Organised by:
Geological Society Events, North West Regional Group
Venue:
Lymm Gorge Geology Trail, Lymm, Cheshire
Time and location
Time: Meet at 13.45pm, to leave at 14.00pm, 9on Sunday 21 July 2024. The group will aim to arrive at a local hostelry at 16.00pm.
Meeting place: Davies Way Car Park, (off Davies Way), Brookfield Road, Lymm, Warrington WA13 0QW.
Event details
Cheshire is well known for its superb geology and its spectacular exposures of Triassic sandstone that are the tip of the huge iceberg of the Mesozoic Cheshire Basin, with its >4km infill of reservoir and seal rocks. Exploration and exploitation of resources such as salt (a major, ongoing success story, which included Lymm for a short time), copper (at Alderley Edge and Bickerton) and hydrocarbons (less successful) have provided a rich vein of industrial history stories. Outcrops, such as those at Thurstaston (Wirral) and Helsby (Cheshire), are still regarded as key analogues to hydrocarbon exploration in the East Irish Sea Basin and, more recently, as surface representations of potential geothermal reservoirs at depth.
On a scientific level, many exposures of Cheshire Triassic geology formed the basis of studies of continental sedimentology, stratigraphy, and structural geology. Lymm’s exposures do gain some mention in scientific journal articles, albeit on a limited basis, and yet they provide an opportunity to view two-plus lithostratigraphic formations in a single traverse along a spectacular gorge, stream, and lake setting.
This guided walk will follow the Lymm Gorge Geology Trail (published by Lymm Heritage Centre) and will pause at ancient examples of fluvial, aeolian, and playa lake sedimentary architecture. The group will take in the superb glacial palaeogeography left behind following the last deglaciation, and the current landscape which demonstrates the impact of industry.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
This event may be considered for contributing to a recognised continuing professional development (CPD) scheme as part of personal development. Delegates should check their individual scheme requirements.
Additional information
Distance: The walk will be approx. three miles long.
Clothing: Attendees should prepare for a typical British July afternoon. Stout walking boots are recommended, waterproofs and sun cream.
Accessibility: Most of the walk is accessible by wheelchair, although not all in one go due to the presence of a series of steep flights of steps. There are alternative routes, but these involve detours. More detailed examination of some exposures may involve a climb and rough, but short walk from the main path.
Lymm Gorge Geology Trail booklet: Lymm Heritage Centre (which the group will walk past) will (hopefully) be open from 12.00pm to 16.00pm where copies of the Lymm Gorge Geology Trail can be purchased should attendees wish.
Refreshments: There are shops in Lymm centre where light refreshments can be purchased, and various hostelries en route, one of which the group may retire to on completion of the walk.
Dogs: Due to its length and duration, some less accessible locations, and the possibility of hot weather with limited watering opportunities, this trip is probably not suitable for dogs.
For any further information, please contact the group secretary, Nick Smith, by emailing: [email protected]