Geology of the Zechstein

Event leads: Karl Egeland-Eriksen & Brenda Turnbull

Event length: 1 session, Saturday 27 July, 10.00 am-4.00 pm

Event cost: £5 NHSN Members/£7.50 Non-Members

Meet at: Trow Quarry Car Park (Pay & Display), Promenade, Horsley Hill, South Shields NZ381666 w3w: locals.spice.sheets

Please use the meeting instructions above and not Eventbrite's automatic mapping function.

Trow Point contains fascinating features relating to the deposition of the magnesian limestone in the Zechstein Sea during the late Permian period (255Ma). The Raisby Formation at the base of the cliff includes an olistostrome, evidence for the Downhill Slide, a massive submarine slide. Above is heavily breccciated Roker Formation (Concretionary Member) from the second cycle of the Zechstein flooding. Sandwiched between are a few centimetres of softer material comprising a lower unit of small stromatolites – the Trow Point Bed, and above it, a layer that is the Hartepool Anhydrite Residue – 10cm of muddy material that is all that remains of ~100m of salt deposits formed when the Zechstein dried up.

Essential equipment:

Sturdy footwear, outdoor clothing, lunch.

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