Hydrogeology of the London Basin

The London Basin Forum arose from the 9th Glossop Lecture given in 6 November 2008 by Michael de Freitas in which he illustrated evidence that suggests that the London Basin is compartmentalised by steeply dipping faults. These faults seem to originate from the basement, and are probably associated with reactivation of the Variscan Front beneath London. They resulted in pull-apart basins and other structures operating during the latter part of the Mesozoic and into the Cainozoic, with profound implications for the nature and the hydrogeological characteristics of the sediments in the basin.

The LBF is planning to compile a Geological Atlas of the London Basin, for publication in 2014, which will include The Hydrogeology of the London Basin as one of its themes.

The workshop was convened by the Hydrogeological Group of the Geological Society to discuss desirable hydrogeological contributions to the Atlas. Following a series of 'contribution statements' from key individuals there was open discussion of the structure, format and presentation of the hydrogeological elements of the Atlas.