tvrigs.org.uk » Scalby

A Geological Timescale

cliff.rigg — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:11:31 +0000

GEOLOGICAL TIMESCALE

Shown below is a representation of the rocks underlying the Tees Valley and Darlington districts in Northeast England. The diagram depicts the relative thickness of the different systems. Absolute ages are given alongside. Click on the different areas to view more details about a particular time period.

Geological column showing the relative thickness and absolute ages of rocks underlying the Tees Valley and Darlington.

Jurassic

cliff.rigg — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:45:18 +0000

Rocks of Jurassic age crop out exclusively south of the River Tees, with both Lower and Middle Jurassic successions well represented. The rocks indicate an episode of marine sedimentation, represented by the Lias Group, followed by alternating cycles of deltaic and marine sedimentation represented by the overlying Ravenscar Group.

Marker on the Cleveland Way east of Saltburn. Huntcliff can be seen in the background.

Stretching along the coast between Redcar and Filey can be found a sequence of rocks that have been highly acclaimed by generations of geologists:

“In no part of England is the relation of the surface topography to the nature of the underlying rocks more instructively displayed than in this district; nor can the succession of a considerable part of the Jurassic series of formation be anywhere more advantageously examined than along the coast-sections…”
[Archibald Geikie, Director of the Geological Survey. (1888)]

Jurassic deposits locally total around 560 metres of strata which were deposited between c.199 million and 161 million years ago in environments which varied between deep sea, populated by a variety of distinctive marine creatures, to well-vegetated river delta upon which reptiles once roamed.

An example of the locally abundant ammonite Dactylioceras commune which has been split and polished to show crystals of calcite filling the internal chambers.

Geologists long-ago realised that similar rocks in diverse areas could be correlated by examining their fossil content. One of the earliest to realise this was Lewis Hunton (1814-1838), son of a Loftus alum-worker who studied remains of long extinct sea creatures in Jurassic rocks at Hummersea and Boulby. As far as correlation of different rock units is concerned, the most useful fossils turned out to be the coiled shells of many species of ammonite. Ammonites are now-extinct creatures related to modern day squid and octopuses (Cephalopods). Modern geologists can identify over sixty ammonite zones in the Lower Jurassic alone, which finely subdivide the various strata and make relationships between them much easier to understand.

Table showing the various sub-divisions of the Jurassic along with ammonite zones able to be seen within the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire.
Adapted from The Yorkshire Coast by P.F. Rawson & J.K. Wright (1992).

Lower Jurassic »

Please note: This page is still under construction. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Woodhill Gill

admin — Sat, 20 Sep 2003 18:43:11 +0000

Contents

Site Description
Site Map
Site Assessment
Surveyors

Grid Reference NZ 655 132
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS

Site Description

Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity Upland stream-side escarpment revealing deltaic sandstones specifically the Moor Grit member of the Scalby formation
Literature References

Site Map

Site Assessment

Access and Safety	Comments	Rating
Safety of access	Along designated footpath	10
Safety of exposure	Steep slopes obscured by vegetation	5
Restricting conditions	Vegetation growth in summer months	6
Multiple exposure	None
Note	It is strongly suggested that on-site safety be the responsibility of the party leader(s), as the safety information above is given only as a guide.

Education and Science	Comments	Rating
Surface processes	Upland fluvial and glacial features	6
Geomorphology	V-shaped valley feature	6
Sedimentary rock	Moor Grit member of the Scalby formation	10
Igneous rock	None
Metamorphic rock	None
Fossils	None
Minerals	None specific
Structural features	None found due to small exposure
Stratigraphy	Current bedding features	5

Geodiversity Value	Comments	Rating
Education	Upland geomorphological features	8
Scientific	Study by Earth scientists	5
Historical	None
Aesthetic	Excellent views of glaciated valley	10

Surveyors

Andrew Carter, Andrew Cooper, Stephanie Henderson, Carl Rees-Davies

Freebrough Hill

cliff.rigg — Wed, 25 Jun 2003 16:09:20 +0000

Contents

Site Description
Site Map
Site Assessment
Surveyors

Grid Reference NZ 690 127
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS 30/09/2003

View of Freebrough Hill from the lay-by on the A171.

Site Description

Site Status

Description of Geodiversity: An outlier of nearby Moorsholm Rigg to the south with its summit reaching to 250m above sea level and 50m above the surrounding moorland. Freebrough Hill is a natural landform sculpted by glacial ice between c.120,000 and 20,000 years ago during the last (Devensian) glaciation. The outlier comprises Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) Scalby Formation deltaic deposits at its base, around c. 5m of the (Callovian) Cornbrash intervenes, and is succeeded by up to 7m of Osgodby Formation sandstones which cap the hill. The country rock is obscured by glacial deposits in the form of both till (boulder clay) and sand. The locality also has a wealth of well-marked glacial meltwater chanels running W-E across and around Moorsholm Rigg which together constitute evidence of glacial retreat at a point close to Devensian ice’s maximum extent.

PLEASE NOTE: There is NO access to this site without landowner permission.

This said, the hill can be viewed from several points in the locality including the lay-by at NZ 68355 13182 (see image above). The moorland around Moorsholm Rigg south of the hill is open access and good views can be had from here.

Literature References

Wishart, D. Date Unknown; An Interpretation of the Geomorphology of Freebrough Hill. University of Durham.

Barrow, G. 1888; The Geology of North Cleveland: Memoirs of the Geological Survey. HMSO, London. 101p

Ord, J.W. 1846; The History & Antiquities of Cleveland: Comprising The Wapentake Of East And West Langbargh, North Riding, County York. Publisher Unknown.

Smith Fletcher, J. 1901; Picturesque history of Yorkshire: Being an account of the history, topography, antiquities, industries, and modern life of the cities, towns, and villages of the county of York, founded on personal observations made during many journeys through the three ridings, Volume 3. Caxton.

Murray, J. 1882; Handbook for travellers in Yorkshire. J. Murray.

Atkinson, Rev. J.C. Date Unknown; The Last of the Giant Killers: Or, the Exploits of Sir Jack of Danby Dale. Publisher Unknown.

Knox, R. 2009; Descriptions, geological, topographical, and antiquarian in Eastern Yorkshire, Between the Rivers Humber and Tees. Publisher Unknown.

Site Map

Site Assessment

Access and Safety	Comments	Rating
Safety of access	Park in lay-by at NZ 68355 13182	8
Safety of exposure	N/A	-
Restricting conditions	Private Land.	-
Multiple exposure	None.	-
Note	It is strongly suggested that on-site safety be the responsibility of the party leader(s), as the safety information above is given only as a guide.	-

Education and Science	Comments	Rating
Surface processes	Solifluction terraces on slopes.	10
Geomorphology	Glacially derived outlier accompanied by well-marked glacial meltwater channelling nearby.	10
Sedimentary rock	Bathonian Scalby sandstone (deltaic), succeeded by Callovian Cornbrash shale (marine) and Osgodby sandstone (marine).	7
Igneous rock	None.	-
Metamorphic rock	None.	-
Fossils	Excellent examples of shell impressions in Osgodby Formation.	8
Minerals	None specific.	2
Structural features	Small fault of unknown throw cuts the SW flank though this is obscured by glacial till.	-
Stratigraphy	None evident due to glacial till covering.	-

Geodiversity Value	Comments	Rating
Education	Glacial landforms and processes.	5
Scientific	Study by Earth scientists.	8
Historical	The hill is named after the Norse Godess Freya, the Godess of love, beauty, fertility, gold, witchcraft, war and death. It is recorded as being a meeting place for the people of the district, possibly stretching back to Viking days (Barrow, 1888). Archaeological investigations took place in the nineteenth century concluding that the hill is a natural landform. A small quarry has been worked for Osgodby sandstone high on the eastern flank, known to have been abandoned by 1888. Perhaps as an echo of the fact that Freya was the Godess of war, or perhaps accidentally, the hill was used for tank maneouvers during WWII.	5
Aesthetic	A well-known and enigmaitic local landform.	10

Surveyors

2003: Andrew Carter, John Waring, Andy Cooper.

2010: Andy Cooper, Alan Simkins, Beth Andrews.

Seaton Hill Quarry

admin — Sun, 01 Jun 2003 16:39:11 +0000

Contents

Site Description
Site Map
Site Assessment
Surveyors

Grid Reference NZ 672 157
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS 30/09/2003

Site Description

Site Status
Description of Geodiversity Disused quarry revealing exposure of the Scalby formation specifically the Long Nab member
Literature References

Site Map

Site Assessment

Access and Safety	Comments	Rating
Safety of access	Via footpath from Stanghow Ridge. Only approach from the North	10
Safety of exposure	Steep entrance and poor underfoot due to uneven quarry floor and vegetation	5
Restricting conditions	Vegetation growth in summer months	6
Multiple exposure	None
Note	It is strongly suggested that on-site safety be the responsibility of the party leader(s), as the safety information above is given only as a guide.

Education and Science	Comments	Rating
Surface processes	Differential and biological weathering	6
Geomorphology	None
Sedimentary rock	Long Nab member consisting of sandstones, siltstones and mudstones	10
Igneous rock	None
Metamorphic rock	None
Fossils	Vague impressions under overhangs	3
Minerals	Iron oxide weathering	5
Structural features	Vertical jointing and nearby obscured fault	5
Stratigraphy	Current bedding	5

Geodiversity Value	Comments	Rating
Education	Limited educational value	2
Scientific	Study by Earth scientists	7
Historical	Disused quarry	5
Aesthetic	Overgrown quarry near site of leisure activity	3

Surveyors

Andrew Cooper, Andrew Carter