A regional geochemical soil investigation of the Carboniferous Limestone areas south of Kendal (south Cumbria and north Lancashire)

Abstract

The soils of four separate areas lying within the outcrop of the Lower Carboniferous Limestone to the south and southwest of Kendal were sampled and analysed for copper, lead, zinc, barium and manganese. Mining activity in the areas has been of little significance; restricted to a small number of disused trials for iron and two old lead mines at Brigsteer and Whitbarrow. Significant geochemical anomalies are few and can be related to either artificial contamination, association with minor iron mineralisation or to the reefal limestones that occur in the south of the area. The latter are of greatest significance in view of the similarities with areas along the Craven Fault system to the east and the association of economic mineralisation in Carboniferous reefs in Ireland