Geology

[geodar]

Another of my many interests is geology.

While down the coast I took some pictures of the cliff face, showing the geology of the landscape from millions of years ago.

ONE OF THE BEST EXPOSURES OF THE COAL MEASURES IN ON THE NORTH EAST COAST BETWEEN WHITLEY BAY AND SEATON SLUICE.*

*(Source WIKIPEDIA-GEOLOGY OF ENGLAND)

This image shows the period from the late Palaeozoic through the Mesozoic to Cenozoic (present day.)

A- DEVONIAN, FORMED 416 MILLION YEARS AGO - first vertebrates to walk on land.

B- CARBONIFEROUS, FORMED 359 MILLION YEARS AGO - coal formation as prehistoric vegetation fell and over millions of years produced coal deposits. Giant insects were around at this time, 6 feet poisonous centipedes, 3 feet scorpions and dragonflies the size of seagulls would have been seen.

C- PERMIAM, FORMED 299 MILLION YEARS AGO - 90% of all marine species and 70% of all land animals became extinct during this time.

D- TRIASSIC, JURASSIC & CRETACEOUS, FORMED BETWEEN 251 - 145 MILLION YEARS AGO - Triassic 251 m; At the start of this period new creatures roamed, taking advantage after the large extinction during the Permiam period. Rodent sized mammals, the first dinosaurs and the first corals appeared during this time.

Jurassic 199 m; The time of the dinosaurs, the earliest known bird (Archaeopteryx) took to the skies in the late Jurassic. Insects/Beetles and early mammal were abundant.

Cretaceous 145 m; Rapid dispersal of flowering plant flourished. The large dinosaurs / Peterosaurs and ammonites all perished at the end of this time. 

E- PALAEGENE, NEOGENE & QUATERNARY, FORMED BETWEEN 65 - 2.6 MILLION YEARS AGO - Palaegene 65 m; The continents drifted father apart. Europe severed it's last links with America. Australia split with Antarctica. Whales made and appearance in the mid to late Palaegene period and mammals diversed and flourished.

Neogene 23m; Himalayas and Alps were formed when continents collided. Apes diverged and adapted to walking on two legs, carrying food and using tools.

Quaternary 2.6 m; (modern times), Mammoths, Sabre Tooth Tigers, giant bears, sloths, bison, dogs all grew massive. Whales and Sharks ruled the seas. Modern humans spread around the globe and changed things forever.