Portland Group (geology)

The Portland Group (defining the Portlandian) is a Late Jurassic (Tithonian) lithostratigraphic group (a sequence of rock strata) in South East England. The name is derived from the Isle of Portland in Dorset where the strata are exposed and have been extensively worked. Rocks of this age have in the past been called the Portlandian stage by geologists, which corresponds with the late Tithonian stage of the internationally used geological timescale.

For the computer company, see The Portland Group.

Portland Group
Stratigraphic range:
Cliffs of the Portland Stone Formation on the western side of Portland Bill
TypeGroup
Sub-unitsPortland Stone Formation,
Portland Sand Formation
UnderliesPurbeck Group
OverliesKimmeridge Clay Formation
Thicknessup to 75 metres (250 ft)
Lithology
PrimaryLimestone, sandstone
OtherMudstone, micrite
Location
RegionEngland
Country UK
ExtentDorset
Type section
Named forIsle of Portland

Outcrops

The Portland Group crops out in Dorset on the Isle of Portland, on and near the south coast of the Isle of Purbeck and to the north of Weymouth.

Lithology and stratigraphy

The rocks include limestones, dolomitic sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone.

It is divided into two formations, the Portland Stone Formation (or 'Portland Limestone Formation') and the underlying Portland Sandstone Formation (or 'Portland Sand Formation'). The Portland Stone Formation is further divided into a lower Portland Chert Member and an upper Portland Freestone Member, both of which are limestones. The Portland Sand Formation is made up largely of dolomites but includes siltstones and fine-grained sandstones in its lower parts.[1]

Use in construction

The Portland Freestone is a 5 to 15 metres (16 to 49 ft) thick member of the Portland Stone Formation and is quarried on the Isle of Portland.[2][3][4]

References
  1. Barton et al., 2011 Geology of south Dorset and south-east Devon and its World Heritage Coast. Special memoir of the British Geological Survey. Sheets 328, 341/2, 342/3 and parts of 326/340, 327, 329 and 339 (England and Wales)
  2. British Geological Survey 2005. England and Wales sheet 327 Bridport (1:50,000 scale geological map)
  3. British Geological Survey 2000. England and Wales sheet 342/343 Swanage (1:50,000 scale geological map)
  4. British Geological Survey 2000. England and Wales sheet 341/342 West Fleet and Weymouth (1:50,000 scale geological map)
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