White Nothe (meaning "White Nose") is a chalk headland on the English Channel coast at the eastern end of Ringstead Bay, east of Weymouth in Dorset, England. The area is well known for its geology and fossils. Its flanks are the result of prehistoric landslides, and the inaccessible slopes of the undercliff provide a secluded wildlife habitat.

A zigzag path up the cliff is believed to be one of the locations alluded to as a smuggler's path in the British children's book Moonfleet by J. Meade Falkner. Walking to the base of White Nothe along the shore from Ringstead Bay is possible, but it is cut off at high tide, so much care should be taken. At the top of the Smugglers path, a protruding nose shape comes out of the white cliff, giving the name to the area.

The National Trust partly owns the area. From the top of White Nothe, to the east, the chalk headland of Bat's Head can be viewed. Walking east along a clifftop path below the summit of Chaldon Hill is possible to Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. The Isle of Portland can be seen to the southwest across the sea.

Immediately to the northwest of White Nothe is the Burning Cliff, which from 1826 smouldered with an underground fire for several years due to the bituminous shale.

Situated at the top of White Nothe is a World War II pillbox, constructed in 1940–41 of brick and concrete, as part of the anti-invasion measures. Unusually, the structure is also fitted with a Royal Observer Corps observation post built on top, which was to spot and report aircraft. There is also a row of former coastguards' cottages.

Approached either at low tide or by descending the cliff. Large area of landslipped chalk and shoreline exposures. Of particular note are the occasional pseudo-/epimorphs up to 4 or 5 cm of Limonite and Goethite after octahedral Pyrite.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.

ⓘ Fossil Specimens

Mineral List

3 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Goethite

Formula: Fe³⁺O(OH)

References:

Render, Paul (n.d.) Paul Render Collection.

ⓘ 'Limonite'

References:

Render, Paul (n.d.) Paul Render Collection.

ⓘ Marcasite

Formula: FeS₂

References:

Render, Paul (n.d.) Paul Render Collection.

ⓘ Pyrite

Formula: FeS₂

References:

Render, Paul (n.d.) Paul Render Collection.

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘ	Pyrite	2.EB.05a	FeS₂
ⓘ	Marcasite	2.EB.10a	FeS₂
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Goethite	4.00.	Fe³⁺O(OH)
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Limonite'	-

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Marcasite	FeS₂
S	ⓘ Pyrite	FeS₂
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
Fe	ⓘ Marcasite	FeS₂
Fe	ⓘ Pyrite	FeS₂

Other Databases

Wikipedia:	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Nothe
Wikidata ID:	Q7995121

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

British and Irish IslesGroup of Islands

Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate

Rheno-Hercynian BeltOrogenic Belt

EuropeContinent

England
- Jurassic Coast World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Site (UNESCO)
- South-East England Sedimentary AreaGeologic Region

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