cliff cutting

[Pads]

Any one know why this would be done ? Its near Port Issac In cornwall. I wouldnt think its for the slate as there are lots of quarries near by. 

 

[IMG]http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z22/pads_03/IMG_3623.jpg[/IMG]

 

Bet he knows

 

[IMG]http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z22/pads_03/IMG_3632.jpg[/IMG]

 

 

 

[Pierre ZFP]

An eroded entrance to a tin mine?  Some of the seams of tin went way out under the sea.

Like the seagull, I miss them as I'm 400Km from the coast.

[Pads]

No ... I dont think there were tin mines in this area ... they are more west... This looks like its been cut from the top

[cooperlola]

There were indeed slate quarries on the coast around here, Pads, according to a book I have:

"The geology gave rise to many slate quarries, many of which worked directly into the cliff face and are still evident."

Of course, it may just be a geological feature, but then you've lost me!

Coo, I could just murder a pint in the Golden Lion....[:P]

The geology gave rise to many slates quarries, many of which worked directly into

the cliff face and are still evident. The slate is extensively used throughout the

locality as t

The geology gave rise to many slates quarries, many of which worked directly into

the cliff face and are still evident. The slate is extensively used throughout the

locality as the predominant building materihe predominant building material.

[Monika]

 

I forwarded the posting/picture to my son who is a Mining Geologist and studied

at the Camborne School of Mines, that's his explanation.

1) More likely it is as result of 2 near vertical joints (line of weakness).
Erosion has exploited these two lines of weakness hence the creation of the
zawn (Sea cave) as we know it Dorset. The flat surfaces of each side of the
cave are in fact the surfaces of the geological structures (joints).  There
are two more on either side of the cave and the joints actually continue
above the cave too.

2) As the reader said, it is unlikely to be mining as it is slate and better
extracted from surface quarries than from underground.

It could also be aliens!!

[cooperlola]

1) sounds very likely, Monika, and easy to check up on as most "zawns" are marked thus on local maps, Pads.

Geology ain't my strong point, but now I know how zawns are created, Monika![:)]