An opportunity to study a geologically and historically important site.
In the morning we shall carry out conservation work on this exposure of Purbeck Limestone of the Lower Cretaceous. This is a shelly limestone (Broken Shell Limestone or Burr) used for building and the famous Purbeck Marble was extracted.
Lunch will be taken in Worth Matravers where Mr Charlie Newman will demonstrate how he recreates replica oilshale decorative armlets of the Bronze Age and Iron Age using a pole lathe and flint tools.
In the afternoon we shall walk from Renscombe Farm via the coastal footpath to view Chapman’s Pool and the coast to the west. Then we shall continue to Emmets Hill and St Aldhelm’s Head and return via St Aldhelm’s Quarry. The walk is 3.5 km along footpaths with some steep sections. There is one section of about 50m (150ft) with steps.
This is an opportunity to help conserve an important site and have some exciting geology later.
The field trip leader, Alan Holiday, taught geography and geology in Weymouth. He is now retired but spends much of his time leading field trips! Over the years he has been involved in a range of OUGS activities as well as now being Chairman of the Dorset GA Group and Dorset RIGS Group.
Further details and Booking
The remarkable seafloor images of Weymouth Bay obtained by Dorset Wildlife Trust’s DORIS project provide new insights into the geology of the Jurassic Coast. Large circular structures revealed in the Purbeck Limestone have not previously been seen in any of the coastal cliffs or quarries from Durlston Bay to Portland, despite over a hundred years of geological research. Many geological processes can generate circular arrangements of strata from meteorite impacts to collapsed caves, volcanoes, reefs or to salt injection structures. The talk will describe the structures as revealed in echo sounding images, explore the different interpretations and the implications for our understanding of this classic geological area.
Speaker: Dan Bosence, Emeritus Professor Geology, Royal Holloway University of London.
With welcome and introduction about the DORIS project by Peter Tinsley, Dorset Wildlife Trust.
Entry by donation on the door.
To reserve your seat contact Julie Hatcher
01929 481044
kimmeridge@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
Bumps in the Bay poster
We will be looking at the Swanage coast between Peveril Point and Ballard Down. 10.30 a.m. onward.
Meet at Broad Road Car Park for 10.30 a.m. (Grid Reference: SZ 035 785, Postcode: BH192AR) and walk to Peveril Point to look at the top of the Purbeck sequence. Then drive and park near Bull and Boat Café/Restaurant (Grid Reference SZ 031 796, Postcode: BH19 1LH) and walk north along the beach to look at Wealden Beds and Greensand as well as evidence of mass-movement and coastal protection. Around 4 km walking total.
