Ardrossan to Saltcoats Coast
Also within
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Carboniferous - Permian Igneous | Favourable | — | 2023-10-20 |
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Carboniferous, Permian
Landscape processes: Coastal, Volcanic / Igneous
Description
ARDROSSAN TO SALTCOATS COAST Ardrossan to Saltcoats Coast is of national importance for intrusive igneous rocks that were formed around 300 million years ago. The rocks are associated with a period of volcanic activity that extended across the Carboniferous and Permian geological periods. A number of teschenite and picrite sills are excellently exposed at this site and record an important phase of alkaline vulcanism in the Permo-Carboniferous igneous province of the Midland Valley of Scotland. Prominent amongst these is the Saltcoats Main Sill, a composite intrusion consisting of three main parts emplaced successively: flow-banded teschenite, biotite teschenite and picrite. The biotite teschenite exhibits segregation patches and veins of potassium-rich lugarite reflecting in situ differentiation. The sedimentary rocks into which the sills are intruded are noteworthy for the occurrence of fossil tree stumps.