The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units — Result Details

Rora Mudstone Formation

Computer Code: RRAM Preferred Map Code: notEntered
Status Code: Full
Age range: Famennian Age (DA) — Tournaisian Age (CT)
Lithological Description: The formation comprises purple, green and greyish green mudstones. Scattered siliceous and calcareous nodules are developed at some levels. A prominent 10 m thick unit of buff weathering calcareous laminated siltstone, capped by 2 m of interbedded grey silty mudstones and siliceous black mudstones, is present at the top of the formation.
Definition of Lower Boundary: The lower boundary is not seen. May possibly overlie the Tavy Formation (TVY) but further work is needed.
Definition of Upper Boundary: The upper boundary is taken at the sharp incoming of the black mudstones of the 'Ararat Slate' (Teign Chert Formation) (TCH) above the buff weathering calcareous laminated siltstones capped by 2 m of interbedded grey silty mudstones and siliceous black mudstones at the top of the underlying Rora Mudstone Formation.
Thickness: Uncertain but probably not more than 200 m exposed.
Geographical Limits: Liverton area [SX 79 75], south Devon.
Parent Unit: Tamar Group (TAMA)
Previous Name(s): Liverton Slates [Obsolete Name and Code: Use RRAM] (-3646)
Rora Slate Formation [Obsolete Name And Code: Use RRAM] (RSL)
Islington Slates [Obsolete Name and Code: Use RRAM] (-2402)
Rora Slate [Obsolete Name and Code: Use RRAM] (-2403)
Alternative Name(s): none recorded or not applicable
Stratotypes:
Partial Type Section  South Rora Down Quarry, south-west of Liverton, south Devon [SX 7957 7425]: 2 m of green and purple mudstones with a thin bed of black siliceous mudstone is exposed in the upper part of the formation (Selwood et al., 1984). Neither the base nor the top of the formation is seen. 
Reference(s):
Waters, C N, Waters, R A, Barclay, W J, and Davies, J R. 2009. Lithostratigraphical framework for Carboniferous successions of Southern Great Britain (Onshore). British Geological Survey Research Report, RR/09/01. 184pp. 
Selwood, E B, Edwards, R A, Simpson, S, Chesher, J A, Hamblin, R J O, Henson, M R, Riddolls, B W and Waters, R A. 1984. Geology of the countryside around Newton Abbot. Memoir of the British Geological Survey, Sheet 339 (England and Wales). 
Bristow, C M. 1963. The geology of the area between Islington, Liverton and Bickington. Proceedings of the Ussher Society, Vol. 1, 65-67. 
1:50K maps on which the lithostratigraphical unit is found, and map code used:
none recorded or not applicable