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Geology of the Yorkshire Coast

Dr Liam Herringshaw - lgh865@hotmail.com

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