A gravel beach-rip channel system: the Westleton Beds (Pleistocene) of Suffolk, England

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1996
Authors:S. J. Mathers, Zalasiewicz J. A.
Journal:Proceedings of the Geologists' Association
Volume:107
Start Page:57
Date Published:01/1996
Abstract:

The Westleton Beds of northeast Suffolk, England, represent a Pleistocene gravelly shoreline within which three facies are distinguished. A large-scale, cross-stratified, gravel-dominated facies (A) dips predominantly offshore and is interpreted as a beach-face deposit. This facies passes seawards into a 'transitional' zone characterized by a horizontally stratified sand facies (B). This is incised into, and replaced seawards, by a third facies (C) deposited in channel-forms. Nearshore these channels are gravel-filled; further offshore they are regularly spaced, up to 2 m deep, their bases commonly being rimmed by gravel which fines upwards into sand. Several such fining-upward pulses are present in the infill of some of the larger channel-forms. It is suggested that these channels were cut and infilled by sporadic high-energy seaward-directed rip-currents.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith