|
1:250 000 Geological Map
This range of geological maps show the general geology of the area, they come in either folded (for taking on the field), or flat (for wall mounting)
Buy from UKGE |
|
1: 50 000 Geological Map
This range of geological maps show the localised geology, they come in either folded (for taking on the field), or flat (for wall mounting)
Buy from UKGE |
Jurassic
GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE: Gondwanaland continues to break up, Graywacke,
shale and siliceous sediments formed. Continued mountain building.
mild, moist climates over most of the land.
TERRESTRIAL ANIMAL LIFE: Reptiles dominant with Crocodiles, turtles,
lizards and dinosaurs. Pterosaurs and Archaeopteryx take to the air.
Mammals begin to diversify. More advanced insects such as flies.
PLANT LIFE: Cycads, ginkos, conifers, ferns and tree ferns.
SEA LIFE: All major invertebrate groups well represented, ammonites and bivalves successful. Marine reptiles, Ichthyosaurs are Plesiosaurs.
Cretaceous
GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE: Seas flood half the land, Great thickness of
chalk, single-celled animals laid down. Land masses
begin to move towards their present positions. Climate mild without
extremes.
TERRESTRIAL ANIMAL LIFE: Advanced dinosaurs such as duck-bills. Turtles,
snakes,salamanders. Gulls and wading birds. Opossums & other mammals.
All dinosaurs and many other large reptiles extinct by the end of
the period.
PLANT LIFE: Gymnosperms, sequoias and cypresses. Flowering plants appear,
magnolias and oaks.
SEA LIFE: Plankton, coral reefs, rudists, ammonites, calcareous algae.
Marine reptiles and ammonites extinct by the end of the period.
|
|
Geological Guide to Thorncombe Beacon
Eype Clay at Thorncombe Beacon
At the base of the cliff at Thorncombe Beacon is the Eype clay, in the middle is a series of Nodules from the 'Eype Nodule Bed', though this is often covered by slippages. Thorncombe Beacon is 157m high, right at the top is the Late Greensand and Gault from the Cretaceous Period and below this the Bridport Sands, Down Cliff Clay and Thorncombe Sands which are not present at Golden Cap. The Junction Bed where most of the ammonites come from is between the Down cliff Clay and the Thorncombe Sands.
Below this sequence, the Down Cliff Sands rests on the Eype Clay with the Starfish Bed between the two. Starfish are quite common here and they are much lower down than at Golden Cap.
|
|
|
Our International Rock
and Fossil Magazine |
|
