The structures in the rocks of this low cliff at the Northern end of Widemouth Bay
are quite fascinating. Can anyone tell me how they got formed like this?
Fortunately Bude's resident geologist Dr Roger Higgs was able to enlighten me:
He explained: The photo is of Bude Formation sandstone (the formation's other rock type
being shale), highly fractured as usual. While deeply buried (kilometres), the sand became
differentially cemented by groundwater flowing along the fractures, precipitating an
iron-bearing mineral in the sand alongside (binding the sand grains together), hence
the brown colour. In contrast, the sandstone within the areas 'fenced in' by the fractures
is less cemented, by a different mineral, hence paler and softer.
Here is a link to the interesting geological walks which he organises:
https://www.visitbude.info/blog/budes-geology/