Scientists believe that the earth is 4,600 million years old. For much of that time the earth was cooling and forming a basic atmosphere.

Life on earth only became abundant 542 million years ago. It is from that time that geologists have divided time into eras and periods to form the geological timescale.

The boundaries between the different periods represent critical stages in the earth’s history, such as periods of mountain building or widespread sea level change.

If the whole of the geological timescale were to be represented by a single calendar year, humans started to walk in the earth at 1 minute to midnight on 31st December.

ordinarily carefully,

perhaps their creak though ?

Cambrian Ordovician Silurian CarboniferousDevonian

TertiaryCretaceousJurassicTriassicPermian Quaternary

The distribution of rocks reflects the geological history of the UK.

The west of Britain is dominated by old hard rocks, mainly igneous and metamorphic.

Hard rocks have resisted erosion and therefore form the highland parts of the UK.

In the east of Britain the geology is dominated by younger sedimentary rock.

These rocks erode more easily leading to much low lying and flat land.

metamorphic rock

- rocks formed from cooling magma e.g. granite

- rocks formed from sediments and shells on the sea bed e.g. limestone and chalk

- rocks which are changed by heat and pressure e.g. limestonebecomes marble

Intrusive = below ground

Extrusive = above ground

The rock cycle is the process by which rocks are made and destroyed.

Rocks are constantly being recycled

The rocks are broken down ‘in situ’, which means that no movement is involved, unlike erosion which is caused by the movement of water, wind and ice.

( Frost – shattering )

Freeze-thaw is mostcommon in cold climates.The more the temperaturefluctuates above and below freezing point, the more effective freeze-thaw is at breaking offpieces of rock.

Scree

Some rocks such as deposits of rock salt will dissolve in pure water, just as sugar dissolves in tea. This dissolving process is known as SOLUTION.

Chemical weathering happens when the minerals of which the rock is composed are changed, leading to the disintegration of the rock.

• Rainwater mixes with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to form a weak acid – carbonic acid.

• The weak acid reacts with rocks which contain calcium carbonate such as limestone and chalk.

• The limestone is slowly dissolved and is removed in solution by running water.

…. in the garden

Tree roots are cracking the wall

Granite

Granite

Sedimentary rocksMetamorphic rocks

Sedimentary rockseroded away overtime

Granite cracks as pressure of overlyingrocks is released

Granite now exposed & opento attack by weathering

Hard resistant granite torsstand out on hilltops

Joints and cracks in granite attacked by freeze-thawweathering

Surrounding area covered inscree

Army training

QuarryingSheep farming Prison

Tourism

DARTMOOR - a case study of the opportunities and

limitations for farming

Most farmers keep sheep and cows to produce lambs and calves to sell for meat.

Dartmoor is famous for the wild ponies which live there.

Farming is the main land use on Dartmoor, with over 90% of the land within the National Park farmed. Half of it is open moorland used for grazing livestock. The soils here are too acidic to grow crops.

The fringes of Dartmoor are mostly improved grassland, again for grazing livestock.

Dartmoor is an Environmentally Sensitive Area and farmers enter into management agreements in order to conserve the upland landscape and wildlife habitats. Farmers are paid to maintain dry stone walls and hedgerows. They must reduce the number of livestock grazing in sensitive areas, and must restrict the use of fertilizers and pesticides.

New granite seating along Weston seafront

Higher Tier 2006

Describe the physical features of Sheeps Tor shown in grid square 5668

(3 marks)

Explain why the land uses shown in Figure 7 are typical of an area of granite. (4 marks)

Limestone deposits

Name one surface and one underground feature of limestone scenery (2 marks)

Surface feature ……………………… Underground feature ……………………

Describe the characteristics of one of these features and explain how it was formed …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….( 6 marks)

1. Water drops hang from the roof of a cave.

2. A tiny amount of water is evaporated.

3. As the water evaporates it leaves behind a minute amount of calcium carbonate.4. The calcium carbonate deposits build up very slowly to form a stalactite.

5. The water drips to the floor and builds up a stalagmite in the same way.

Stalactite

Stalagmite

A pillar

1

Joints impermeable rock (x2) resurgence stalagmite cavern swallow hole bedding planes limestone pavement stalactite

1. 2.

3.

4.

5.6.

7. 8.

9.

Impermeablerock Swallow hole

Bedding plane

Joints

ResurgenceStalactite

Stalagmite Cavern

Impermeable rock

Limestone pavement10.

Farming – sheep

Quarrying

Tourism – walking…..

……and caving

Stone for building – less popular nowadays due to acid rain

Lime to neutralise acidic soils

Used to make cement

CHEDDAR GORGE - a case study of a rock

type providing unique scenery for tourism

Opportunities for tourism The benefits of tourism for the Cheddar Gorge area

The problems caused by tourists at Cheddar Gorge

Possible solutions

• walking• visiting the limestone caves• gorge bus tour• outdoor pursuits e.g. rock climbing and caving

• Tourism brings money into the area which is spent in shops, the caves, cafes and gift shops.

• Many local people benefit from job opportunities e.g. acting as guides.

• Local craft industries and farms also benefit from tourists e.g. cheese making

• Additional traffic leads to overcrowding, traffic congestion and pollution.• People leave litter which spoils the area and can be harmful to wildlife.• Possible vandalism in the caves

• Damage to rock face by rock climbers and people abseiling .

Thoughtful and sustainable management ideas e.g.

• free shuttle bus from car park to reduce traffic in the gorge.

• notice boards to educate tourists about the unique and fragile landscape..

(6 marks)

Higher Tier 2006

In many places in England, chalk and clay outcrop next to each other. Together they form a distinctive but contrasting landscape of chalk escarpment and clay vale.

Chalk escarpment Clay vale

Chalk deposits

Chalk and clay are both sedimentary rocks, and only outcrop in lowland Britain. They have little else in common.

Example area – The South Downs

Dip slopeScarp slope

Spring line settlement

Cement works close to Westbury in Wiltshire.

Quarry located on the chalk escarpment

Cement works – located on flat land on clay

The London aquifer -a case

study of an aquifer used for water

supply

For hundreds of years this aquifer has supplied London with its water. The aquifer is carefully managed by the Environment Agency to ensure that its use is sustainable. In the 1960s, industrial use caused the water table to drop to 88m below seal level, which resulted in some seawater contamination. Following careful management and reduced demand from industry since the 1990s, the water table has risen by as much as 3m per year.

..... is an underground store of water in permeable rock.

How an aquifer works

1. Rain falls on permeable chalk hills.

2. Water soaks down through the porous chalk and build up an underground reservoir.

3. The ‘water table’ marks the top of the saturated chalk.

4. The impermeable clay below the chalk prevents the water seeping downwards.

5. Settlements such as London tap into the underground water supplies by sinking down pipes.

Land uses -farming – sheep (scarp slope)

crops (dip slope)

quarrying

Economic uses -

lime for soils

cement

Land uses -dairy farming

quarrying

Economic uses -

clay is used inmaking pottery,bricks and roof tiles.

flint for building

Aquifers – water storage

cement works

What two rock types are found in this area?

What is the evidence for your choices?

(ii) Suggest reasons for the location of the village shown in Figure 6(4 marks)

2005

Noise from blasting and machines

Lorries and dirt on roads

Danger

Visual pollution

Embankment with trees

Transport rock by train

Danger signs

Wash wheels beforeleaving quarry

Explosions only once a day at a fixed time e.g. 3pm

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

ECONOMIC

SOCIAL

ENVIRONMENTAL

ECONOMIC

SOCIAL

ENVIRONMENTAL

• creates 104 jobs for local people e.g. explosives experts, truck drivers, office staff.• it creates the multiplier effect & brings more money into the area.

• less unemployment• possibly more services in local area due to multiplier effect.

• new habitats created e.g. based on rock faces.• potential for new environments once the quarrying is completed.

• valued of property in the area falls• cost of double glazing (if not provided by quarry company)

• people disturbed by noise, especially blasting at 3.30pm each day.• may be stressful e.g. worry about the danger of children in the area.

• visual, air and noise pollution• extra lorries on roads• dirt on roads• loss of habitats

The Eden Project Shopping centres e.g.Blue Water in Kent.

Theme Parks e.g.Thorpe Park in Surrey

Water park e.g.Cotswolds WaterPark

Council rubbishtip

A case study of a quarry attempting to reduce its

impactLocated on the Gloucestershire / Wiltshire border

The Cotswold Water Park covers an area of 40 square miles. It includes 150 lakes – all of which are old quarries.

There are still 8 working quarries with 50 years worth of gravel still to be extracted.

The first lakes were created in the early 20th century, when small fields were sold for sand and gravel extraction. Any holes deeper than 1metre quickly fill up with water forming lakes.

Many of the lakes, or old quarries, have been restored and are now used for different purposes including:• fishing• nature reserves• an inland beach• sailing, windsurfing and water skiing

Cotswold Water Park is easily accessible for tourists, between M4 and M5

Lakes formed in old gravel pits

WATERMARK – is an example of one use of the old quarries to create luxury lakeside holiday homes.

The layout of holiday homes around one lake

Opportunities within the

Cotswold Water Park

The eight working quarries are operated by several different companies, including Hanson ( who own Whatley Quarry). They extract just under 2 million tonnes of sand and gravel each year. Most of it is used in construction locally in places such as Gloucester and Swindon.

2005

Using Figure 7, suggest what the economic and environmental impacts ofa quarry such as this will be. (6 marks)