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Coastal Landscapes

Lithology and structural geology at the coast

  • 2 things to know
  • Component 1 Section A

Overview

Why the chalk of Flamborough Head erodes faster than granite, dip of a rock stratum and importance of joints in coastal erosion.

What you need to know

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Key term

Define lithology.

Key term

Why does granite form dramatic cliffs at Land's End in Cornwall?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Define lithology.

    Model answer

    Lithology means the physical and chemical characteristics of a rock. Mineral composition, hardness, permeability and solubility are all part of it.

  2. 2

    Why does granite form dramatic cliffs at Land's End in Cornwall?

    Model answer

    Granite is a crystalline igneous rock with interlocking minerals and few weaknesses. Erosion is slow, so the cliffs remain high and near vertical.

  3. 3

    Explain why the chalk of Flamborough Head erodes faster than granite.

    Model answer

    Chalk is a soft, well jointed sedimentary rock that dissolves slowly in weakly acidic sea water. Hydraulic action exploits the joints and bedding planes rapidly.

  4. 4

    How does the solubility of limestone affect coastal erosion?

    Model answer

    Limestone is calcium carbonate and reacts with acids dissolved in sea water and rainwater. Corrosion widens joints and produces caves and solution hollows.

  5. 5

    Why do the boulder clay cliffs of Holderness retreat so rapidly?

    Model answer

    Boulder clay is unconsolidated glacial till with no cementing between its particles. Waves remove the debris quickly and the saturated clay slumps from above.

  6. 6

    Define the dip of a rock stratum.

    Model answer

    Dip is the angle at which a bed of rock is tilted from the horizontal. The direction of dip strongly controls the stability of a cliff.

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