# Reading Formation

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{{short description|Geologic formation in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rockunit
| name           = Reading Formation
| image          =
| caption        =
| type           = [Formation](/source/Formation_(stratigraphy))
| age            = [Paleocene](/source/Paleocene)
| period         = Paleocene
| prilithology   = [Clay](/source/Clay)
| otherlithology = [Sand](/source/Sand)
| namedfor       = [Reading, Berkshire](/source/Reading%2C_Berkshire)
| namedby        =
| region         = [England](/source/England)
| country        = [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom)
| coordinates    =
| unitof         = [Lambeth Group](/source/Lambeth_Group)
| subunits       =
| underlies      = [Harwich Formation](/source/Harwich_Formation)
| overlies       = [Upnor Formation](/source/Upnor_Formation) (London Basin), [Chalk Group](/source/Chalk_Group) (Hampshire Basin)
| thickness      = Up to 27 m, generally 12 to 16 m
| extent         = [London Basin](/source/London_Basin), [Hampshire Basin](/source/Hampshire_Basin)
| area           =
| map            =
| map_caption    =
}}

The '''Reading Formation''' is a [geologic formation](/source/Formation_(geology)) in southern [England](/source/England). It dates to the [Paleocene](/source/Paleocene) [period](/source/Period_(geology)), and is part of the [Lambeth Group](/source/Lambeth_Group). It overlies the [London Basin](/source/London_Basin) and is below the [Harwich Formation](/source/Harwich_Formation).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bgs.ac.uk/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?pub=RB|title=The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units — Result Details: Reading Formation|publisher=British Geological Survey|accessdate=5 February 2016}}</ref> The formation is composed of "a series of lenticular mottled clays and sands, here and there with pebbly beds and masses of fine sand converted into quartzite. These beds are generally unfossiliferous."<ref name="britannica">{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Woolwich-and-Reading Beds  |volume=28 ||page=819}}</ref>

==Clay sources==
During the late medieval era, the [Surrey whiteware](/source/Surrey_whiteware)s pottery kilns were located near the Reading Formation, most notably the area between [Farnham](/source/Farnham) and [Tongham](/source/Tongham) The beds were an excellent source of white-firing clay.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pearce|first1=Jaqueline |title=Border Wares. Post-Medieval Pottery in London 1500-1700|year=1992|isbn=978-0112904946|location=London |publisher=Museum of Londo}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Earth sciences|England|Paleontology}}
* [List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in England](/source/List_of_fossiliferous_stratigraphic_units_in_England)

==References==
{{reflist}}

Category:Paleogene England

{{UK-geologic-formation-stub}}
{{Paleogene-stub}}
{{England-stub}}

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