Lizard field trip
Overview
The field trip was led by Nick Chidlaw and was designed to study the Ophiolite geology of the Lizard peninsular. The Lizard Ophiolite formed when, under changing Tectonic Plate movement, a previously expanding mid-ocean ridge stopped and the ocean closed. The resulting compressive forces caused one side of the ridge to be pushed up and over the other side. This caused mantle rock to be placed on top of oceanic crust and subsequent erosion exposed it in what has become the Lizard.
Hence the Lizard affords the opportunity to study a cross section of the rocks of the complete section of the Earth from mantle to oceanic crust and is one of only two Ophiolites in the British Isles
The party numbered 16 and we stayed in the Lerryn Hotel in Falmouth. On each of the three days we visited a different region of the Lizard.
The following links give details of the itinerary and a detailed description of where we went and what we found:
Click here for