ABSTRACT
Southern England is the birthplace of stratigraphy, the geologic map, and paleontology. As one traverses the land from east to west, the rocks range in age from Pleistocene glacial sediments around London to Precambrian granites and metamorphics at Land’s End. This geological tour explores canyons and quarries, sea cliffs and cheese caves, tin mines, museums, Roman baths, and prehistoric monoliths. We see rocks deformed by thrusting during the Variscan and Alpine mountain-building events, explain the rare ophiolites of Lizard Point, and visit dinosaur stomping grounds and boneyards along the Jurassic Coast. Fossil collecting sites across the country are described, and the origin of the stunningly brilliant white chalk cliffs of Dover and Southdown National Park is explained. We pass through and examine the geology of 12 Sites of Special Scientific Interest and 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
