<p>The Flamborough Head Fault Zone (FHFZ) is a regionally-significant structural zone in northeast England which dissects the Upper Cretaceous Chalk Group, a 500&#160;m thick limestone succession which is a principle aquifer and main source of water supply in the region. The geometry and physical characteristics of the Chalk succession, including the effects of faulting, influence groundwater flow across the region. Consequently, understanding the architecture of the FHFZ is vital to sustainably managing water resources in this area.</p> <p>The FHFZ marks the southern extent of the Cleveland Basin and the northern margin of the Market Weighton Block and has a complex history of Mesozoic-Cenozoic extension and compression. It is predominantly comprised of east-west trending faults which form a graben that is dissected by north-south trending faults, including the southern extension to the Peak Trough, the Hunmanby Fault. To the west, FHFZ links with the Howardian Fault System and offshore, in the east, it is truncated by the north-south trending Dowsing Fault. The FHFZ is well exposed and described in coastal cliff sections at Flamborough Head but the inland architecture of the faults has hitherto been poorly explored predominantly due to limited inland-exposure.</p> <p>To address this a multi-faceted approach to geological mapping has been undertaken in the region by the British Geological Survey, in collaboration with the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water Limited. Remote sensing, targeted field mapping, palaeontological analysis, passive seismic and 2D onshore seismic interpretation have been integrated to understand the inland architecture of the FHFZ in unprecedented detail. Combining these techniques has enabled us to bridge the gap between the surface geology and deeper subsurface structure, increase our understanding of the geology of the region and produce an improved conceptual model at a range of depths which will be used to better manage water resources.</p>
<p>The Yorkshire Wolds Chalk aquifer, provides the main source of water supply in East Yorkshire and the city of Hull, which have a population over 900.000. Its structural configuration, including the effects of faulting, influence groundwater flow across the region. However, stratigraphic and structural characterisation is challenging due to limited bedrock being exposed at surface, with most of its extension covered by Quaternary glacial deposits and arable fields and pastures. While the coastal sections have been well characterised through the years, inland areas of the Yorkshire Wolds Chalk aquifer have not been systematically mapped since the late 19th century. The available maps do not reflect present-day stratigraphic divisions or current tectonic understanding, leading to an underestimation of the structural complexity of the aquifer.</p> <p>A multi-faceted approach to geological mapping is being undertaken in the region by the British Geological Survey, in collaboration with the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water, integrating remote sensing, targeted field mapping, palaeontological analysis, 2D onshore seismic interpretation and borehole records. The objective of the project is to deliver an up-to-date geological map and structural model of the Chalk bedrock and Quaternary deposits which will impact on the groundwater resources management.</p> <p>The recent mapping campaigns have led to identifying and characterising numerous new faults in different structural trends, which were not present on previous maps. It has also led to a significant shifting of stratigraphic contacts and formation thicknesses, which have more lateral variability than previously thought. We present some of the most recent updates on the Yorkshire Wolds Chalk aquifer map, which highlight the importance of revising old cartography using modern tectonic and stratigraphic concepts and a multidisciplinary approach to field data collection and compilation. We are also interested in discussing with the hydrogeologist community how to better capture and represent structural complexity around fault zones, so it has an impact on hydrogeological modelling.</p>
<p>The Flamborough Head Fault Zone (FHFZ) marks the southern extent of the Cleveland Basin and the northern margin of the Market Weighton Block, England. It is a regionally-significant structural zone which has undergone a complex history of Mesozoic-Cenozoic extension and compression. It is predominantly comprised of east-west trending faults which form a graben that is dissected by north-south trending faults, including the southern extension to the Peak Trough, the Hunmanby Fault. To the west, FHFZ links with the Howardian Fault System and offshore, in the east, it is truncated by the north-south trending Dowsing Fault. The FHFZ is well exposed and described from coastal cliff sections at Flamborough Head but the inland development of the faults have hitherto been poorly explored predominantly due to limited inland-exposure.</p><p>The region around the FHFZ is underlain by the Chalk Group, a 500&#160;m thick limestone succession. The Chalk Group is a principal aquifer that is the main source of water supply in East Yorkshire. The geometry and physical characteristics of the Chalk succession, including the effects of faulting, influence groundwater flow across the region. A range of modern data and recent geological research highlight that considerable changes can be made to the region&#8217;s current geological maps and subsurface understanding. Ensuring these features are better-documented is key for up-dating groundwater models to enable more confident decisions about land-use, water management and environmental regulation.</p><p>A multi-faceted approach to geological mapping has been undertaken in the region by the British Geological Survey (BGS), in collaboration with the Environment Agency. Remote sensing and field mapping of the superficial deposits has better characterised the extent and nature of these deposits and identified potential recharge &#8216;windows&#8217; into the bedrock. Remote sensing, targeted field mapping, palaeontological analysis, passive seismic and 2D onshore seismic interpretation have been integrated to produce a new map of the Chalk succession, which reveals the inland extension of the FHFZ in unprecedented detail. Combining these techniques has enabled us to bridge the gap between the surface geology and deeper subsurface structure, increase our understanding of the geology of the region and produce an improved conceptual model at a range of depths which will be used to better manage water resources.</p>
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