|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Former mining site with an interesting funga, flora and fauna, west of Tetange - in the southern part of Luxembourg. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This limestone arch is a frequently-shot feature of Dorset's Jurassic Coast. This shot is unusual for me because the sun is directly in the camera field of view, straight ahead. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The top of Gad Cliff offers one of the most spectacular views along the Dorset and East Devon coast World Heritage Site (the Jurassic Coast). Here the rocks have been folded into a huge ‘S’ shaped kink as the result of earth movements about 15 million years ago. In the foreground, Kimmeridge Clay together with Portland and Purbeck strata, lie in the southern side of the fold and are dipping steeply to the north. In the distance, the same rocks are level as they are located away from the fold. This huge structure, known as the Purbeck Monocline, runs east to west across Purbeck, dominating the landscape.
For more information visit: http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/kimgad.htm http://www.coastlink.org/kimmeridge/ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
360 of the interior of St James Church, Poole.
Our first ever attempt at using Gigapan was in the church-yard of St James Church (see here: http://share.gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=19748) - the church wardens were so impressed that they invited us back to shoot one inside of the impressive interior. Messed up a little bit on the join and forgot it doesn't overlap on a 360, so isn't quite symmetrical, but I will try and fix this soon and also hopefully fix the stitching errors in the ceiling. Other than that, very pleased!! Taken by Alice Ralph and Denis Roberts of KUBE, Poole - www.kubepoole.org.uk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portland is a central part of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site on the Dorset and east Devon coast, important for its geology and landforms. Its name is used for one of the British Sea Areas, and has been exported as the name of North American and Australian towns. Portland limestone is still quarried here, and is used in British architecture, including St Paul's Cathedral and Buckingham Palace.
The large, deep artificial harbour on Portland's northern shore was a Royal Navy base during World War I and World War II; the Navy and NATO trained in its waters until the 1990s. The harbour is a small civilian port and popular recreation area; the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy will host the sailing events for the 2012 Olympic Games. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The beaches around Charmouth and Lyme Regis are world famous for fossils. I found my first ammonite here in 1973 and became a geologist as a result!
I have planted 10 fossils in this view but there are many more. This is just how you find them, lying on the beach! There are ammonites, belemnites, shells, trace fossils, crinoids (can anyone find the star shaped stalk?) and ichthyosaur vertebrae. There are also minerals; calcite and 'beef' calcite together with flint and chert. The sea does all the hard work, washing away the soft clays to leave the well preserved fossils scattered across the beach for people to find. People can take these fossils away because if they are not collected, they would simply be destroyed by the very process that uncovers them. Every year there are fossils, and more fossils! The Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, Lyme Regis Museum and a number of private individuals lead guided walks and this is the best way to get a start. Please stay away from the cliffs and landslides – rock falls can happen at any time while the landslides contain mudflows and quicksand, it is all too easy to get stuck. Rough weather is the best time to go collecting; this gigapan was taken during excellent fossil collecting weather, wind and rain! But you also need to check the tides and head out along the beach as the tide is going out. A fossil collecting code operates in this area. Visit www.charmouth.org for more details |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A block 65cm by 45cm containing numerous fossil brittle starfish (too many to count) and some complete crinoids together with broken crinoid and starfish debris. This block contains a complex story about one point in time during the early part of the Jurassic, about 185 million years ago, when this part of the world was covered by a shallow, semi-tropical sea. These fossils were found near West Bay, Dorset by Sam Scriven, Earth Science Advisor for the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site Team in November 2009. Preparation (cleaning) by Alex Moore using air pens and air abrasive. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chesil Beach is one of the finest barrier beaches in the World and forms part of the Dorset and East Devon 'Jurassic Coast' World Heritage Site.
The beach stretches some 28km west from Portland to West Bay. The pebbles are famously graded from cobbles here at Portland, to pea sized gravel at West Bay. Behind the beach lies the village of Chiswell, Portland harbour, where the 2012 sailing Olympics will take place, and the Fleet Lagoon which is important for its wildlife both above and below the water. The beach has withstood the forces of the sea for thousands of years but is occasionally over topped by storms and is slowly moving on shore and loosing its volume. One bay it will break up but when? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The fossil forest is found on a terrace in the cliffs just east of Lulworth Cove. The forest dates back to the end of the Jurassic period, about 145 million years ago.
At the end of the Jurassic, the sea was becoming shallower until eventually a series of islands formed surrounded by swamps. Soils developed on the islands and for a brief period of geological time, a forest became established. Then water levels rose, drowning the trees. Thick mats of sticky algae grew across the forest floor and around the base of the trees and the fallen logs. Sediment stuck to the algae and then more algae formed on top, layer upon layer, forming algal stromatolites. So what we see today is a band of limestone that covers the soil and forms algal burrs around the wood. At one time fossil wood would have been present inside the doughnut shaped burrs but it was collected many years ago. This site lies inside the Lulworth Range, an army range for life firing. The Ranges are typically but not always, open during weekends and school holidays. Google ‘Lulworth Range opening times’ or phone +44 (0) 1929 462721 extension 4819 for details. For more information about the fossil forest and the amazing coast around, visit the Lulworth Heritage Centre. The web site ‘Geology of the Wessex Coast of Southern England’ has a detailed account of the geology. http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/Fossil-Forest.htm For more general information about the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, visit: www.jurassiccoast.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Abandoned opencast pit "Lallingerbierg", showing the different "Minette" ironstone cycles typical of the Basin of Esch-sur-Alzette (Couche grise Cycle at the bottom to Couche rouge sableuses Cycle at the Top; late Toarcian to early Aalenian age, Jurassic). |