Magnetic Grain Fabric Studies of the Middle Coal Measures of the Southern Part of the South Staffordshire Coalfield

Abstract

Measurement of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility of Westphalian sandstones from the southern part of the South Staffordshire Coalfield shows that there is a weak preferred grain orientation. There is a significant within-sample consistency of fabric lineation and the results agree with other geological evidence. The palaeocurrent pattern is complex as may be expected within a fluvial or deltaic regime. This preliminary study suggests that this magnetic fabric technique may be used to determine the detailed palaeocurrent pattern within the Upper Carboniferous of the Midland Province.