GeologyRocks

From work I did in the mines in the area I think you'll find that the Melmerby Scar limestone is in the Yoredale Series of the Carboniferous and represents a cyclical series of limestones, shales and sandstones which are predominantly limestones at the foot and become more sandy further up the progression, eventually becoming the Millstone Grit Series.  They represent shallow to deep water conditions of a gradually emerging land surface following the variscan Orogeny and leading eventually to the creation of Pangaea in the Permian.