ARCHITECTURE and GEOLOGY
View allAll Photos Tagged cretaceous
Ammonite of genus Metaplacenticeras (coming from the Upper Cretaceous, Hokkaido, Japan). Specimen from the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, Japan.
Lycoptera (fish fossil) 11x12x.4 cm
Liaoning Prov, China.
Lycoptera were small, freshwater fish that lived from the late Jurassic to Cretaceous periods (125-135 million years ago), in present-day China, Korea, Mongolia, and Siberia. This species is a member of the Jehol Biota, a prehistoric ecosystem known for its early birds and feathered dinosaurs.
The cliffs at Hunstanton, Norfolk are famous for their colour bands and revealed geology.
The lowest dark brown level was laid down in shallow warm seas 70 million years ago during the Cretaceous. It is a 'Carstone' composed of sand and iron compounds and used as a local building material.
The younger much thinner 'red rock' layer is chalk coloured with iron pigments. Above that is a thick layer of white chalk. All have fossils but frequent rock falls make it dangerous to be too close.
The wreck is the remains of a 130ft long trawler 'S T Sheraton'. Built in 1907 it saw additional duty in WW1 and WW2 for minesweeping and anti-submarine patrols. If five years of war was not enough, she was then selected for bombing practice! She escaped that ignominy by breaking her moorings and going aground for a peaceful life (including providing a nice foreground for photographers) under the cliffs.
Original skeleton of the tyrannosaurid dinosaur Tarbosaurus, Upper Cretaceous, Mongolia. Museo Cosmocaixa, Barcelona
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Pfaffenstein / Barbarine
Zwei Wochen in einem Traumland, der Sächsischen Schweiz (Elbsandsteingebirge), mit einem Camper unterwegs.
Two weeks in a dreamland, Saxon Switzerland (Elbe Sandstone Mountains), with a camper on the way.
My tour album: Two weeks in a dreamland - Sächsische Schweiz / Elbsandsteingebirge is here:
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My Canon EOS R / R5 / R6 album is here:
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Pfaffenstein / Barbarine
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbarine
Die Barbarine ist der bekannteste freistehende Felsen im deutschen Teil des Elbsandsteingebirges. Die 42,7 m hohe Felsnadel gilt als ein Wahrzeichen der Sächsischen Schweiz. Sie ist am 19. September 1905 erstmals durch Bergsteiger bestiegen worden und wurde am 13. Dezember 1978 zum Naturdenkmal erklärt, nachdem der Felsen drei Jahre vorher für den Klettersport gesperrt worden war.
Sächsische Schweiz (Elbsandsteingebirge)
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A4chsische_Schweiz
Als Sächsische Schweiz wird der deutsche Teil des Elbsandsteingebirges in Sachsen bezeichnet. Die durch bizarre Felsformen geprägte Landschaft liegt südöstlich von Dresden beiderseits der Elbe im Landkreis Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge.
Bergformen
In der Regel sind zwei Bergformen zu unterscheiden. Als Steine werden zahlreiche Felsformationen des Elbsandsteingebirges in der Böhmischen und Sächsischen Schweiz bezeichnet. Prominente Beispiele sind der Königstein, der Lilienstein, Gohrisch und Papststein. Die Bezeichnung erstreckt sich nicht auf die hügelartigen Kuppen aus vulkanischem Basalt oder granitischem Material des Grundgebirges wie die Waitzdorfer Höhe oder den Großen Winterberg.
Die kretazischen Sandsteingebilde ragen aus den sogenannten Ebenheiten heraus, dem ehemaligen Niveau der Elbe, und stellen ihrerseits Reste einer früheren Rumpffläche dar. Im Zuge der spättertiären Anhebung des Erzgebirges und des seitlichen Druckes vom Lausitzer Bergland zerbrach die Sandsteinplatte kreuzgitterartig, was bei gleichzeitig zunehmender Fließgeschwindigkeit der Elbe und rückschreitender Erosion in den Seitentälern Angriffsmöglichkeiten und Leitbahnen für die zerstörerische Kraft des Wassers bot. Zunächst verblieben die größeren Tafelberge (Lilienstein), oder bereits stark zerklüftete wie Zirkelstein oder Kaiserkrone, oder aber bereits bewaldete (Kohlbornstein), die sich bei weiterer erosiver Zerstörung in langgezogene Grate (Schrammsteine) bis hin zu einzelnen Felsnadeln (Torwächter) auflösten. Morphologisch härtere Schichtpartien, die der Erosion länger und erfolgreicher Widerstand leisten, bilden meist die oberste Schicht. Der Zusammenbruch erfolgt somit meist von unten her bzw. von den Felsflanken.
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Pfaffenstein / Barbarine
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbarine
The Barbarine is the best-known, free-standing rock formation in the German part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. It is a rock pinnacle, 42.7 metres (140 ft) high, and is the symbol of Saxon Switzerland. It was first climbed on 19 September 1905 by mountaineers.
Saxon Switzerland - Elbe Sandstone Mountains
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxon_Switzerland
Saxon Switzerland (German: Sächsische Schweiz) is a hilly climbing area and national park around the Elbe valley south-east of Dresden in Saxony, Germany. Together with the Bohemian Switzerland in the Czech Republic it forms the Elbe Sandstone Mountains.
Saxon Switzerland alone has some 1,000 climbing peaks, as well as several hollows. The area is popular with local and international climbers.
The administrative district for the area is Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge. The fortress of Königstein is a well-known landmark.
Hills
As a rule, two types of hill may be distinguished.
Numerous rock formations in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, in both Saxon Switzerland and Bohemian Switzerland, are known locally in this region as Steine ("rocks"). Prominent examples are the Königstein, the Lilienstein, the Gohrisch and the Papststein. This description does not, however, include the dome-shaped Kuppen such as the Waitzdorfer Höhe or the Großer Winterberg, whose bedrock is made of volcanic basalt or granitic material.
The Cretaceous sandstone formations soar above the so-called "levels" of their surrounding area, the former level of the River Elbe, and represent the remains of an old peneplain. In the course of the Late Tertiary, uplifting of the Ore Mountains and sideways pressure from the Lusatian Highlands shattered the sandstone plate along lines that intersected like a grid and this, combined with the simultaneously increasing stream velocity of the Elbe and regressive erosion in its side valleys, offered new lines of attack and new routes for the destructive power of water. Initially the larger table hills (Lilienstein), or those already deeply fissured like Zirkelstein, Kaiserkrone or already forested (Kohlbornstein), remained, but these too broke up later as a result of erosive destruction into long ridges (Schrammsteine) or even into individual rock pinnacles (Torwächter). Morphologically harder sections of strata, that resisted karstification longer and more successfully, generally form the uppermost layers. The collapse of rock structures is usually therefore a result of erosion from below or from the flanks.
Rainbow Canyon is a deep ravine carved in the variegated shales of the Cretaceous Cloverly and Jurassic Morrison Formations in Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin east of the old Kane townsite. The Cloverly and Morrison Formations are famous for dinosaur fossils. The rim of the “canyon” is formed by resistant iron-cemented sandstones and hematite that make up the “Rusty Beds” member of the Cloverly. (Some geologists have called the “Rusty beds” the Sykes Mountain Formation.) On the horizon are outcrops of the Cretaceous strata above the Cloverly.
The chalk cliffs in the north-east region of the island Rügen at sunrise. Just before the sun rose the swans came to watch this beautiful scenery. Unfortunately, every year the Baltic Sea takes away a bit more of these wonderful cliffs.
Day One. Here goes another 365 project!
Old Hunstanton beach in Norfolk, England. Spectacular red limestone and white chalk cliffs from the Cretaceous period.
A bit wet and cold on the beach today. I only took a handful of shots as my lens was getting too much rain on it. Had to adjust the contrast in Photoshop to make up for the rain on the lens.
Hills composed of Cretaceous aged shale rise above farmland on the Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat east of Lovell Wyoming, The hills are home to a series of orv trails. This area lies just to the west of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.
Cretaceous Ammonite pair, sectioned and polished to show the internal features. Celoniceras besarei. 100 million years old.
Bighorn Lake is visible at Horseshoe Bend in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. The Matina’s boat dock is visible on the left side of the photo. Horseshoe bend is locted east of Lovell Wyoming in the Bighorn Basin. On the left the Bighorn Mountains can be seen in the distance. The red rocks belong to the Triassic Chugwater Formation and mke up the hills and cliffs just above the west side (right side of the ohoto) of the reservoir. Above the Chugwater are the Gypsum Springs, Sundance and Morrison Formations. The Cretaceous Cloverly Formation forms the top of the hill.
The Peay Sand Member of the Cretaceous Frontier Formation outcrops in this hogback on the west flank of the Sheep Mountain Anticline just north of Greybull, Wyoming.
Clouds over dipping sands and shales of the Cretaceous Mesa Verde Formation near the nose of the Shoshone Anticline north of Cody Wyoming.
A hoodoo rises above the floor of Paton’s Hole near Leavitt Reservoir in Big Horn County Wyoming. The colorful hills in the “Hole” and around it are made up of beds of the Cretaceous Cloverly Formation. The Sykes Mountain Member or “Rusty Beds” lie at the top of the Cloverly Formation. The gray hills on the horizon are the Cretaceous Thermopolis, Mowry and Frontier Formations which are composed mostly of shale with some sandstone interbeds. Currently the reservoir has been drained and a new dam is planned. This area may be partially inundated when the lake is refilled behind the new dam.
I have so many favourite walks that it would be difficult to make a list of my top 10, but this one from Tyneham to Kimmeridge would have to be on it.
This stretch of coast is of interest to geologists because cliffs from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods are well exposed here. On this walk you get to travel in time, starting with the white chalk cliffs of the Cretaceous, then moving down through the coloured sands and clays of the Greensand and Wealden, pale Portland limestone to the grey Kimmeridge Clay you see on the lower cliff here.
Jurassic and Cretaceous sabdstones and shales can be seen in this photo wrapping around the northwest plunging nose of the Sheep Mountain Anticline, north of Greybull Wyoming in Big Horn County. The softer shales form a small erosional basin in between the more resistant hogbacks. Notice Stan on the far right for scale. (He is also checking to see if the road is passable with my 4wd.) Thanks Stan!
Gray hills made of gray Cretaceous shale with interbeds of sandstone rise on the north side of Shell Creek between Greybull and Shell, Wyoming.
Cretaceous sandstone cliffs along Skull Creek as seen from Wyoming Route 120 north of Cody, Wyoming.
This colorful hogback on the flank of an anticline is called by some “the Crystal Creek Rainbow”. . The top half of the hill is made up Sandstone, siltstone and shale that belong to the Cretaceous Cloverly Fiormation. The Bottom half of the hill is made of sandstones; shales and siltstones that make up the Jurassic Morrison Formation. Both formations are famous for dinosaur fossils through out Wyoming.
These hogbacks of Upper Cretaceous sandstones (cliffs) interbedded with shales (slopes) were photographed at dusk along the Half Moon Oil Field road near Sage Creek south of Cody, Wyoming.
Steamship Rock is a local landmark along the Crystal Creek Road north of Greybull Wyoming. The rock, composed of Cretaceous Shales and silstones (Shell Creek and Mowry Formations), rises along Bear Creek. The white line on the face cliff is “bentonite”, clays formed by the alteration of volcanic ash that is deposited in a water body.
Beds of sandstone; shale; siltstone and coal from the Cretaceous Meeteese Formation outcrop along WY 120 south of Meeteese in Park County, Wyoming.
I had an entirely different composition in mind before heading out to Borrego Springs with William McIntosh and David Colombo, but after arriving, several other people showed up and kinda crowded us out. I took this one well before astronomical twilight so the Milky Way was still kinda dim but I'm thinking that the subject here was strong enough to validate the shot.
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Copyright 2016©Eric Gail
This colorful hogback on the flank of an anticline is called by some “the Crystal Creek Rainbow”. . The top half of the hill is made up Sandstone, siltstone and shale that belong to the Cretaceous Cloverly Fiormation. The Bottom half of the hill is made of sandstones; shales and siltstones that make up the Jurassic Morrison Formation. Both formations are famous for dinosaur fossils through out Wyoming.
Cretaceous sandstone forms this cliff above a pasture along the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone between Bridger and Belfry Montana.
The colorful hills in the “Hole” and around it are made up of beds of the Cretaceous Cloverly Formation. The Sykes Mountain Member or “Rusty Beds” lie at the top of the Cloverly Formation. The gray hills on the horizon are the Cretaceous Thermopolis, Mowry and Frontier Formations which are composed mostly of shale with some sandstone interbeds. Currently the reservoir has been drained and a new dam is planned. This area may be partially inundated when the lake is refilled behind the new dam.
203. Clancy, 3yrs 34wks
Saturday Morning Post from the Museum of Nature grounds, where I volunteered to guard this baby Chasmosaurus along with his Mom. It's better to be friends with dinosaurs than enemies!
These ceratopsids roamed North America during the Upper Cretaceous Period, from about 100Ma to about 60Ma., and are about 4.3–4.8 metres (14–16 ft) with a weight of 1.5–2 tonnes (1.7–2.2 short tons).
Me, I go back 3.6yrs, with a weight of 24Kg (53lbs).
Museum of Nature, Ottawa, ON
The red, Jurassic eolian sandstones are certainly the glory of the Colorado Plateau, but the Cretaceous holds a special place in my heart. I did my thesis on the basal Cretaceous Dakota Sandstone. Every time I looked up I saw soft gray Mancos Shale, overlain by the relatively thin-bedded Straight Cliffs Formation.
A iron oxide rich siltstone bed near the contact of the Lower Cretaceous Sykes Mountain Formation and Thermopolis Shale east of the Causeway on US 14A near Kane, Wyoming.
Cretaceous Outcrops as seem from Wyoming State Highway 37 that leads to Bighorn Canyon National Rereation Area. Bighorn Basin.
It was great to revisit Swanage Bay during a trip home to England - a place that holds many childhood memories for me.
It was a cold, very windy and rainy December morning, but I ventured from the car on to the beach and to my delight the sun broke through for a moment and highlighted the chalk of Ballard Cliff beautifully.
Ballard Cliff is part of the world famous Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The steeply dipping Cretaceous chalk that marks the northern end of Swanage Bay takes over from the Wealden beds at this location.
I think the wind blown sand, the rain and especially the rain drops/salty mist on my lens have added a nice atmosphere to this moment.
Despite the cold, a reminder of just how beautiful England can be.
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From magnificent Big Bend National Park. Mexico-left, USA-right. Rio Grande River and the international border right down the middle.
The canyon walls are made up of massive Santa Elena limestone, early Cretaceous in age (Albian), ~100 million years old.
Hogbacks in the Cretaceous Cloverly Formation in Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat just outside the boundaries of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area east of Lovell, Wyoming. The Bighorn Mountain rise on the horizon.
Bentonitic clay concretions that measured between 6” and 10” across were found in a layer of the Lower Cretaceous Thermopolis Shale east of the Causeway on US 14A near Kane, Wyoming. Many of them had iron oxide stains. Most of the oxides were distributed in circular bands as seen here. Beneath the weathered surface the concretions are encased in black, organic rich, fissile shale.
Snow sits on Cretaceous sedimentary rocks along the crest of Torchlight Dome, an anticline east of Basin Wyoming.
Late afternoon sun spreads across the floor of an erosional feature called Devils Kitchen, east of Greybull Wyoming on the edge of the Shell Creek Valley. The varicolored, Lower Cretaceous Cloverly Formation is exposed in the Kitchen inside the eroded center of a upfold or anticline called the Shell Creek Dome. Devils Kitchen is known for its badlands topography where soft, layered sedimentary rocks like sandstone, siltstone, shale and claystone get eroded into spires, towers and fanciful shapes. In this semiarid environment there is sparse vegetation and little soil development on these rock outcrops. Erosion caused by flash flooding from occasional thunderstorms carves this landscape with an assist from the other usual physical and chemical agents that weather and weaken the rock. The floor of "the Kitchen" is characterized by mounds of weathered claystone; silstone and shale which can be seen on either side of the gulley and twotrack road. Two wildcats (exploratory oil wells) were drilled on Shell Creek Dome to test the oil and gas potential. Both were dryholes.