Geology Leaflet
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approximately 230 million years ago. rivers which formed part of a delta 'Sedimentary' rock is one that has been system. formed by the accumulation and Wilmslow Sandstone consists of bands consolidation of minerals, deposited (in of clay found in layers between other beds this case) by wind and wafer. of rock. This clay was utilised in the past, At Alderley Edge, the sandstones dip from amongst other things, in fields as a soil the Edge towards the Congleton Road conditioner. Flooded marl pits are an Geology at (A34) at approximately 12° to the important wetland habitat in Cheshire. horizontal. The sandstone is a series of Marl, elsewhere in Cheshire, contains Alderley Edge layers or 'beds' many metres thick. Each thick beds of rock salt and was laid down layer is slightly different in origin, in a sea with a high salt content. North of the Cheshire Plain, Alderley hardness and colour. The sequence of Edge is a north facing escarpment of red rocks at Alderley Edge is, from newest to sandstone and mineralised rock rising 190 oldest, as follows: metres above sea level. newest It is a site of unique geological importance • Helsby Sandstone (West and Wood in Britain for the non-ferrous (non-iron) Mines, upper part of Engine Vein) ores that occur among its sediments. • Wilmslow Sandstone (lower part of Extensive disused mine workings at Engine Vein) Alderley Edge mean that the sedimentary rocks in which these minerals can be oldest found are easily accessed and studied. Alderley Edge itself exists because of an The mine system ensures that the ores uplift of a block of sandstone. This and their relationship to their host rocks sandstone is hard and resists erosion and remain protected. thus the uplifted block stands above the For these reasons Alderley Edge has surrounding plain. been selected as a Regionally Important Helsby Sandstone is a bright red brown Geological Site (RIGS) and designated as variegated with greenish bands and is a Geological Conservation Review Site. It formed from sandy sediments laid down is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest by streams and rivers. In addition, some (SSSI for geological reasons. of this sandstone may have formed by the Structure of Alderley Edge build up of sand dunes, blown by the Above: The Lion Chamber in West wind. Within the Helsby Sandstone, there Mine illustrates the layering of the rock Alderley Edge is largely made up of is also conglomerate – a sedimentary rock under the Edge. sandstone – a sedimentary rock that was composed of rounded pebbles and sand formed during the Triassic Period – laid down by meandering streams and Mineralisation THE NATIONAL TRUST The mineralisation of non-ferrous ores The Manchester Museum and the occurs throughout the fault lines at National Trust set up the Alderley Edge Alderley Edge and the surrounding Landscape Project in 1996, was a sandstone. multidisciplinary research project Traces of metals were transported in combining archaeology, geology, history, solution from the rocks lying underneath literature and botany. Check out the the Cheshire Basin. These solutions were website on: www.alderleyedge.man.ac.uk then trapped in the faults by clay bands The Derbyshire Caving Club maintain the and deposited as mineral ores. The main mines under Alderley Edge and hold open ores found here are copper and lead but weekends twice a year for the public to be also smaller quantities of: zinc, arsenic, able to experience the mines first hand. cobalt, nickel, antimony, silver and gold. Above: Reconstruction of the herbivorous More information can be found on: www.derbysCC.org.uk The Early Life of Alderley Edge lizard-like Rhynchosaur For more information contact us at: The Triassic period in Britain was hot and dry. The rivers which carried the sediment The Cheshire Countryside Office – that formed the Upper Mottled and Keuper Macclesfield Road sandstones may have been irregular or Nether Alderley seasonal in flow. Plants and animals were Macclesfield scarce in this unfavourable environment SK10 4UB and so fossils are rare in the Triassic rocks of Alderley Edge. However, the following evidence of life has been found Tel: 01625584412 • 3-toed reptilian footprint in the Engine Registered charity no: 205846 Vein Conglomerates at Castle Rock • Euestheria minuta (clam shrimp) fossils found at Engine Vein Mine • Euestharia minuta fossils and an insect wing fossil found in the lower part of Keuper Marl near Styal, 4m North West of Alderley Edge. • Rhynchosaurides footprint from the Wood Mine conglomerate formation .