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South Weald Puddingstone, SOUTH WEALD, Brentwood District, TQ571938, General geological site
Site category: Boulders - puddingstone Site name: South Weald Puddingstone Grid reference: TQ 571938 Brief description of site: A small but colourful puddingstone (45cm x 30cm x 30cm in size) can be seen by the entrance path to St. Peter's Church. Next to the puddingstone is a small sarsen stone. ---------------------------------------- Hertfordshire puddingstone Hertfordshire Puddingstone was formed around 55 million years ago when the climate of Britain was hot and a layer of pebbles beneath the surface of the ground became cemented with quartz. They are thus very resistant to erosion and have survived the rigours of the Ice Age. They originated in Hertfordshire, hence the name, and were probably carried to Essex by the River Thames when it flowed north of its present course. However, the distribution and abundance of Hertfordshire puddingstone in parts of Essex suggests that some occurrences may have a local Essex source. The formation of silcretes (which includes sarsens and puddingstones) has been the subject of recent scientific debate. Research has compared the conditions under which sarsens and puddingstones may have been formed with the present day climate in the Kalahari Desert and parts of Australia.
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Sarsen stone and Puddingstone at South Weald Church 2 Sarsen stone and Puddingstone at South Weald Church 1 Close up of the Puddingstone at South Weald Church upload a new image |
Reference: Lucy 2003a
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