The Punds to Wick of Hagdale
Also within
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Ordovician Igneous | 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: Cambrian
Landscape processes: Coastal, Volcanic / Igneous
Description
The Punds to Wick of Hagdale Punds to Wick of Hagdale SSSI consists of coastal rock exposures around the Wick of Hagdale, to the north-east of Baltasound in Unst. These form the lowermost part of the Shetland ophiolite -a sequence of basic and ultrabasic igneous rocks formed at the end of the Cambrian period around 500 million years ago, and believed to represent a slice of ocean crust. The rocks were obducted into their present position as nappe structures. The excellent coastal exposures between The Punds and Hagdale consist of harzburgites and layered dunites. The contact between the lower harzburgites and the overlying dunites represents the former mantle/ocean crust boundary and can be seen in the vicinity of Geo of Hagdale.