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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 2000; v. 166; p. 253-273;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.2000.166.01.13
© 2000 Geological Society of London

Holocene sedimentary evolution and palaeocoastlines of the Fenland embayment, eastern England

David S. Brew1, Tina Holt2, Ken Pye2 & Rhonda Newsham3

1 Coastal and Engineering Geology Group, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG UK d.brew{at}bgs.ac.uk
2 Postgraduate Research Institute for Sedimentology, University of Reading, PO Box 227, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AB, UK
3 Geospatial Information Systems Group, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK

The Holocene sedimentary facies of the Fenland are described using a lithological database and new cores recovered as part of the Land-Ocean Interaction Study. Landward, the Holocene sequence is dominated by mud facies with intercalated peat layers, whereas the seaward areas are sand-dominated. The sedimentological characteristics of the mud facies are homogeneous and are similar for the whole sequence. Glacial deposits located north of The Wash are thought to be the main sediment sources. The sand facies generally fines upwards and the chemistry reflects this change. However, elemental ratios show only slight variations between the two facies implying a general constancy of sediment provenance. The evolution of the Fenland has been dominated by three main events. Firstly, the initial post-glacial transgression, which started c. 7850 cal. BP. Secondly, the sedimentary infilling of the embayment with rising sea-level; deposition of intertidal clastic sediments alternating with peat accumulation. Thirdly, renewed expansion of tidal flat areas between c. 2750 and 1500 cal. BP forming the final clastic fill.





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