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COW GAP AND BEACHY HEAD 16th JUNE 2001
Led by Rory Mortimore
Click for the related London Platform article
This what we did:
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We walked along Foyle Track to Cow Gap. On
the way we saw the base Lewes Nodular Chalk Formation along the track, viewed the
Upper Greensand reefs and the landslip area across the southern eroded limb
of the Beachy Head Anticline.
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At Cow Gap and Head Ledge Rory explained
the Albian Gault Clay and Upper Greensand and the basal Cenomanian
Glauconitic Marl Member of the West Melbury Marly Chalk Formation. We also
saw Indigenous body fossils, reworked, phosphatized body fossils, trace fossils,
marker beds (litho- and bio).
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From Head Ledge and Falling Sands, work up the Cenomanian
succession to the Plenus Marls and Melbourn Rock members of the Holywell
Nodular Chalk Formation.
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West of the Plenus Marls view the huge cliff collapses
that have occurred during the winter 2000-2001. These rock-falls have
covered most of the higher part of the Chalk including the Turonian and
Coniacian (Holywell Nodular Chalk, New Pit Chalk, Lewes Nodular Chalk and
Seaford Chalk Formations).
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We travel to the top of Beachy Head
(by cars) and looked from the top of Beachy Head onto the cliffs and foreshore
below. Rory discussed the European research programmes; how geology is helping
planners and engineers with cliff problems.
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Then a final stop at
Birling Gap to see beds in Seaford Chalk Formation brought to sea-level from
the top of Beachy Head by folding (the Birling Gap Syncline).
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We went to the pub.
The Pictures There are rather a
lot of pictures of this trip as I have new digital camera and was trying it
out! I am also trying a different method of presentation. If you
want to view a larger version of any of the pictures below, just click on
it. Use you browser's "Back" button to return to this
page. Please let me know if you prefer this method of presentation, by
emailing me paul@lougs.freeserve.co.uk All
photographs © Paul Hetherington Click
on any picture to enlarge the view
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Rory describes the area of interest |
On the chalk |
The view back towards Eastbourne |
On our way to Cow Gap |
The sign board at Cow Gap |
On the beach at Cow Gap |
On the beach at Cow Gap |
Looking up the succession |
On the move in the rain! |
One of the recent landslips |
Attempted removal of an ammonite |
A view of the cliffs |
Looking at the chalk |
We had some sunny weather as well |
On the cliffs at Beachy Head |
A stack ready to part company from the cliff |
The Beachy Head lighthouse |
At Birling Gap, looking towards the Seven Sisters |
Some of our finds:
1.
2. Concodial Fracture
3.
4. Ammonite
5.
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A fine example of a ? |
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