Staithes to Port Mulgrave: the Cleveland Ironstone and Whitby Mudstone - industrial archaeology, palaeoenvironments and palaeobiota
led by Richard Maddra
A Yorkshire Geology Month event.
Meet in Staithes car park [postcode TS13 5AD] at 9:15am with a planned finish time of 3:30pm. Please bring packed lunches. Sturdy footwear with good grip is recommended and hard hats are a must. The foreshore can be slippery and small cliff falls are frequent. Under 18's must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
A walk from Staithes to Port Mulgrave along the foreshore to examine the mining archaeology, stratigraphy and fauna of the Staithes Sandstone, Cleveland Ironstone and Whitby Mudstone Formations. Along the way, we will examine the mining archaeology from the ironstone industry. The transition from near-shore, shallow seas to deeper water sediments is visible as are faunal changes. Evidence of warming and ocean anoxia can also be observed.
The itinerary covers about 4 miles altogether and involves some scrambling. Lunch will be at Port Mulgrave harbour. If tidal conditions permit and the group wishes it, the walk can be extended to examine the outcrop of the Mulgrave Shale in Rosedale Wyke. We will ascend the cliffs at Port Mulgrave and return to Staithes via the clifftop path.