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The British Tertiary Volcanic Province (BTVP) synonymous with the term British Tertiary Igneous Province (BTIP), was a time of intense volcanic activity 52-63 million years ago[1] in Britain in the Paleogene and early Eocene period. During the break up of the supercontinent Pangea, as the North American Plate and Eurasian Plate rifted apart[2] to form the North Atlantic Ocean, Britain sat above a mantle plume (hotspot)[3]. As the earth's crust was stretched above the mantle hotspot under stress from plate rifting[4], fissures opened up along a line from Ireland to the Hebrides and plutonic complexes were formed[5]. Hot magma over 1000oC surfaced as multiple, successive and extensive lava flows covered over the original landscape, burning forests, filling river valleys, burying hills, to eventually form a lava plateau named the Thulean Plateau, which contains various volcanic landforms such as lava fields and volcanoes[6]. There was more than one period of volcanic activity during the BTVP , in between which sea levels rose and fell and erosion took place[7].


The BTVP within the Thulean Plateau

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The Thulean Plateau, also synonymous with The North Atlantic Igneous Province and The Thulean Province, was a vast basaltic lava plain that possibly extended over 1,800,000 km2 (700,000 sq mi), which was broken up during the formation of the Atlantic Ocean, leaving remnants existing in the BTVP of Northern Ireland, northwestern Scotland and scattered bits in England and Wales, and outside the BTVP in the Faroe Islands, bits of northwestern Iceland, eastern Greenland and western Norway[8]. Extensive outpourings of lava occurred, particularly in East Greenland[9], which during the Tertiary period was then adjacent to Britain. Little is known of the geodynamics of the opening of the North Atlantic between Greenland and Europe[10], but studies have suggested, but is hotly debated, that the modern day Iceland hotspot corresponds to the earlier 'North Atlantic mantle plume' that would have created the Thulean plateau[11]. The BTVP, particularly West Scotland, provides relatively easy access, compared to the largely inaccessible basalt fields of West Greenland, to deeply eroded relics of the central volcanic complexes. So the BTVP is a window into understanding igneous intrusion, evolution of magma, controls of episodic volcanic activity, mechanism and driving force behind ocean opening, hotspot relations to ocean formation[12] and more.

The British Tertiary Volcanic Province (based on Emeleus 1992[13] and Mussett et al 1988[14]. With UK map shown in context of the world map

Volcanic and igneous landforms and their extent within the BTVP

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Volcanic activity would have started with volcaniclastic accumulations, like volcanic ash, quickly followed by vast outpourings of highly fluid basaltic lava during successive eruptions through multiple volcanic vents or in linear fissures. As mafic low viscosity lava reached the surface it rapidly cooled and solidified, sucessive flows built up layer upon layer, each time filling and covering existing landscapes. Hyaloclastites and pillow lavas were formed when the lava flowed into lakes, rivers and seas. Magma that did not make it to the surface as flows froze in conduits as Dike (geology) and Volcanic plug and large amounts spread laterally to form Sill (geology). Dike swarms extended across the British Isles throughout the Tertiary. Individual central complexes developed with arcuate intrusions ( cone sheets, ring dykes and stocks), the intrusions of one centre cut through earlier centres recording magmatic activity with time. During intermittent periods of erosion and change in sea levels, heated waters circulated through the flows altering the basalts and deposited distinctive suites of zeolite minerals[15].


Locations of Major Intrusion Complexes within the BTVP:

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Locations of Submarine Central Complexes within the BTVP[36]:

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Other notable locations with spectacular igneous landforms within the BTVP:

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BTVP historically studied

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The intensity of scientific investigation within the BTVP has made it one of the most historically important and deeply studied igneous provinces in the world. Basalt petrology was born in the Scottish Hebrides in 1903 lead by the eminent British Geologist 'Sir Archibald Geikie'. From the outset Giekie studied the geology of Skye and other Western Isles taking a keen interest in volcanic geology and in 1871 he presented the Geological Society of London with an outline of the 'Tertiary Volcanic History of Britain'[43]. Post Geikie many have tried, and continue to study and understand, the BTVP, and in doing so have advanced knowledge in geology, minerology and in more recent decades geochemistry and geophysics[44].

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  • British Tertiary Igneous Province (BTIP)
  • British Paleogene Igneous Province (BPIP)
  • Thulean Plateau
  • Brito-Arctic province (BAP)
  • North Atlantic Igneous Province (NAIP)
  • North Atlantic Tertiary Province (NATP)
  • North Atlantic Volcanic Province (NAVP)
  • North Atlantic Basalt Province (NABP)
  • North Atlantic Tertiary Volcanic Province (NATVP)
Satellite photo of Ardnamurchan - with clearly visable circular shape, which is the 'plumbings of an ancient volcano'
An Sgurr, Eigg -largest exposed piece of pitchstone in the UK
Basalt columns inside Fingal's Cave
Giant's Causeway - polygonal basalt pavement

References

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  1. ^ Mussett, A. E., Dagley, P. and Skelhorn, R. R. (1988) 'Time and duration of activity in the British Tertiary Igneous Province', Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 39(1), 337-348
  2. ^ Nance, R. D., Murphy, J. B. and Santosh, M. (2014) 'The supercontinent cycle: A retrospective essay', Gondwana Research, 25(1), 4-29
  3. ^ THOMPSON, R. (1982) 'MAGMATISM OF THE BRITISH TERTIARY VOLCANIC PROVINCE', Scottish Journal of Geology, 18, 49-107
  4. ^ Thompson, R. N. and Gibson, S. A. (1991) 'Subcontinental mantle plumes, hotspots and pre-existing thinspots', Journal of the Geological Society, 148(6), 973-977
  5. ^ HITCHEN, K. and RITCHIE, J. (1993) 'NEW K-AR AGES, AND A PROVISIONAL CHRONOLOGY, FOR THE OFFSHORE PART OF THE BRITISH TERTIARY IGNEOUS PROVINCE', Scottish Journal of Geology, 29, 73-85
  6. ^ Emeleus, C. H., Gyopari, M. C. and Joint Nature Conservation Committee. (1992) British tertiary volcanic province, Geological conservation review series, London: Chapman & Hall
  7. ^ WILLIAMSON, I. and BELL, B. (1994) 'THE PALEOCENE LAVA-FIELD OF WEST-CENTRAL SKYE, SCOTLAND - STRATIGRAPHY, PALEOGEOGRAPHY AND STRUCTURE', Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh-Earth Sciences, 85, 39-75
  8. ^ https://wiki.riteme.site/wiki/Thulean_Plateau visited 07 Nov 2013
  9. ^ Riisager, J., Riisager, P. and Pedersen, A. (2003) 'Paleomagnetism of large igneous provinces: case-study from West Greenland, North Atlantic igneous province', Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 214(3-4), 409-425
  10. ^ Geoffroy, L., Bergerat, F. and Angelier, J. (1996) 'Brittle tectonism in relation to the Palaeogene evolution of the Thulean NE Atlantic domain: A study in Ulster', Geological Journal, 31(3), 259-269
  11. ^ Lundin, E. R. and Doré, A. G. (2005) 'Fixity of the Iceland “hotspot” on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Observational evidence, mechanisms, and implications for Atlantic volcanic margins', Geological Society of America Special Papers, 388, 627-651
  12. ^ Emeleus, C. H., Gyopari, M. C. and Joint Nature Conservation Committee. (1992) British tertiary volcanic province, Geological conservation review series, London: Chapman & Hall
  13. ^ Emeleus, C. H., Gyopari, M. C. and Joint Nature Conservation Committee. (1992) British tertiary volcanic province, Geological conservation review series, London: Chapman & Hall
  14. ^ Mussett, A. E., Dagley, P. and Skelhorn, R. R. (1988) 'Time and duration of activity in the British Tertiary Igneous Province', Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 39(1), 337-348
  15. ^ Mussett, A. E., Dagley, P. and Skelhorn, R. R. (1988) 'Time and duration of activity in the British Tertiary Igneous Province', Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 39(1), 337-348
  16. ^ http://www.lundy.org.uk/download/is/LFS_Island_Studies_Smith_Roberts-Geology.pdf visited 07 Nov 2013
  17. ^ THORPE, R., TINDLE, A. and GLEDHILL, A. (1990) 'THE PETROLOGY AND ORIGIN OF THE TERTIARY LUNDY GRANITE (BRISTOL-CHANNEL, UK)', Journal of Petrology, 31(6), 1379-1406
  18. ^ http://www.gsi.ie/Education/Sites+Walks+Field+Trips/Carlingford+Volcanic+Centre.htm visited 07 Nov 2013
  19. ^ LEBAS, M. (1967) 'ON ORIGIN OF TERTIARY GRANOPHYRES OF CARLINGFORD COMPLEX IRELAND', Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy Section B-Biological Geological and Chemical Science, 65(14), 325
  20. ^ http://www.devlin-family.com/Mournes.htm visited 07 Nov 2013
  21. ^ HOOD, D., MEIGHAN, I., GIBSON, D. and MCCORMACK, A. (1981) 'THE TERTIARY GRANITES OF THE EASTERN AND WESTERN MOURNE CENTERS, NORTHERN-IRELAND', Journal of the Geological Society, 138(JUL), 497-497
  22. ^ http://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/site.asp?item=1118 visited 07 Nov 2013
  23. ^ GAMBLE, J., MEIGHAN, I. and MCCORMICK, A. (1992) 'THE PETROGENESIS OF TERTIARY MICROGRANITES AND GRANOPHYRES FROM THE SLIEVE GULLION CENTRAL COMPLEX, NE IRELAND', Journal of the Geological Society, 149, 93-106
  24. ^ http://www.arranmuseum.co.uk/Geology%20Pages/geology.htm visited 07 Nov 2013
  25. ^ Meade, F., Chew, D., Troll, V., Ellam, R. and Page, L. (2009) 'Magma Ascent along a Major Terrane Boundary: Crustal Contamination and Magma Mixing at the Drumadoon Intrusive Complex, Isle of Arran, Scotland', Journal of Petrology, 50(12), 2345-2374
  26. ^ http://www.mull.zynet.co.uk/nature/geology_mull_advanced.htm
  27. ^ DAGLEY, P., MUSSETT, A. and SKELHORN, R. (1983) 'POLARITY STRATIGRAPHY AND DURATION OF THE MULL TERTIARY IGNEOUS INTRUSIVE COMPLEX', Geophysical Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society, 73(1), 308-308
  28. ^ http://www.thelochanshepherdshut.co.uk/Tertiary-Volcanic-Complex.html visited 07 Nov 2013
  29. ^ Geldmacher, J., Haase, K., Devey, C. and Garbe-Schonberg, C. (1998) 'The petrogenesis of tertiary cone-sheets in Ardnamurchan, NW Scotland: petrological and geochemical constraints on crustal contamination and partial melting', Contributions To Mineralogy and Petrology, 131(2-3), 196-209
  30. ^ Holness, M. and Isherwood, C. (2003) 'The aureole of the Rum Tertiary Igneous Complex, Scotland', Journal of the Geological Society, 160, 15-27
  31. ^ DAGLEY, P. and MUSSETT, A. (1986) 'PALEOMAGNETISM AND RADIOMETRIC DATING OF THE BRITISH TERTIARY IGNEOUS PROVINCE - MUCK AND EIGG', Geophysical Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society, 85(1), 221-242
  32. ^ http://www.scottishgeology.com/geo/regional-geology/hebrides/skye-cuillin-hills/ visited 07 Nov 2013
  33. ^ Fowler, S., Bohrson, W. and Spera, F. (2004) 'Magmatic evolution of the Skye igneous centre, western Scotland: Modelling of assimilation, recharge and fractional crystallization', Journal of Petrology, 45(12), 2481-2505
  34. ^ MEIGHAN, I., FALLICK, A. and MCCORMICK, A. (1992) 'ANOROGENIC GRANITE MAGMA GENESIS - NEW ISOTOPIC DATA FOR THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF THE BRITISH TERTIARY IGNEOUS PROVINCE', Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh-Earth Sciences, 83, 227-233
  35. ^ Bull, J. and Masson, D. (1996) 'The southern margin of the Rockall Plateau: Stratigraphy, Tertiary volcanism and plate tectonic evolution', Journal of the Geological Society, 153, 601-612
  36. ^ HITCHEN, K. and RITCHIE, J. (1993) 'NEW K-AR AGES, AND A PROVISIONAL CHRONOLOGY, FOR THE OFFSHORE PART OF THE BRITISH TERTIARY IGNEOUS PROVINCE', Scottish Journal of Geology, 29, 73-85
  37. ^ http://www.qub.ac.uk/geomaterials/weathering/causeway/geologicalsuccession.html visited 07 Nov 2013
  38. ^ http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/geology/rumsmallislands/canna.asp viewed 7 Nov 2013
  39. ^ The Brockley Dolerite Plug and the Church Bay Volcanic Vent, Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim, J. Dawson, The Irish Naturalists' Journal, Vol. 10, No. 6 (Apr., 1951), pp. 156-162. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25533950 visited 07 Nov 2013
  40. ^ WIllIamson, I. and Bell, B. (2012) 'The Staffa Lava Formation: graben-related volcanism, associated sedimentation and landscape character during the early development of the Palaeogene Mull Lava Field, NW Scotland', Scottish Journal of Geology, 48, 1-46
  41. ^ MEIGHAN, I., FALLICK, A. and MCCORMICK, A. (1992) 'ANOROGENIC GRANITE MAGMA GENESIS - NEW ISOTOPIC DATA FOR THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF THE BRITISH TERTIARY IGNEOUS PROVINCE', Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh-Earth Sciences, 83, 227-233
  42. ^ MACDONALD, R., WILSON, L., THORPE, R. S. and MARTIN, A. (1988) 'Emplacement of the Cleveland Dyke: Evidence from Geochemistry, Mineralogy, and Physical Modelling', Journal of Petrology, 29(3), 559-583
  43. ^ Geikie, A. (1897) The ancient volcanoes of Great Britain, London: Macmillan
  44. ^ Emeleus, C. H., Gyopari, M. C. and Joint Nature Conservation Committee. (1992) British tertiary volcanic province, Geological conservation review series, London: Chapman & Hall
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