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Geology of the Yorkshire Coast
Dr Liam Herringshaw - [email protected]
Sedimentary rock types
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Sedimentary grain size
Grain size reflects energy:
– - Strong currents pick up larger grains
– - Proxy for environment (& sea level)
Geology of Yorkshire
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Coastal
geology
of North-
East
England Permian
Triassic
Permian on the Yorkshire coast
Boulby Potash Mine
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Salts from the Zechstein Sea
Large, arid, northern European basin
Drilling for salts
Permian polyhalites
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Magnesian Limestone
Permian at the coast
Caythorpe gas field, near Bridlington
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Geology of the Yorkshire Coast
- The Cleveland Basin
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The Early Jurassic:
Redcar – Ravenscar
Redcar Mudstone
Formation
Staithes Sandstone
Formation
Cleveland Ironstone
Formation
Whitby Mudstone
Formation
Lias Group
Lias = Old term for lower Jurassic;
In Yorkshire (after Powell 1984):
- Lower Lias = Redcar Mudstone Formation;
- Middle Lias = Staithes Sandstone
Formation, Cleveland Ironstone Formation;
- Upper Lias = Whitby Mudstone Formation
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Lias of
Yorkshire
Redcar Mudstone Formation
Robin Hood's Bay
Redcar
Earliest Jurassic unit on Yorkshire Coast
– - Divided into 4 members
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Redcar Rocks
Redcar Rocks
geological map
(Rawson &
Wright 1992)
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Hummersea Image © Dave Eagle, geograph.org.uk
Common fossils
Gryphaea arcuata, an Early Jurassic 'oyster'
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Trace fossils
Rhizocorallium, Boggle Hole
Robin Hood's Bay
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Robin Hood's Bay
Why does Redcar Mudstone Fm
reappear so far south of Redcar?
The Peak Fault
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The Cleveland Anticline
Older rocks reach surface in axis of fold
Links
North Yorkshire Geodiversity Partnership:
http://www.nygp.org.uk/index.php
North-East Yorkshire Geology Trust:
http://www.avm-branding.com/neygt/pages/whatwedo.html
Tees Valley RIGS Group:
http://www.tvrigs.org.uk/
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Links
Boulby Potash Mine
http://www.mining-technology.com/projects/boulby/
North Yorks geology (Natural England): http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/geodiversity/englands/counties/area_ID41.aspx
Durham & Tees geology (Natural England): http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/geodiversity/englands/counties/area_ID11.aspx
Links
British Lower Jurassic Stratigraphy: http://www.thegcr.org.uk/ImageBank.cfm?v=30&Style=All
RMF, Redcar Rocks:
http://www.redcar.ukfossils.co.uk/
RMF, Hummersea: http://www.tvrigs.org.uk/archives/69
RMF, Robin Hood's Bay: jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/gcrdb/GCRsiteaccount1943.pdf