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Viewing swaag.org website implies consent to set cookies on your computer. Full details Swaledale and Arkengarthdale Archaeology Group
Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation Number 1155775
SWAAG Honorary President:
Tim Laurie F,S,A,

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 *****SWAAG_ID***** 880
 Date Entered 18/07/2015
 Updated on 21/07/2015
 Recorded by Tim Laurie
 Category Geological Record
 Record Type Geomorphology
 Site Access Public Footpath
 Record Date 07/07/2015
 Location Ribblehead; Thorns Gill
 Civil Parish Not known
 Brit. National Grid SD 775 795
 Altitude 300m
 Geology Thorns Gill is a very attractive small stream-cut gorge which, below the old footbridge, respects the line of a former cavern exposed by glacial erosion of the limestone, see photos below. Perched erratic boulders of limestone carried by ice from bedrock origin further east are a spectacular feature of this walk. One of these boulders shows shallow shrinkage cracking characteristic of episodic drying-shrinking of the shallow sea bed at low tide during Late Carboniferous Time some 280 Million Years ago (Information, John Russell and see photo nos
 Record Name Glacial erratics and a fine old arched footbridge at Thornsgill. One of Arthur Wainwright's favourite walks.
 Record Description Following in Arthur Wainwright's footsteps, a small party of SWAAG Members explored the limestone erratic perched boulders, the rich vegetation and views of Ingleborough at Thorns Gill, Ribblehead. Reference: Wainwright, A. 'Walks in Limestone Country.'Eighth Impression.Kendal, Westmorland. Gazette, Kendal.
 Dimensions Not more than a couple of miles walking.
 Additional Notes To see the flowers at their best, a walk in spring is recommended.
 Image 1 ID 6246         Click image to enlarge
 Image 1 Description John summons his attentive audience to explain 280mya shrinkage cracks on a limestone boulder- a phenomenal geomorphological phenomenum made plain to all.For details of the cracking,see Image Nos 15 and 16 below
 Image 2 ID 6261         Click image to enlarge
 Image 2 Description Perched boulder, see also photos and drawings in Arther Wainwright's 'Walks in Limestone Country', Section 22.
 Image 3 ID 6247         Click image to enlarge
 Image 3 Description Glacially rounded boulder fluted by water during post glacial time. Inglebrough in the background.
 Image 4 ID 6248         Click image to enlarge
 Image 4 Description John gets close and friendly with an unconcerned glacial phenomenum.
 Image 5 ID 6249         Click image to enlarge
 Image 5 Description John investigates the bedrock to compare the different rock composition.
 Image 6 ID 6250         Click image to enlarge
 Image 6 Description Further erratic limestone boulders on limestone bedrock.
 Image 7 ID 6251         Click image to enlarge
 Image 7 Description The small fern, Wall-rue (Asplenium ruta-mururia)
 Image 8 ID 6252         Click image to enlarge
 Image 8 Description Fluted boulder
 Image 9 ID 6253         Click image to enlarge
 Image 9 Description Fluted boulder
 Image 10 ID 6254         Click image to enlarge
 Image 10 Description Fluted boulder
 Image 11 ID 6255         Click image to enlarge
 Image 11 Description Split boulder
 Image 12 ID 6256         Click image to enlarge
 Image 12 Description Thorns Gill stream follows the line of a subterranean cavern
 Image 13 ID 6257         Click image to enlarge
 Image 13 Description The packhorse bridge drawn by Wainwright, see below
 Image 14 ID 6258         Click image to enlarge
 Image 14 Description Anne and Ric on the Bridge.
 Image 15 ID 6259         Click image to enlarge
 Image 15 Description John explains the origin of the shrinkage cracks
 Image 16 ID 6260         Click image to enlarge
 Image 16 Description Detail of the shallow cracks on the face of the boulder, once a surface of calcareous mud exposed to the drying sun between tides.
 Image 17 ID 6262         Click image to enlarge
 Image 17 Description One of the attractive pools
 Image 18 ID 6263         Click image to enlarge
 Image 18 Description Ash tree
 Image 19 ID 6264         Click image to enlarge
 Image 19 Description 
 
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