Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 221-228, 1990

©Copyright 2000 Scientific Press, Ltd.

JURASSIC MUDROCK FORMATIONS OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND: LITHOLOGY, SEDIMENTATION RATES AND ORGANIC CARBON CONTENT

E.J. Ebukanson* and R. R. F. Kinghorn**

* Deceased. Late of the Department of Geology, The University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
** Department of Geology, The Royal School of Mines, Imperial College, London SW7 2BP

Abstract

The Jurassic mudrock formations of Southern England, especially the Lower Lias, Oxford Clay and Kimmeridge Clay, show great variations in lithology, organic content and rates of sedimentation. It is here suggested that the varying sedimentation rates of these formations have been a major contributory factor, resulting in the differences in the organic richness observed between these fine-grained Jurassic rock units. Variations in lithology have only a minor effect on the organic richness of these sediments, compared with the marked influence of sedimentation rate.