Lathkill Dale FieldtripGeology Presentation – 23.11.10

Lathkill Dale Map

Lathkill Dale grid reference = SK 187 658

Lathkill Dale

Group and Roles

•Cheryl Bennett – Note Taker and Fossil researcher.

•Deb Royle – Photographer, Presenter and Rock researcher. •Michelle Townsend - Photographer and History writer. •Katy Dixon – Note Taker and PowerPoint designer.

•Kelly Marie Farnsworth – Photographer and Summary writer.

Introduction

Past and Present

Entrance•Limestone bridge over river.•Fossils (mainly bivalve molluscs) have been revealed due to the wear of visitors shoes on the now polished stone.•Area was once a limestone mill featuring a large water wheel.

Site One

Limestone rock on side of path.

Visible bedding planes dipping to the north.

Saturated with water allowing plans and fauna to grow.

Site Two

Mining hole – would have been mined for iron and lead.

Mining in Lathkill Dale has taken place since the 13th century.

The hole would have been a way of draining the mine for ore. This method was called sough.

Site Three

•Mandale Mine: building is limestone as are the pillars used to carry water over the valley to power the water wheel.•There is a legal obligation to protect the area.•A popular potholing site.

Site Four

• Bateman’s House - built in the 1840’s using primarily limestone.• Windowsills and doorways are made from sandstone as it is weaker /easier to dress.• Below is Lathkill mine, a recently renovated deep mineshaft.•This shaft is home to a water turbine, used to power drainage.

Site Five

Jacobs Ladder fossil area included; Brachiopods also known as Gigantas procuctus (pictured top right) and sea lilies.

Limestone was quarried by hammering in large pins, so as to split evenly (pictured bottom right).

Site Four Continued

•Sea lilies, also known as “Derbyshire screw” consisted of a stalk and tentacles. When the lilies died they lay on the sea bed and were imprinted into the fossils we see today (pictured right and below).

Conclusion

Thanks for watching!