Permian rocks: (sequence)
The Permian sequence in NE England record changes in sea-level within a regional, tropical sea referred to as the Zechstein Sea The cyclical changes in sea-level fluctuations are referred to as Zechstein Cycles Z1-Z5 The black arrows in Fig 1 from Tucker (1991) show the start and end of each cycle. Along the Durham coast […]
Permian rocks: (290-248 million years ago)
The Permian rocks in NE England record changes in sea-level within a regional, tropical sea referred to as the Zechstein Sea The cyclical changes in sea-level are referred to as Zechstein Cycles Z1-Z5 Sea Level High When sea-level is high the Zechstein sea is filled with limey muds that turn to limestone over time = […]
The Durham coast during the Permian
Zechstein Sea (25o million yrs ago) The Zechstein stretched east in central Europe and north towards the Panthalassa Ocean Source: BLAKELY (2014)
The Durham coast during the Permian (western edge of Zechstein Sea)
The western edge of the Zechstein Sea Shallow reefs with fringing lagoons, reef rampart and deeper water to the east Source: https://limestonelandscapes.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CliffsCavesCuriousRocksA4.pdf
The Durham coast during the Permian (Zechstein Sea)
The western edge of the Zechstein Sea Shallow reefs with fringing lagoons, reef rampart and deeper water to the east Source: Tim Pettigrew
The Durham coast during the Permian (Marl Slate)
The Marl Slate (finely laminated shales) signifies rapid drowning of the Yellow Sands (aolian dunes) as the sea flooded in at the start of Zechstein Cycle 1 (Z1). Conditions in the lower water column were anoxic leading to amazing fossil preservation of offshore, nearshore and terrestrial fauna and flora. Platysomus (shallow seas) Source: Tim Pettigrew
The Durham coast during the Permian (desert)
The Yellow Sands – at the base of the Permian sequence there is evidence for a desert Source: Tim Pettigrew
General stratigraphic log for the Permian rocks along the Durham coast
The Durham coast during the Permian
Zechstein Sea (250 million yrs ago) It formed two distinct basins north and south separated by the Mid North Sea high Source: Maurice Tucker 2016
The Geology of County Durham in plan view
