Alum Shale occurs within the upper 35 metres or so of the Whitby Mudstone Formation. A suite of rocks that originated as soft sediment accumulating on the floor of an ancient sea (the Tethys) which occupied this area between c.188 million and c.182 million years ago during the late Lower Jurassic phase of Earth’s geological [...]
Category Archives: Lias
March – Ironstone
Iron makes up a full 35% of the whole Earth, though most is sequestered within the metallic core, with the crust containing around 6%. It is an important rock commercially, being smelted to make iron and steel. High grade deposits, often comprising more than 70% iron, were laid down in the Precambrian, around 2 billion [...]
on March 8, 2009 Leave a comment
November – Ammonite
Ammonites are coiled relatives of the octopus (Cephalopods) and became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous Period around 65 million years ago.
Below is an image of a Harpoceras, which lived during the Jurassic Period. These fossils can be found in the Upper Liassic shale (Whitby Mudstone Formation) which crops-out widely across Cleveland and the [...]
on November 1, 2008 Leave a comment
Slapewath
Grid Reference NZ 643 158
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS 30/09/2003
Site Description
Site Status
Description of Geodiversity Exposures of Main Seam Cleveland Ironstone Formation (bottom block) beside bridge footings below Fox & Hounds public house. A small waterfall immediately upstream may exist due to presence of the Pecten Seam. The area has [...]
on September 24, 2003 Leave a comment
Cass Rock Quarry
Grid Reference NZ 631 146
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS Part of Guisborough Forest 30/09/2003
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Brief Site Description Site 7 of 7. Disused alum quarry revealing exposures of Liassic Whitby mudstone and overlying Middle Jurassic Saltwick sandstone. Following abandonment after alum working, this quarry [...]
on September 20, 2003 Leave a comment
Cow Bar Nab
Grid Reference NZ 7784 192
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS Part of Skinningrove to Staithes Coast 30/09/2003
Site Description
Site Status Part of the Heritage Coast
Description of Geodiversity Costal cliff nab exposure consisting of the Staithes sandstone formation which is the type locality. The foreshore to the west of the coastal defences consists [...]
on September 8, 2003 Leave a comment
Easington Beck
Grid Reference NZ 749 162
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS 30/09/2003
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity Upland river cutting through deltaic sandstone revealing river-cliffs and waterfalls. Exposures include Saltwick sandstone, Dogger and Whitby mudstone formations
Literature References
Site Map
Site Assessment
Access and Safety
Comments
Rating
Safety of access
From footbridge and along stream bank
8
Safety of exposure
Slippery on [...]
on September 4, 2003 Leave a comment
Skelton Beck
Grid Reference NZ 655 200
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS Part of Skelton beck 30/09/03
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity Stream bed and river-cliff exposures of Staithes sandstone. Natural waterfall. Change of facies to Cleveland ironstone
Literature References
Site Map
Site Assessment
Access and Safety
Comments
Rating
Safety of access
Along the Cleveland Way to start of section
10
Safety [...]
on August 1, 2003 Leave a comment
Hell Gill
Grid Reference NZ 599 131
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 93
Forwarded as RIGS Part of Guisborough Forest 30/09/2003
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity Late glacial V-shaped valley. Exposure of Cleveland ironstone (Pecten seam) along roadside. Further along track spoil tips of Whitby mudstone (Jet shale member) can be observed
Literature References Glimpses of Monument Mine, [...]
on August 1, 2003 Leave a comment
Belmont Bank
Grid Reference NZ 622 148
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS Part of Guisborough Forest 30/09/2003
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity North facing escarpment revealing few exposures. Underlying geology is Staithes sandstone, Cleveland ironstone, Whitby mudstone overlain by the Saltwick sandstone formation. Old mine tips now wooded
Literature References Guisborough District Mines – [...]
on August 1, 2003 Leave a comment