Birling Gap, East Dean and Friston, Wealden, East Sussex, England, UKi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Birling Gap | Beach |
| East Dean and Friston | Civil Parish |
| Wealden | District |
| East Sussex | County |
| England | Constituent Country |
| UK | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
50° 44' 33'' North , 0° 12' 2'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Friston | 1,620 (2018) | 2.4km |
| Eastbourne | 118,219 (2017) | 6.6km |
| Seaford | 22,584 (2018) | 7.6km |
| Alfriston | 829 (2018) | 7.8km |
| Newhaven | 13,222 (2018) | 11.9km |
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
| Club | Location | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Brighton & Hove Geological Society | Brighton, East Sussex | 21km |
| Hastings & District Geological Society | Hastings, East Sussex | 32km |
| Sussex Mineral and Lapidary Society | Haywards Heath, West Sussex | 36km |
Birling Gap provides one of the easiest points of access to the beach beneath the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs, by a staircase descending from the cliff top. A National Trust car park, café, shop and toilets are situated above the beach. Beach access may occasionally be closed following cliff falls or during adverse conditions.
The cliffs around Birling Gap expose part of the Seaford Chalk Formation of the White Chalk Subgroup, of Late Cretaceous age. The formation consists predominantly of soft, very pure white chalk containing numerous horizons of nodular and semi-tabular flint. These flint bands are particularly conspicuous in the Seven Sisters cliffs and are useful stratigraphic markers.
Of particular importance here is the Seven Sisters Flint Band, the major flint horizon marking the boundary between the Belle Tout Beds and the overlying Cuckmere Beds of the Seaford Chalk. At Birling Gap it forms a conspicuous, locally almost continuous sheet of flint on the wave-cut platform. The band is approximately 20–30 cm thick elsewhere in the section and may contain sponge remains and locally iron staining.
The beach contains abundant flint released by continuing erosion of the cliffs. Much of it has been rounded by wave action to form the characteristic dark flint shingle, although freshly fallen material may retain the original nodular forms and white chalky cortex. Chalk pebbles and, depending on recent wave and storm conditions, patches of sand may also be present.
Good-quality black to dark grey flint is common. Nodules may preserve fossil sponges and other marine fossils or fossil fragments, while some contain cavities lined with chalcedony or small quartz crystals. Such crystal-lined cavities can often be recognised in broken flints on the beach by their sparkling surfaces in bright sunlight.
Fresh cliff falls can expose particularly good flint, but the chalk cliffs are actively eroding and falls may occur without warning; loose material on the beach should therefore be examined without approaching the base of the cliffs. Visitors should also be aware of the tide, which can reach the cliff foot and cut off sections of beach.
The more secluded stretch of beach west of Birling Gap is also popular with naturists.
The cliffs around Birling Gap expose part of the Seaford Chalk Formation of the White Chalk Subgroup, of Late Cretaceous age. The formation consists predominantly of soft, very pure white chalk containing numerous horizons of nodular and semi-tabular flint. These flint bands are particularly conspicuous in the Seven Sisters cliffs and are useful stratigraphic markers.
Of particular importance here is the Seven Sisters Flint Band, the major flint horizon marking the boundary between the Belle Tout Beds and the overlying Cuckmere Beds of the Seaford Chalk. At Birling Gap it forms a conspicuous, locally almost continuous sheet of flint on the wave-cut platform. The band is approximately 20–30 cm thick elsewhere in the section and may contain sponge remains and locally iron staining.
The beach contains abundant flint released by continuing erosion of the cliffs. Much of it has been rounded by wave action to form the characteristic dark flint shingle, although freshly fallen material may retain the original nodular forms and white chalky cortex. Chalk pebbles and, depending on recent wave and storm conditions, patches of sand may also be present.
Good-quality black to dark grey flint is common. Nodules may preserve fossil sponges and other marine fossils or fossil fragments, while some contain cavities lined with chalcedony or small quartz crystals. Such crystal-lined cavities can often be recognised in broken flints on the beach by their sparkling surfaces in bright sunlight.
Fresh cliff falls can expose particularly good flint, but the chalk cliffs are actively eroding and falls may occur without warning; loose material on the beach should therefore be examined without approaching the base of the cliffs. Visitors should also be aware of the tide, which can reach the cliff foot and cut off sections of beach.
The more secluded stretch of beach west of Birling Gap is also popular with naturists.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsMineral List
1 valid mineral.
Rock Types Recorded
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramGallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.00.05 | SiO2 |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
British and Irish IslesGroup of Islands
Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate
- Rheno-Hercynian BeltOrogenic Belt
UK
- England
- South-East England Sedimentary AreaGeologic Region
- South Downs National ParkNational Park
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Birling Gap, East Dean and Friston, Wealden, East Sussex, England, UK