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Defining study areas

This produces a total study area of 738.114 km2 (including buffered areas) or 34% of the combined areas of Warwickshire and Solihull.

This layer was then divided up to create study areas based upon the topography and geology of the county.

Study Area

Map of areas of geological study in Warwickshire

  • Industrial Arden (red) – The ridge running beneath Nuneaton quarried for igneous rocks that are crushed for high-quality aggregates.
  • Anker (orange/yellow) – The valley of the River Anker in the north of the county containing river sand and gravel.
  • High Cross Plateau (yellow) – The high undulating area between Rugby and Nuneaton, exploited in a few areas for glacial sand and gravel.
  • Dunsmore/Upper Avon (green) – The valleys of the Avon and the Leam with river deposits and glacial deposits on the higher ground surrounding them that have been and are being extensively exploited.
  • Feldon (pale pink) – The southeastern part of the county between the Avon and the Cotswolds with minor deposits of glacial sand and gravel.
  • Cotswold Edge (brown) – The scarp slope of the Cotswolds where ironstone outcrops. Very minor significance in terms of aggregates production.
  • Stour (teal) – The valley of the River Stour, with deposits of river sand and gravel.
  • Lower Avon (blue/green) – The valley of the Avon below Warwick, exploited for river sand and gravel.
  • Arrow/Alne (turquoise) – The valleys of the Arrow and the Alne rivers. There has been no significant exploitation of the river sand and gravel here.
  • Central Arden (lavender) – A large area of higher ground consisting of glacial deposits running from Kenilworth to Solihull and almost as far south as Stratford. Exploitation has always been small scale.
  • Eastern Arden (rose pink) – Isolated patches of sand and gravel around eastern and northern Coventry.
  • Blythe/Tame (mauve) – This area runs north between Solihull and Coventry towards Tamworth. There has been extensive exploitation of sand and gravel from Meriden in the south to Middleton Hall in the north.
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