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This topic looks at the geology of Sidmouth, East Devon, focusing on its Permian, Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous rock formations. These layers, including the Permian Exeter Group (featuring breccia), the Triassic Otter Sandstone (containing gypsum and halite), the Jurassic Mercia Mudstone, and the Cretaceous Upper Greensand (with glauconite) and Chalk, provide a remarkable record of Earth's deep past, from ancient deserts to shallow seas. The topic also discusses the coastal shingle and its role in erosion defence, explaining how the underlying geology directly shapes the modern landscape of Sidmouth and its historical use as building materials. Together, the topic, including a geological map and cross-section, reveal a dynamic history of continental drift (Pangaea), climate shifts, and mass extinction events, all preserved within the local rocks
The articles in this thread address the following questions:
What two key geological processes are involved in the formation of coastal shingle?
What are shingle ridges and storm berms, and how are they formed?
What is the ecological significance of coastal shingle environments beyond their geological role in coastal defence?
What are the main threats to coastal shingle habitats caused by human activities or environmental changes?
What is the primary location and age of the Otter Sandstone Formation? Briefly describe the environment in which it originated.
What makes the coastal exposures of Sidmouth geologically significant? Name two geological periods represented in the rocks there.
How does breccia differ from conglomerate, and what is one geological process that can lead to the formation of breccia?
What mineral gives the Upper Greensand Formation its characteristic colour, and during which geological period was it primarily deposited?
What two significant groups of marine life thrived during the Devonian period, often referred to as the "Age of Fishes".
What was the supercontinent Pangea, and during which geological periods did it exist?
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Explore the Triassic geology of Sidmouth. Learn why the cliffs are red, find the "missing" 140 million years of history, and understand what causes local landslides.
Journey back 299 million years to the Permian Period. Discover Sidmouth's Exeter Group rocks and the mass extinction that paved the way for the dinosaurs.
Explore the Triassic recovery in Sidmouth. Learn about the Otter Sandstone, the supercontinent Pangea, and the small bipedal ancestors of the great dinosaurs.
Discover the Otter Sandstone Formation in Sidmouth. Learn about its braided river origins, rare Triassic fossils, and the "cross-bedding" that proves ancient water currents.
Explore the Jurassic world of Sidmouth. Discover the Mercia Mudstone, the breakup of Pangea, and the incredible diversity of dinosaurs and marine reptiles.
Learn about the Sidmouth Mudstone Formation. Discover why the cliffs are red and green, what fossils lie within, and how this 200m thick layer formed 240 million years ago.
Explore the Cretaceous Period in Sidmouth. Learn about the Upper Greensand, the rise of T-Rex, and the asteroid impact that ended the Mesozoic Era.
Discover the Upper Greensand Formation in Sidmouth. Learn about the green mineral glauconite, marine fossils, and how this rock built the great Cathedrals of England.
Learn about the coastal shingle of Sidmouth. Discover how beach pebbles are formed, where they come from, and why they are vital for protecting our cliffs from erosion.
Explore the minerals of Sidmouth’s cliffs. Learn how Breccia, Gypsum, and Glauconite reveal the town's history of ancient deserts and prehistoric seas.
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