English Riviera Geopark: Difference between revisions
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[[image:BerryHead750px.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Berry Head]] |
[[image:BerryHead750px.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Berry Head]] |
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Many places in Torbay are part of the Geopark. [[Babbacombe]] cliffs has upside down layering of [[slate]]s and [[limestone]] formed during the [[Variscan orogeny]]. [[Permian]] red [[breccia]] is also visible there. [[Berry Head]] to [[Sharkham Point]] has exposed marine cave systems. Black Head to Anstey's Cove has Torbay's largest outcrop of [[igneous rock]]. Crystal Cove has a 25 metre wide zone of [[calcite]]. [[Kents Cavern]] and Brixham Cavern contained fossils of the [[Woolly Rhinoceros]] and [[Cave Lion]]. Dyers Quarry is rich in [[coral]] fossilised in its growing position, as well as Late [[Eifelian]] limestone. Hollicombe Head to Corbyn Head have features of [[alluvial fan]] [[conglomerate (geology)|conglomerate]] deposits and seasonal river [[sandstone]]s, both [[Permian]] in origin. Hopes Nose features [[gold]] and [[palladium]] mineral deposits left by hydrothermal fluids, and the area is also important for the study of [[Quaternary]] [[stratigraphy]] and [[sea level change]]. Long Quarry features evidence of the development, formation and growth of a [[stromatoporoid]] [[reef]]. [[Lummaton Quarry]]'s shell deposits led to the naming of the [[Devonian]] period. [[Saltern Cove]] is a regionally important [[unconformity]] and [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]].<ref>[http://www.englishrivierageopark.org.uk/gsites.html "Geosites within Torbay" (retrieved 6 July 2008)]</ref> |
Many places in Torbay are part of the Geopark. [[Babbacombe]] cliffs has upside down layering of [[slate]]s and [[limestone]] formed during the [[Variscan orogeny]]. [[Permian]] red [[breccia]] is also visible there. [[Berry Head]] to [[Sharkham Point]] has exposed marine cave systems. Black Head to Anstey's Cove has Torbay's largest outcrop of [[igneous rock]]. Crystal Cove has a 25 metre wide zone of [[calcite]]. [[Kents Cavern]] and Brixham Cavern contained fossils of the [[Woolly Rhinoceros]] and [[Cave Lion]]. Dyers Quarry is rich in [[coral]] fossilised in its growing position, as well as Late [[Eifelian]] limestone. Hollicombe Head to Corbyn Head have features of [[alluvial fan]] [[conglomerate (geology)|conglomerate]] deposits and seasonal river [[sandstone]]s, both [[Permian]] in origin. Hopes Nose features [[gold]] and [[palladium]] mineral deposits left by hydrothermal fluids, and the area is also important for the study of [[Quaternary]] [[stratigraphy]] and [[sea level change]]. Long Quarry features evidence of the development, formation and growth of a [[stromatoporoid]] [[reef]]. [[Lummaton Quarry]]'s shell deposits led to the naming of the [[Devonian]] period. [[Saltern Cove]] is a regionally important [[unconformity]] and [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]].<ref>[http://www.englishrivierageopark.org.uk/gsites.html "Geosites within Torbay" (retrieved 6 July 2008)]</ref> |
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==Geology of the Geopark== |
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===[[Devonian]]=== |
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The earliest rocks within the Geopark were deposited in environments not unlike the Caribbean today, warm, life rich shallow seas provided the geopark with the Torbay Limestones and sandstones. At the same time volcanic eruptions blanketed the sediments with volcanic ash. <br> |
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The limestone was held together by hard sponges known as [[stromatoporoids]] - modern corals that we are accustomed to day were yet to evolve; but early corals did thrive alongside [[crinoids]] and [[Trilobites|trilobites]] alongside early relatives of [[ammonites]]. At this time the landmass was below the equator. |
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=== [[Carboniferous]] === |
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During the Carboniferous the limestones and sandstones of the Devonian were forced up within the [[Variscan orogeny|Variscan Orogeny]] which stretched across Devon and Cornwall (forming the granites of [[Dartmoor]]) as far afield as the Czech Republic in the West and North America in the East (although at his point the Atlantic did not exist). This mountain building event had a massive effect on the future geopark, tilting sediments and forming the beautiful fold on the island of Ore Stone. |
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===[[Permian]]=== |
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280 million years ago continental collision had brought the geopark into the centre of [[Pangea]]and into the middle of a huge desert, at a similar latitude to the [[Sahara Desert|Sahara]]. This desert is preserved as both wind blown, fine sandstones which form Roundham Head, and [[breccia]] which was deposited after large storms and flash floods that periodically occurred within the usually parched desert. Groundwater under the desert caused iron in the sediments to alter to [[haematite]], giving rise to Devon's famous red soil |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 13:07, 3 October 2010
The English Riviera Geopark (ERG) in Torbay is one of eight Geoparks in the United Kingdom, and one of fifty-three worldwide. It is the only urban Geopark,[1] and was declared a Geopark on 16 September 2007.[2] The Geopark covers 6,200 hectares of land and 4,100 hectares of sea bed.[3]
Geopark status was granted to Torbay on the grounds that the area has a varied geology covering several geological periods, which are exposed to the surface in many areas, and also that Torbay Council and other bodies have worked to promote the area's distinctive geology to the community via education.[4]
Selected sites
Many places in Torbay are part of the Geopark. Babbacombe cliffs has upside down layering of slates and limestone formed during the Variscan orogeny. Permian red breccia is also visible there. Berry Head to Sharkham Point has exposed marine cave systems. Black Head to Anstey's Cove has Torbay's largest outcrop of igneous rock. Crystal Cove has a 25 metre wide zone of calcite. Kents Cavern and Brixham Cavern contained fossils of the Woolly Rhinoceros and Cave Lion. Dyers Quarry is rich in coral fossilised in its growing position, as well as Late Eifelian limestone. Hollicombe Head to Corbyn Head have features of alluvial fan conglomerate deposits and seasonal river sandstones, both Permian in origin. Hopes Nose features gold and palladium mineral deposits left by hydrothermal fluids, and the area is also important for the study of Quaternary stratigraphy and sea level change. Long Quarry features evidence of the development, formation and growth of a stromatoporoid reef. Lummaton Quarry's shell deposits led to the naming of the Devonian period. Saltern Cove is a regionally important unconformity and Site of Special Scientific Interest.[5]
Geology of the Geopark
The earliest rocks within the Geopark were deposited in environments not unlike the Caribbean today, warm, life rich shallow seas provided the geopark with the Torbay Limestones and sandstones. At the same time volcanic eruptions blanketed the sediments with volcanic ash.
The limestone was held together by hard sponges known as stromatoporoids - modern corals that we are accustomed to day were yet to evolve; but early corals did thrive alongside crinoids and trilobites alongside early relatives of ammonites. At this time the landmass was below the equator.
During the Carboniferous the limestones and sandstones of the Devonian were forced up within the Variscan Orogeny which stretched across Devon and Cornwall (forming the granites of Dartmoor) as far afield as the Czech Republic in the West and North America in the East (although at his point the Atlantic did not exist). This mountain building event had a massive effect on the future geopark, tilting sediments and forming the beautiful fold on the island of Ore Stone.
280 million years ago continental collision had brought the geopark into the centre of Pangeaand into the middle of a huge desert, at a similar latitude to the Sahara. This desert is preserved as both wind blown, fine sandstones which form Roundham Head, and breccia which was deposited after large storms and flash floods that periodically occurred within the usually parched desert. Groundwater under the desert caused iron in the sediments to alter to haematite, giving rise to Devon's famous red soil
See also
References
- ^ Joint, Laura. (17 September 2007) BBC Global status for Torbay. (writing, "Torbay is the only urban area in the world to have the status.") Retrieved 6 July 2008.
- ^ English Riviera Geopark Status (retrieved 6 July 2008)
- ^ State of the Natural Environment(page 29, table 2.4) (retrieved 6 July 2008)
- ^ "Central to receiving the status" in "Global status for Torbay" (retrieved 6 July 2008)]
- ^ "Geosites within Torbay" (retrieved 6 July 2008)