Alport Castles

One of the finest views of regular medium bedding is at Alport Castles which forms a fantastic natural amphitheatre.

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River Ashop syncline

This syncline is found on the River Ashop in the grid cell below (SK143894) alongside the A57.

Carboniferous period - timescales

The backbone of our understanding of the geology of the Peak District will be built around the chronostratigraphic chart of the Carboniferous. Here is an extract showing the relevant data from the latest (2012) version of the International Chronostratigraphic Chart:

Confusingly these international names are not the same as the European Carboniferous system (from Wikipedia):

As all the books I have are about UK geology it is probably best to stick to the European system.

The god of Stanage Edge

This sandstone outcrop on Stanage Edge looks like an Inca god.

Mineral maps on BGS

BGS have made mineral maps of the UK, including the Peak District available online.

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Time to get out and see the rocks!

At last. I have posted the final project module of my Open University degree. All I can do now is wait for the result.

For most of the last 7 years since I started my geoscience degree I have been collecting geology books, especially of the Peak District, to read when I had finished. And now the time has come!

I know the basics. White Peak - limestone, Dark Peak - sandstone. Carboniferous. Derbyshire dome. Volcanoes. But now is the time to blow the dust off the books, make some theoretical notes, and get out and look at the rocks.

Let the journey commence!

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