Abstract The UK National Geological Repository (UKNGR) is the largest collection of British geoscience samples, with 16 m ‘specimens’, including 600 km of drillcore. Samples are available for study/subsampling by commercial organizations and researchers. Data, reports and publications must be returned. Raw data are available after 2 years. The scientific method requires published results to be repeatable, necessitating the archiving of samples. Re-purposing samples for new research saves money and time and thereby reduces risk. The National Geological Repository (NGR) has cost over £200 bn to collect and the cost of a single deep cored borehole would be outside the funding of most research projects, so the operation of an NGR makes financial sense. Many of the boreholes have been extensively characterized, so new research can build on the wealth of published data. The NGR has been at the forefront of international efforts to utilize digitization and the World Wide Web to improve the impact of the collections. Geographical information system (GIS) access was provided to the onshore borehole collection in 2000, and GIS access and text searching were added to the other collections over the next 10 years. This was followed by high-resolution images of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) cores, petrological thin-sections, and images, stereo anaglyphs and 3D-digital models of British-type fossils.

Abstract The most important North Sea Jurassic–lowermost Cretaceous lithostratigraphic units, as developed in the UK, Norway and Danish sectors, are summarized in this chapter (55 units from the UK, 25 from Norway and 10 from Denmark). Some significant issues remain with the use and application of lithostratigraphic terminology in the Jurassic of the North Sea Basin. In particular, there are inconsistencies in unit definition and nomenclature changes across country sector boundaries that obscure the recognition of regional stratigraphic patterns that exist across the region. To aid clarity and to overcome some issues of definition, some revisions are made to the existing lithostratigraphic schemes. Several informal lithostratigraphic units are described, a number of unit definitions are revised and various formerly informal units are formalized (Buzzard Sandstone Member, Ettrick Sandstone Member and Galley Sandstone Member). It is recommended that use of the Heno Formation in offshore Denmark is discontinued. In addition, four new lithostratigraphic member terms are introduced (Home Sandstone Member, North Ettrick Sandstone Member, Gyda Sandstone Member and Tambar Sandstone Member). All described units are placed into a sequence stratigraphic context. All significant lithostratigraphic boundaries conform with key sequence stratigraphic surfaces.

Abstract An updated, integrated biozonation scheme for the Jurassic (Hettangian)–lowermost Cretaceous (Upper Berriasian) of the North Sea Basin incorporates 49 palynology biozones plus subzones (based on dinocysts, spores and pollen) and 27 microfaunal zones plus subzones (based on foraminifera, radiolaria and ostracods) to provide the essential chronostratigraphic calibration of the defined sequences. The biozonation scheme is tied to standard ammonite zonal chronostratigraphy wherever possible. Parts of the biozonation scheme are also applicable to onshore UK (boreholes and outcrops), onshore Denmark (boreholes) and offshore Netherlands.