Lossiemouth Shore
Also within
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Permian - Triassic (red beds) | Favourable | — | 2005-03-31 |
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: Triassic · Rock Type: Sandstone
Landscape processes: Coastal, Fluvial
Description
Lossiemouth Shore The Lossiemouth Sandstone Formation is well exposed in the coastal section around Lossiemouth. This formation, which is partly aeolian (wind blown), partly fluvial in origin, is dated as Late Triassic on the basis of its vertebrate fauna and is, therefore, the youngest established Triassic deposit in the Moray Firth basin. A distinctive unit, the ‘Cherty Rock’ occurs at the top of the formation. This is a silicified rock with many similarities to present-day siliceous soils of arid and semi-arid areas. The Lossiemouth Shore is a key site for the elucidation of environments during Triassic times.