Corsewall Point to Milleur Point
Also within
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Caradoc - Ashgill | Favourable | — | 2009-04-23 |
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 Feature: Geological Fault · Geological Period: Silurian · Rock Type: Chert, Conglomerate, Gabbro, Granite, Sandstone
Landscape processes: Coastal, Volcanic / Igneous
Description
CORSEWALL POINT TO MILLEUR POINT Corsewall Point lies at the northern tip of The Rhins at the entrance to Loch Ryan 12km north of Stranraer. The site is strategically positioned within Scotland, adjacent to the Southern Uplands Fault. This fault separates the Midland Valley Block to the north from the Southern Uplands Block to the south. As the Southern Uplands Fault approaches the west coast of Scotland it splits in two to form a sub-block. Corsewall Point is situated within the sub-block. The designated site conserves the late Llandeilo/early Caradoc age, 500m thick, Corsewall Point member of the Corsewall Formation. This is composed of conglomerate, a rock containing boulders and pebbles of other rocks, e.g. granite, gabbro and chert, set in a matrix of sandstone. The excellent exposure, large size of the boulders and strategic positioning of the conglomerate combine to make it one of the most important sites for interpreting the geology of Scotland in Lower Palaeozoic times. The conglomerate has been interpreted as a channel fill sequence within a submarine fan. It was deposited in a large ocean located between ancient Scottish and English continental landmasses prior to their collision at the end of the Silurian period. The superb exposure of the sedimentary structures at the site make it one of the best and most studied examples of a submarine fan complex in Europe. Recent studies of the boulders suggest they had a source not in Scotland, but in northwest Newfoundland. This would require a left-handed horizontal movement of at least 1500km taking place along the Southern Uplands Fault during the collision of the Scottish and English continents. This controversial conclusion has major implications for future geological interpretations of Southern Scotland and has ensured that the Corsewall Point conglomerate will remain of major importance for earth science research well into the future.