How did the coal form during the Carboniferous period?
A cyclothem is a series of repeating sediments representing the transgression and regression of wateror the submergence and emergence of land. In coal-bearing strata, changes in depositional environment produced a cyclic repetition of beds. The cyclothem is defined as a series of beds deposited during a single sedimentary cycle. The consist of shale, limestone, shale, […]
Changing sea-level and coal
Diagram showing the formation of a typical cyclothemsequence (from bottom to top). © Elizabeth Pickett, 2022 Sea-levels in the Carboniferous were constantly changing. When sea-level was low, the deltas built out into the sea and swampy conditions prevailed, covered with vegetation. When sea level rose, the deltas and associated forests were drowned, and sea life […]
Carboniferous Coal Measures beneath the Durham coast
An idealised geological cross section showing the Carboniferous Coal Measures dipping eastwards beneath the Durham coast To the east the coal seams lay several hundreds of metres below surface. To the west the coal seams come the surface Source: https://evenwoodramshawdistricthistorysociety.uk/geology-the-durham-coalfield-etc/
11: Fissure
Erosion on Durham’s limestone coast, slowed by rock waste, will increase due to climate change, sea level rise, and waste removal.
10: Red Lagoon – Floating Rocks
The beach has two intriguing features, a reverse gradient and red lagoons creating a surreal environment.
09: Red Lagoons
At Blast Beach’s south, a remarkable red lagoon formed by rock waste from mining activity. Iron-rich water interacts with Carboniferous rocks.
08: The Blast Beach Profile
As you head south, Blast Beach shifts from flat to convex profile due to sediment. Red lagoons form, coloured by iron-rich Carboniferous rocks.
07: Old boots
Miner’s boots, like nail boots, are part of Blast Beach’s industrial history. Thousands were buried in rock waste. Rare find today.
06: The Rock Waste Platform
Blast Beach’s man-made platform, unique on a rocky coast, protects cliffs from marine forces, allowing unexpected plant growth. Exceptional and surprising.
05: Industrial Archaeology
Blast Beach waste reveals mining history: old conveyor belt fragments and railway track sections confirm coal transport and mining activity.