The Yorkshire Moors

Abstract

The geology of the Yorkshire moors marks a transition from west to east as the older carboniferous rocks found in the dales to the west give rise to the younger Triassic and Jurassic rocks in the east. The moors consist almost entirely of Jurassic sedimentary limestones, sandstones, gritstones and shales, mostly from the middle Jurassic period, around 170 million years of age, although rocks from the early Jurassic period, around 200 million years of age are also exposed in places along the coastline. Glacial features are also to be found, the landscape owing much of its shape to the last ice age and subsequent meltwater activity. It is perhaps a gentler more flowing landscape than the dales to the west, but of course also has an adjacent coastline which is interesting in itself.