(Geological feature - syncline. West side of the bay) - 2007
This site is Silurian (Ludlow), Ordovician (Llanvirn) and Devonian (Lower Old Red Sandstone) in age. The rocks brought to the beach by the stream are in Carboniferous limestone.
Rocks of the Gray Sandstone Group (shallow marine sandstones) are the oldest exposed, visible in cliff in south-western corner of bay (adjacent to dunes) and in wavecut platform and small stacks at the northern end of the beach.
Conglomerates of the Freshwater East Formation are also visible on both sides of the bay, as are the suceeding Moor Cliffs Formation (sandstones, siltstones, mudstones & calcretes), although quality of exposure is poor on south side. These formations both belong to the Old Red Sandstone sequence.
All these rocks are of late Silurian age, including the ORS rocks as they lie 'below' (bedding is near vertical on northern limb of Freshwater East Anticline) the Townsend Tuff (which marks the Silurian/Devonian boundary. The Townsend Tuff is exposed on the southern side of Trewent Point (on the less steeply dipping sothern limb of the anticline) but access along foreshore at low tide or by scrambling down cliff is difficult and dangerous.
(A rough example of the geology at Freshwater Bay) - 2007
Silurianfishes by Joseph Smit (1836-1929) from Nebula to Man 1905 England
|
Devonian |
Late |
Famennian |
354 to 364 |
| Frasnian |
364 to 370 |
Middle |
Givetian |
370 to 380 |
| Eifelian |
380 to 391 |
Early |
Emsian |
391 to 400 |
| Praghian |
400 to 412 |
| Lochkovian |
412 to 417 |
|
Pridoli |
417 to 419 |
Ludlow |
Ludfordian |
419 to 421 |
| Gorstian |
421 to 423 |
Wenlock |
Homerian |
423 to 426 |
| Sheinwoodian |
426 to 428 |
Llandovery |
Telychian |
428 to 433 |
| Aeronian |
433 to 438 |
| Rhuddanian |
438 to 443 |
|
FORMATIONS AND DEPOSITS |
LOCATIONS |
| Homerian |
Much Wenlock Formation |
Edgton Member |
Wenlock Limestone |
Wenlock Edge
Wenlock Quarry
Shadwell Quarry
Mortimer Forest |
| Longville Member |
Tickwood Beds |
|
| Coralliferous Series |
Marloes Sands |
| Gray Sandstone Group |
Freshwater East |
| Aston Mudstone Formation |
Edgton Limestone Member |
|
| Coalbrookdale Formation |
Farley Member |
Wenlock Shales |
|
| Sheinwoodian |
Bromleys Mill Shale Formation |
|
|
| Coalbrookdale Formation |
Apedale |
Wenlock Shales |
|
| Buildwas Formation |
Wenlock Shales |
|
|
1:250 000 Geological Map of Freshwater East
Geological Maps are sold either Flat or Folded for Solid, or Seabed geology. Special editions may be available for certain locations. For a complete list click the link below.
Click here to BUY ONLINE from our Store |
|
1: 50 000 Geological Map of Freshwater East
Geological Maps are sold either Flat or Folded for Solid, Drift or combined geology. Special editions and memoirs are available for certain locations. For a complete list of
1: 50 000 maps, click the link below.
Click here to BUY ONLINE from our Store |
