Qui Ness to Pund Stacks
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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: Ordovician
Landscape processes: Coastal, Volcanic / Igneous
Description
Qui Ness to Pund Stacks Qui Ness to Pund Stacks SSSI consists of coastal rock exposures to the north of Sand Wick on the eastern side of the island of Unst. These form the upper levels of the Shetland ophiolite; a sequence of basic and ultrabasic igneous rocks of Ordovician age that are believed to represent the lower portion of a slice of ocean crust. The rocks were obducted into their present position as nappe structures. The foreshore exposures between Qui Ness and Pund Stacks show a sequence of massive and layered gabbros cross-cut by minor swarms of metabasite dykes. The geology is similar to that occurring at Ham Ness but the site is notable for the excellent displays of the different types of layering present in the gabbros, as well as the regional dyke trend.