.
of a soil.
Geotechnical data were obtained for over
Density of a soil, that is the mass per unit
14 000 individual tests [a single Standard
volume, maybe measured in various ways.
Penetration Test (SBT) counting as one test]
The total or bulk density is the massof the
from 913 boreholes. The location of each
entire soil element (solids + water)divided
test was identified by both the Primary key
by the volume of theentire element. The
index (see Appendix B) of the borehole
dry density is the mass of dry solids divided
from which it came and the depth of the
by the volume of theentire soil element.
tested sample in that borehole, thus enabling
Soil density measurements maybeusedto
cross-referencing with all other
assess various earth loads such as soil mass,
stratigraphical, lithological and location data
overburden pressure, surcharge pressure and
held in the computerised borehole database.
The sites of non-confidential boreholes with earth pressure on retaining walls.
geotechnical test samples are shown on MAP
The moisture content of a soil sample is
8.
defined as the ratio of the weight of water
The results of the following geotechnical in the sample to the weight of solids,
tests and measurements (laboratory and in normally expressed as a percentage. It is a
situ) were abstracted and enteredintothe basic soil property and
influences soil
database: behaviour with regard to compaction,
plasticity, consolidation and shearstrength
1. Standard penetration test (SPT).
characteristics. As moisture is removed
2. Bulk density.
from a fine-grained soil it passes through a
3. Dry density.
series of states, that is liquid, plastic,
4. Moisture content.
semi-solid and solid. the moisture contents
5. Liquid limit.
of a soil at the points where it passes from
6. Plastic limit.
one state to the next are known as
7. Plasticity Index.
'consistency limits'.
8. Triaxial test (drained and
undrained).
The plasticlimit ( P L ) is the minimum
9. Consolidation.
moisture contentat which the soil can be
10. Compaction.
rolled into a thread 3 mm diameter without
11. Particle size analysis (PSA).
breaking up.
12. California bearing ratio (CBR).
13. pH. The Liquid Limit ( L L ) is the minimum
14. Sulphate content.
moisture content at which the soil flows
15. Rock quality designation (RQD).
under
its own weight. The range of
A brief description of the tests and their moisture content over which the soil is
applications is given below. The following plastic is known as the plasticity index ( P I ) ,
British Standards Institution publications such that P I = LL - P L .
should be consulted for further information:
The factors controlling the behaviour of the
ANON, 1975. Methods of test for soils for soil with regard to consistency are: the
civil engineering purposes, BS 1377. British nature of the clay minerals present, their
Standards Insititution, London. relative proportions, and the- amountand

60
proportions of silt, fine clay and organic 1979. Soil Mechanics (S.I. Version).
material. A soil maybe classified in terms Wiley, New York.
of its plastic behaviour by plotting plasticity
index against liquid limit on standard
a The assignment to a class is mainly based on
plasticity (or Casagrande) chart. The the mid-range values obtained during
consistency charts also give an indication of progressive testing.
soil strength and compressibility.
Coefficient of volume compressibility
Thetriaxial compression test is the most (Mv) Class
widely used test for determiningthe shear m2/MN
strength of cohesive soils, and a number of
> 1.5 5 Very High
different methods maybeused depending
on theapplication of the results. The test 0.3 - 1.5 4 High
maybe carriedout with the sample either 0.1 - 0.3 3 Medium
drainedorundrained and thetype of test 0.05 - 0.1 2 Low
will depend upon the site conditions and < 0.01 1 Very Low
type of engineering works being undertaken.

Graphical
interpretation of the results < 0.01 1
enables theshearstrength of the soil tobe 0.1 - 1 2
determinedin terms of its cohesive and 1 - 10 3
frictional components: undrained (apparent) 10 - 100 4
cohesion, C,and angle of shearing resistance > 100 5
(internal friction), U .
Consolidation test results areimportant for
The vane test isused for soft materials that foundation design and calculating the likely
settlements that will take place duringand
wouldbe difficult to sample andprepare
for otherstrength tests. The test enables after
construction.
The test results also
theundrainedshearstrength of the soil to enable the planning of phased construction
be calculated and the residual shear strength stages to allow full consolidation settlement
to be measured. The undisturbed and (dissipation of pore pressure) to take place
remoulded strengths of the soil will give a prior to successive load stages.
measure of its sensitivity.
The compaction test determines the
'optimum'moisture content at which a soil
If saturated cohesive soil is subjected to an
increase in loading the pressure of the water maybe compacted to its maximum dry
in the pore spaces will increase by the same density. The drydensity of the compacted
soil is plotted against its moisture content
amount as the applied stress. The water
will therefore tend to flow towards areas of and the moisture content at which maximum
compacted density maybe achieved is read
lower pressure at arate controlled by the
from
the curve. The results of the
soil permeability. The removal of water
compaction test are usedto determinethe
causes a decrease in volume of the soil, a
optimum moisture conditions at which to
process known as consolidation. The
place a given soil as general or embankment
coefficientof volume compressibility Mv
fill.
(m2/MN), is a measure of the amount of
volume decrease that will take place fora
The California Bearing Ratio test is an
given increase in stress. The coefficient of
empirical test carried out in the laboratory,
consolidation, Cv (m2/year) is a measure of
the
field,
in
or which compares the
the rateat which the volume change will
resistance of a soil to penetration by a
take place for a given increase in stress.
standard plunger to the resistance to
The results of consolidation tests give Mv
penetration shown by astandard crushed
Cv atanumber of increasing loads. To
stone:
enable this range of values to be used in the
database the ranges areconverted to classes CBR = Measured force
using the tables which have been taken 'Standard Force'
from: HEAD, K.H., 1982. Manual of Soil
The CBR value of recompacted soil is very
laboratory
testing. Pentach Press London sensitive to variations in moisture content
and LAMBE, T.W. and WHITMAN,R.V.,

61
 *
and dry density.The results of the CBR Part of theappropriate table is reproduced
test are used to assess the suitability of soils below, the document should be consulted
for use as base, sub-base andsub-gradein for further information.
road construction.
sulphate
Allocation
to class in
Particle size distribution used is for concentrations of sulphate expressed as SO3
classifying soil in engineering terms.
- Particle size distribution curves will give an Concentrations of sulphates
expressed as SO3
indication of soil behaviour with regard to
permeability, susceptibility to frost heave or in soil in groundwater
liquefaction and will give some indication
of strength properties. Particle size analysis Class Total SO3 SO3 in 2.1 g/1
does not, however, indicatestructure.For (%I water: soil
example a sandy clay and a laminated sand extract
and clay which may behave very differently 811
in situ, may show similar particle size
1 <0.2 <1.o <0.3
distribution in bulk test sample.
2 0.2 to 0.5 1.01.9
0.3
to to 1.2
The p H of soil or groundwater is important
when designing concretestructures below
3 0.5 to 1.O 1.9 to 3.1 1.2 to 2.5
ground surface.Ordinary Portland cement t

is not recommended in situtions with a pH

4 1.0 to 2.0 3.1 to 5.6 2.5 to 5.0
below 6, high alumina cement can beused
down to pH4andsupersulphated cement
5 >2 >5.6 ~5.0
has been used to pH 3.5. Acidic
groundwaters can also cause corrosion in
Rock quality designation (RQD) was
buried iron pipes.
introduced to give anindication of rock
quality
relation
in to the
degree of
It is also important that the sulphate content
fracturingfromdrill cores. It is defined as
of groundwater and soil is known as
a sum of thecore sticks in excessof100
ordinary Portland cement deteriorates in the
mm in length expressed as a percentage of
presence of sulphate. Building Research
the total length of core drilled. RQD has
Establishment Digest No. (1983) 250
been used with uniaxial compressive
discusses the factors responsible for sulphate
strength to give indicationan of
attackonconcrete below ground level, and
excavatibility,and as one input
for
the
recommends what can be done, by suitable
classification of rock masses to assist in the
selection of cement type
and concrete
design of tunnel support systems.
quality, to resist attack by naturally
occurring sulphates.
For further information see: DEERE, D.
K., 1964. Technical description of rock
cores for engineering purposes. Rock
Mechanics and Engineering Geology, 1, 1,
17-22.

62
 MORPETH RD
CO CON::.T MORPETH RD [ LNG10N C:P

59QOOOm 590000m

BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY / DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT

THEMATIC GEOLOGICAL MAPPING

Outer Carrs
MORPETH - BEDLINGTON - ASHINGTON
t'
NZ 28/38

MAP 7 BOREHOLE AND SHAFT SITES

Scale 1 :25 000

1
NEWBIGGIN-By--rHE-SEA KEY LIST OF BRITISH COAL OPENCAST
(UD) I

." o Borehole terminated wIthin drift BGS 1 10000 SHEET

REFERENCE NUMBER
PROSPECTING AREAS
BRITISH COAL
SITE NAME
BGS 1 10000 SHEET
REFERENCE NUMBER
BRITISH COAL
SITE NAME

Borehole proving sohd rock NZ 28 NW!l

, East Shield HIli I
ButtelWell
NZ 28 SW! ,
14
Netherton
Netherton II
3 Fawdon House 18 Netherton III
4 PegSlNOod Moor 1A Poland
Underground borehole
44 Pegswood I 2B Warsaw

." ." 4B
5
Pegswood II
Abvsslnla I
Ewart Hili Dee~nclJdes

." ." ."

Bedlington "
o Trial Pit terminated Within drift

."
54 AbySSInia II Hartford Road
56 AbySSinia IIA Ewart Hili North
50 Abyssin a liB Ewart HIli South
Pit or mine shaft, abandoned 50 AbYSSInia III 4 Red House
6 Climbing Tree 5 Howald House Includes
J Sheepwash Meadow Dale
Adlt or mine mouth. shOWing direction of entry 8 Jubilee SA Howard mdudes
9 longhlrst tane Howard Row
10 Watch House Howard House E~l
Adlt or mine mouth, abandoned, shOWing direction of entry 11 Stonyflat 6 Frallt:ls
North Choppmgton J The Lodg~
"
.....
..... ..
13 South lodge 8 Diamond HIli

a
z
:'i
~
[]B
........
...... .1....
..
.....
........ .
'"
ApproXimate limit of area prospected by British Coal Opencast
Executive (Information from these areas has been used In the
com pilat on of the geological map but details of the boreholes
14
14A
148
140
I..onghlrst I
hnghust II
longitlfSt III
Longltirst IV
9
10

11
Netherton LV
Clifton Row

Hazelton
W are confidential) The number refers to the list of opencast sites 140 longhnst V Clifton Lane
M
>:
"~
15
154
Mmpetb I
Morpeth II
"
13 Field House

ONLY NON CONFIDENTIAL BOREHOLES ARE SHOWN 158 Morpeth III NZ 28 SEI Acom BanI:.
a
z
."
16 Bothal I 2 Hathery tane

."
." ~"
I
DETAILS OF BOREHOLES EXCEPT THOSE WHICH ARE CONFIDENTIAL. MAY
BE CONSULTED ON APPLICATION TO THE OFFICER INCHARGE BRITISH
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. WINOSOR COURT. WINDSOR TERRACE. NEWCASTLE
UPONTYNE NEZ 4HB
164
17
18
19
BOlhal1l
Cabin HIli
East Shield Hill II
Bothal Bum Includes
3
4
5
6
Bebs de
Humford
StePPing Stones
Foggos
Longhlrst II
Wh 1st efforts have been made to trace the sites of shafts and edits It IS not claimed AbYSSInia III NZ 18 SE/ 2 Duddo HIli
Bothal II 4 Catch Burn
that all have been located
5 Glororum
For Information on the exact pOSitIOn of mine shafts and adlts, application should NZ 28 NE/ Third House Includes
be made to British Coal

."
Woodhmn II *NZ27 NW!12 Church
Where boreholes and shafts are very closely spaced some may have been omitted Lemoor
for clarity Woodhom I Sites registered on adjacent sheets

."." o
Scale

2 3

." kilometres

LIMITATIONS

." This map provides only general indications of ground conditions

and must not be relied upon as a source of detailed informati'on
about specific areas, or as a substitute for site investigations or NW
ground surveys. Users must satisfy themselves. by seeking
r-----NZZ8--~~~
appropriate professional advice and carrying out ground surveys
and site investigations if necessary, that ground conditions are
suitable for any particular land-use or development. SW

ThiS map gives an mterpretatlon of data available to May 1 989.

Based on a 1 10 000 geological survey by I Jackson and D J D Lawrence,
ThiS map should be read ic conjunction With the report. Geology 198689
and land-use plannmg Morpeth-Bedlington-Ashmgton.Parts 1 and D.H.Land, D J Fettes, (BGS) and H Mallett, (DOE) Programme Managers.
2 by I.Jackson and D J D.Lawrence F G.Larmlnie. OBE. Director British GeologIcal Survey

o
U
Se.,o~ Se"
L Rocks
~
I
X
I

28 29
GolfCou ... .
"
35
CASTLE WARD RD S-ANN NGTON CP BL Y fH BORO ""01\ST Topographic information Crown COPYright 1982 Drawn by K A.Arbon BGS Keyworth

Geological information NERC 1989