Can you find fossils at Kimmeridge Bay?
Can you find fossils at Kimmeridge Bay?
Fossils occur commonly throughout the Kimmeridge Clay, in particular the shells of ammonites and bivalves. Less common finds include the skeletal remains of marine reptiles and in extremely rare instances the bones of dinosaurs and pterosaurs. Left: Cliff-top parking is available at Kimmeridge Bay.
What is Kimmeridge famous for?
The area is renowned for its fossils, with The Etches Collection in the village of Kimmeridge displaying fossils found by Steve Etches in the area over a 30-year period. It is a popular place to access the coast for tourists. To the east are the Kimmeridge Ledges, where fossils can be found in the flat clay beds.
How was Kimmeridge wave cut platform formed?
The rocks at Kimmeridge are the Kimmeridge Clays. The shallow dip of the beds enables the rocks to form steep cliffs, since they are less vulnerable to rock-falls than rocks that dip more steeply towards the sea. The wave cut platform forms as sea level rises, and the cliff line migrates in a landward direction.
How was Kimmeridge bay formed?
The oil formed in rocks that were laid down on a stagnant sea floor. The rocks were buried and organic matter within them was ‘cooked’ to form oil and gas. More oil lies in the northern part of Purbeck, and under Poole Harbour.
Is Kimmeridge Bay Safe?
About Kimmeridge Bay Kimmeridge Bay, on Dorset’s Jurassic World Heritage Coast, is famous for its safe swimming, rock pooling, canoeing, wind surfing and water sports. The water visibility is excellent for snorkellers and divers.
Where can I do fossil hunt in Dorset?
Best fossil hunting beaches in Dorset
- Charmouth Beach. The beach at Charmouth is renowned for its bountiful fossil hunting opportunities.
- Lyme Regis. The beach at Lyme Regis is also one of the top fossil hunting locations in Dorset.
- Chapman’s Pool.
- Lulworth Cove.
- Ringstead Bay.
Who owns Kimmeridge Bay?
Mansel family
Estate History In Henry II’s reign, the Abbot of Cerne obtained the right to collect all wreckage on the shore, which right has been passed down to the Mansel family who are the present owners of Kimmeridge Bay. Smedmore was last sold by Henry Smedmore in 1391 to William Wyot, who married into the Clavell family.
What is Kimmeridge Bay?
Kimmeridge Bay, half a mile south west of the village of Kimmeridge via a toll road, features some of the most important geology anywhere on the Jurassic Coast. It also boasts some of the area’s most accessible marine wildlife. Kimmeridge Bay is privately owned as part of the Smedmore Estate.
How is a bay formed geography?
The bands of soft rock, such as sand and clay, erode more quickly than those of more resistant rock, such as chalk. This leaves a section of land jutting out into the sea called a headland. The areas where the soft rock has eroded away, next to the headland, are called bays.
Is Kimmeridge Bay Sandy?
Kimmeridge Bay is part of the Jurassic Coast. This is not a sandy beach but a mixture of sand, pebbles, boulders and shale. Although not sandy it does offer swimming and excellent rock pools. Kimmeridge Bay Beach is dog friendly and allows dogs all year.
Can you swim in Kimmeridge Bay?
Kimmeridge Bay is known for its safe and clear waters, making it the ideal wild swimming spot. Those interested in marine life will want to grab their snorkels and get themselves into the clear water of the bay.
Which beach in Dorset is best for fossil hunting?
What kind of rock is in Kimmeridge Bay?
At Kimmeridge, the Upper Kimmeridge Clay, in the cliffs east of Kimmeridge Bay, and also west in part of Brandy Bay, corresponds to the Bolonian stage of the Late Jurassic. It includes Yellow Ledge, the Kimmeridge oil shale, Rope Lake Head Stone Band, White Band and associated shales etc.
Where to find oil shale in Kimmeridge Bay?
THIS IS THE INTRODUCTORY WEBPAGE TO THE KIMMERIDGE CLAY CLIFF SECTION – OTHER KIMMERIDGE WEBPAGES, LISTED BELOW, ARE ON SPECIFIC LOCATIONS EAST AND WEST OF KIMMERIDGE. FOR OIL SHALE GO TO: KIMMERIDGE BLACKSTONE, OIL SHALE at Clavell’s Hard
What kind of fossils are found in Kimmeridge Bay?
Important fossils have been found in the Kimmeridge Clay, but they need an expert eye and time-consuming preparation. Some of the shales contain enough organic matter to be classed as oil shales. Flattened ammonites are abundant in some of the shale horizons and include specimens of Pectinatites, Aulacostphanus and Subdichotomoceras.
Where did the Kimmeridge Clay Formation get its name?
The rocks exposed in the cliffs and on the foreshore at Kimmeridge Bay and towards Brandy Bay in the west and Chapman’s Pool in the southeast belong to the Kimmeridge Clay Formation. The formation was first described in the area in 1816 and takes its name from the neighbouring village/bay.