White Coppice Gorge EarthCache
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According to the Lancashire RIGS group, this is a Regionally
Important Geological / Geomorphological Site.
The moors above White Coppice lie in an area of Millstone Grit
rocks. These have led to a long history of use including lead and
mining, quarrying and the supply of water to Chorley and Liverpool.
Many wonder why these uplands are here at all. How were the river
valleys formed? How was the stone created and where did the
minerals come from? Why were the reservoirs located here? This
EarthCache may help to answer these and other questions.
17,000 years ago this whole area was covered with melting ice. The
moving ice and vast rivers of meltwater formed the rounded hills
and deep channels now occupied by the lodges and reservoirs.
From the information boards, please answer the following
questions to claim this EarthCache. Also post a photograph of you
or your GPS standing within Black Brook gorge.
1. Black Brook
Three sorts of rocks can be seen here. Shales are the grey/black
fine grained sediments which were deposited in deep sea water.
What were the brown sandstones called?
2. Spoil Heaps
The loose material on the stream bank is spoil from a mine which
worked a mineral along the same fault that is followed by the
stream. What mineral was this?
3. Drinkwaters Farm
The circular mounds are a series of lead mines. Small scale mining
occured in the Anglezarke area throughout the 18th century. How
many tons were produced in the last two years of operation?
4. The Carboniferous Period
The information board states that the timescale we are concerned
about is from 280 to 345 million years ago, in a time known as the
Carboniferous Period. In the Westphalian Sub-Period, the coal
measures were being deposited. In the Namurian Sub-Period, the
delta existed in which the Millstone Grit rocks were laid down.
What was deposited in warm, clear tropical seas in the Dinantian
Sub-Period?
Post your photo on this cache page, and email all your answers
to us. You can then log this as a find.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)