How was Kimmeridge Clay formed?

How was Kimmeridge Clay formed?

Offshore: In the Southern North Sea, the upper boundary of the Kimmeridge Clay Formation is often truncated by erosion. In some areas sandstone (Spilsby Sandstone Formation, Offshore) overlies the organic-rich mudstones of the Kimmeridge Clay Formation (Offshore).

Can you find fossils at Kimmeridge?

The Kimmeridge Clay contains a remarkable range of fossils including occasional bones of dinosaurs, ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs and pterosaurs and many invertebrate fossils. It is an important formation from a palaeontological point of view and the cliffs here have been yielding remarkable finds for almost two centuries.

Is Kimmeridge Clay hard or soft?

The Kimmeridge Clay Formation (KCF) is a 500 m-thick mudstone succession deposited throughout the North Sea in the Late Jurassic and records environmental conditions through this time.

How old is the Kimmeridge Clay?

Dorset, England The village of Kimmeridge stands on Jurassic shale cliffs, and gives its name to the Kimmeridgian, the division of the Jurassic period in which the beds were laid down. Laid down 155 million years ago, the rocks at Kimmeridge Bay were once the floor of a deep, tropical sea rich in pre-historic life.

Is Kimmeridge Bay Safe?

About Kimmeridge Bay Kimmeridge Bay, on Dorset’s Jurassic World Heritage Coast, is famous for its safe swimming, rock pooling, canoeing, wind surfing and water sports. The water visibility is excellent for snorkellers and divers.

How old are the fossils at Kimmeridge Bay?

The Kimmeridge Clay (Formation) is composed of fossil-rich mudstones and oil shales which originally accumulated as soft sediment at the bottom of the sea approximately 156-148 million years ago.

Can you swim in Kimmeridge Bay?

Kimmeridge Bay is known for its safe and clear waters, making it the ideal wild swimming spot. Those interested in marine life will want to grab their snorkels and get themselves into the clear water of the bay.

What is Kimmeridge Bay?

Kimmeridge Bay, half a mile south west of the village of Kimmeridge via a toll road, features some of the most important geology anywhere on the Jurassic Coast. It also boasts some of the area’s most accessible marine wildlife. Kimmeridge Bay is privately owned as part of the Smedmore Estate.

What landform is Kimmeridge Bay?

The landforms found here are steep cliffs and a well-defined wave-cut platform. The Kimmeridge Clays are made up of clearly defined beds of shales and limestones. These make a striking pattern on the foreshore at low-tide.

Are there toilets at Kimmeridge?

3 answers. Yes as you look at the beach from the cliff top walk left and you will find them. 5 Answers Is this a dog friendly beach?

Who owns Kimmeridge Bay?

Mansel family
Estate History In Henry II’s reign, the Abbot of Cerne obtained the right to collect all wreckage on the shore, which right has been passed down to the Mansel family who are the present owners of Kimmeridge Bay. Smedmore was last sold by Henry Smedmore in 1391 to William Wyot, who married into the Clavell family.

Where is Kimmeridge Bay located?

Dorset
Kimmeridge Bay ( /ˈkɪmərɪdʒ/) is a bay on the Isle of Purbeck, a peninsula on the English Channel coast in Dorset, England, close to and southeast of the village of Kimmeridge, on the Smedmore Estate.