Charmouth is a village and civil parish in west Dorset, England. The village is situated on the mouth of the River Char, around 1.5 miles (2.41 km) north-east of Lyme Regis.

The history of Charmouth dates back to the Iron Age when a Celtic tribe, the Durotriges, founded a settlement. Evidence of hill forts can still be seen in the area. The name Charmouth originated from the Saxon 'Cerne' meaning stony river, Charmouth was therefore known as 'Cernmunde'.

Charmouth gave its name to the geological era of "Charmouthian", currently named the Pliensbachian: an age of the geologic timescale and stage in the stratigraphic column. It is part of the Early or Lower Jurassic epoch or series and spans the time between 190.8 ± 1.5 Ma and 182.7 ± 1.5 Ma (million years ago).

Green calcite crystals fill voids in fossil Prodactylioceras davoei ammonites ("Green Ammonite Beds"). Belemnites can also be found.

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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.

ⓘ Fossil Specimens

Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

5 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

ⓘ Limestone

ⓘ 'Marl'

ⓘ Sand

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Baryte

Formula: BaSO₄

Locality: Charmouth Beach, Charmouth, West Dorset, Dorset, England, UK

ⓘ Bassanite

Formula: Ca(SO₄) · 0.5H₂O

Locality: Charmouth Beach, Charmouth, West Dorset, Dorset, England, UK

References:

[BMS]

ⓘ Calcite

Formula: CaCO₃

Localities:

Charmouth, West Dorset, Dorset, England, UK
Charmouth Beach, Charmouth, West Dorset, Dorset, England, UK

Colour: green

ⓘ Gypsum

Formula: CaSO₄ · 2H₂O

Locality: Charmouth Beach, Charmouth, West Dorset, Dorset, England, UK

References:

Jason Evans collection

ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite

Formula: CaSO₄ · 2H₂O

Locality: Charmouth Beach, Charmouth, West Dorset, Dorset, England, UK

References:

Jason Evans collection

ⓘ Pyrite

Formula: FeS₂

Locality: Charmouth Beach, Charmouth, West Dorset, Dorset, England, UK

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘ	Pyrite	2.EB.05a	FeS₂
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘ	Calcite	5.AB.05	CaCO₃
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘ	Baryte	7.AD.35	BaSO₄
ⓘ	Gypsum	7.CD.40	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
ⓘ	var. Selenite	7.CD.40	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
ⓘ	Bassanite	7.CD.45	Ca(SO₄) · 0.5H₂O

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Bassanite	Ca(SO₄) · 0.5H₂O
H	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
H	ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
C	Carbon
C	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Baryte	BaSO₄
O	ⓘ Bassanite	Ca(SO₄) · 0.5H₂O
O	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
O	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
O	ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Baryte	BaSO₄
S	ⓘ Bassanite	Ca(SO₄) · 0.5H₂O
S	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
S	ⓘ Pyrite	FeS₂
S	ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Bassanite	Ca(SO₄) · 0.5H₂O
Ca	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
Ca	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
Ca	ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Pyrite	FeS₂
Ba	Barium
Ba	ⓘ Baryte	BaSO₄

Fossils

There are 30 fossil localities from the PaleoBioDB database within this region.

These data are provided on an experimental basis and are taken from external databases. Mindat.org has no control currently over the accuracy of these data.

Occurrences

Youngest Fossil Listed

99.6 Ma (Late/Upper Cretaceous)

Oldest Fossil Listed

199 Ma (Early Jurassic)

Stratigraphic Units

Click here to view 7 stratigraphic units.

Fossils from Region

Click here to show the list.

Accepted Name	Hierarchy	Age
Amberleya genus	Animalia : Mollusca : Gastropoda : Seguenziida : Eucyclidae : *Amberleya*	199.3 - 190.8 Ma Early Jurassic
Ammonoidea order	Animalia : Mollusca : Cephalopoda : Ammonoidea	196.5 - 189.6 Ma Early Jurassic
Asteroceras genus	Animalia : Mollusca : Cephalopoda : Ammonoidea : Asteroceratidae : *Asteroceras*	196.5 - 189.6 Ma Early Jurassic
Cymbites genus	Animalia : Mollusca : Cephalopoda : Ammonoidea : Cymbitidae : *Cymbites*	196.5 - 189.6 Ma Early Jurassic
Belemnitida order	Animalia : Mollusca : Cephalopoda : Belemnitida	199.3 - 190.8 Ma Early Jurassic
Plesiosauria unranked clade	Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Sauropterygia : Plesiosauria	199.3 - 190.8 Ma Early Jurassic
Ichthyosauria unranked clade	Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Ichthyosauria	196.5 - 189.6 Ma Early Jurassic
Theropoda unranked clade	Animalia : Chordata : Saurischia : Theropoda	105.3 - 99.6 Ma Cretaceous
Megalosauridae family	Animalia : Chordata : Saurischia : Megalosauridae	199.3 - 190.8 Ma Early Jurassic
Scelidosaurus genus	Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Dinosauria : *Scelidosaurus*	199.3 - 189.6 Ma Early Jurassic
Scelidosaurus harrisonii species	Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Dinosauria : Scelidosaurus : *Scelidosaurus harrisonii*	199.3 - 190.8 Ma Early Jurassic
Tetanurae unranked clade	Animalia : Chordata : Saurischia : Tetanurae	199.3 - 190.8 Ma Early Jurassic
Rhynchonellidae family	Animalia : Brachiopoda : Rhynchonellata : Rhynchonellida : Rhynchonellidae	199.3 - 190.8 Ma Early Jurassic
Terebratulidae family	Animalia : Brachiopoda : Rhynchonellata : Terebratulida : Terebratulidae	199.3 - 190.8 Ma Early Jurassic
Ammonitida order	Animalia : Mollusca : Cephalopoda : Ammonitida	199.3 - 190.8 Ma Early Jurassic
Attenborosaurus conybeari species	Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Sauropterygia : Pliosauridae : Attenborosaurus : *Attenborosaurus conybeari*	199.3 - 189.6 Ma Early Jurassic
Turritella (Torquesia) vibrayeana species	Animalia : Mollusca : Gastropoda : Sorbeoconcha : Turritellidae : Torquesia : *Turritella (Torquesia) vibrayeana*	113 - 100.5 Ma Early/Lower Cretaceous
Temnodontosaurus platyodon species	Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Leptopterygiidae : Temnodontosaurus : *Temnodontosaurus platyodon*	199.3 - 190.8 Ma Early Jurassic
Archaeonectrus rostratus species	Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Sauropterygia : Rhomaleosauridae : Archaeonectrus : *Archaeonectrus rostratus*	199.3 - 190.8 Ma Early Jurassic
Metaraphidia confusa species	Animalia : Arthropoda : Insecta : Raphidioptera : Metaraphidiidae : Metaraphidia : *Metaraphidia confusa*	196.5 - 189.6 Ma Early Jurassic
Plagiostoma giganteum species	Animalia : Mollusca : Bivalvia : Pectinida : Limidae : Plagiostoma : *Plagiostoma giganteum*	199.3 - 190.8 Ma Early Jurassic
Bairstowius junceus species	Animalia : Mollusca : Cephalopoda : Belemnitida : Hastitidae : Bairstowius : *Bairstowius junceus*	189.6 - 183 Ma Early Jurassic
Bagnolites stuarti species	Animalia : Mollusca : Cephalopoda : Ammonoidea : Asteroceratidae : Bagnolites : *Bagnolites stuarti*	196.5 - 189.6 Ma Early Jurassic
Xipheroceras ziphus species	Animalia : Mollusca : Cephalopoda : Ammonitida : Eoderoceratidae : Xipheroceras : *Xipheroceras ziphus*	196.5 - 189.6 Ma Early Jurassic
Xipheroceras dudressieri species	Animalia : Mollusca : Cephalopoda : Ammonitida : Eoderoceratidae : Xipheroceras : *Xipheroceras dudressieri*	196.5 - 189.6 Ma Early Jurassic
Promicroceras planicosta species	Animalia : Mollusca : Cephalopoda : Ammonitida : Eoderoceratidae : Promicroceras : *Promicroceras planicosta*	196.5 - 189.6 Ma Early Jurassic
Asteroceras margaritoides species	Animalia : Mollusca : Cephalopoda : Ammonoidea : Asteroceratidae : Asteroceras : *Asteroceras margaritoides*	196.5 - 189.6 Ma Early Jurassic
Ichthyosaurus anningae species	Ichthyosaurus : *Ichthyosaurus anningae*	189.6 - 183 Ma Early Jurassic

Fossil Localities

Click to show 10 fossil localities

Other Databases

Wikipedia:	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charmouth
Wikidata ID:	Q640761
GeoNames ID:	2653317

Localities in this Region

England
- Dorset
  - West Dorset
    - Charmouth
      - Charmouth Beach

Other Regions, Features and Areas that Intersect

British and Irish IslesGroup of Islands

Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate

Rheno-Hercynian BeltOrogenic Belt

EuropeContinent

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

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Richter, A.E. (1983) Leitfossilien: Unt. Pliensbach (Unt. Jura). Mineralien-Magazin, 9/1983, 407-410.

en.wikipedia.org (n.d.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pliensbachian

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Commodity List

Mineral List

Rock Types Recorded

Select Rock List Type

Detailed Mineral List:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

List of minerals for each chemical element

Fossils

Other Databases

Localities in this Region

Other Regions, Features and Areas that Intersect

References

Charmouth, West Dorset, Dorset, England, UK i
Regional Level Types
Charmouth Civil Parish
West Dorset District (Abolished)
Dorset Unitary Authority
England Constituent Country
UK Country