Volume 29 of JNCC's GCR Series was published in February 2004.
The new book contains detailed descriptions of a group of GCR sites
that are protected as Earth science SSSIs for their contribution to
the study of rocks of Early Carboniferous age in Britain. Such
rocks crop out over a wide area in Britain and form areas of
spectacular coastal and upland scenery, encompassing the Midland
Valley of Scotland, the Pennines, the Lake District, north and
south Wales, the Mendips and south-west England. Economically, they
provide an important source of raw materials for the construction
industry, some are host rocks for ore mineral deposits, and others
have potential as source or reservoir rocks for hydrocarbons.
The new volume British Lower Carboniferous
Stratigraphy by P.J. Cossey, A.E. Adams, M.A. Purnell,
M.J.Whiteley, M.A.Whyte and V.P. Wright details the character and
scientific importance of sedimentary rock formations that were
deposited between 354 and 323 million years ago, when the piece of
Earth's crust we now call 'Britain' lay close to the equator. The
site reports record the geological history of Britain during this
period of time and provide a framework for the national and
international correlation of rocks of this age. These rocks are
particularly significant in understanding the evolution of ancient
carbonate platforms and many have been used to define sedimentary
models that are used in exploration for important economic
resources.