Tectonic Evolution of the British Isles

The British Isles occupy only a tiny area of the North Atlantic region. However, they are situated at a crucial position between North America, Scandinavia and Western Europe, providing key information about former links between the orogenic belts of these regions from late Archaean times onwards. This book adopts tectonics as the framework for a description of the geological evolution of the British Isles, but uses a multidisciplinary approach, highlighting the interrelationships between deformation and sedimentology, metamorphism, igneous and other geological processes. A recurrent theme is the control exerted on basinsubsidence and inversion by basement structure. Summary accounts are provided on the orogenic belts elsewhere in the North Atlantic region so that the reader may fully understand the geological history of the classical structures within the regional context. This book should be of interest to advanced undergraduates and researchers in structural geology and sedimentology.

Table of Contents:
Lewisian Complex I. Lewisian Complex II. Lewisian Complex in its North Atlantic context. Subsidence history of the Torridonian Supergroup. Subsidence history and deformation of the Moinian Assemblage. Pre-Dalradian basement of north-west Ireland. Subsidence history of the Dalradian Supergroup in Scotland. Deformation of the Scottish Dalradian succession. Subsidence history of the Dalradian Supergroup in Ireland. Deformation of the Irish Dalradian succession. Moine thrust zone. Major structures west of north-west Scottish mainland. Precambrian and Lower Palaeozoic evolution of the Shetland Isles. Sveconorwegian province of Scandinavia and Grenville province of North America. Monian complex of Anglesey and Lleyn. Late Precambrian evolution of south-east Ireland, southern England and Wales, and Channel Islands. Late Precambrian geotectonic setting of southern Britain. Late Precambrian of north Appalachians: Avalon composite terrane. Lower Palaeozoic evolution of the Midland Valley, Scotland. Lower Palaeozoic evolution of the southern Uplands and Longford-Down Massif. Lower Palaeozoic subsidence and Caledonian deformation of north-west Ireland. Lower Palaeozoic subsidence and Caledonian deformation of the Lake District. Lower Palaeozoic subsidence and Caledonian deformation of southern Ireland. Lower Palaeozoic subsidence and Caledonian deformation of the Isle of Man. Subsidence history of the Lower Palaeozoic Welsh Basin. Caledonian deformation of the Welsh Basin. Caledonides of eastern England, North Sea and Western Europe mainland. Caledonian Plutons. Northern Appalachians and East Greenland Caledonides. Scandinavian Caledonides.