Footwall and Fault at Clashach Cove

This image follows the footwall of the fault which has split the sandstone cliff at Clashach Cove. Here we see the ecological succession of plants starting to inhabit the footwall on the left hand side. As we follow the line of sight of the footwall we meet the line of the fault in the rocks. This is a normal cataclasite fault. The rock textures and appearance are very different on the other side of the fault. Here we see the exposed sandstone and it’s complex pattern of layering. Initially the layers appear to dip down towards the cave entrance, then there appears to be a definite line where the layering then dips upwards. The layers appear to become more pronounced the further up the cliff they go. The other interesting aspect is the colouration of the rock where it is almost a deep orange at the fault line, fading to a much lighter buff and pale yellow. We can also see the entrance to a large cave. This area is also the 12th hole of the nearby golf course, and the par 3 hole has been named The Prieshach. These rocks are pale yellow, buff, non calcareous medium grained New Red Sandstone of the Permian period. They were once sand dunes and are analogous to an offshore setting in the North Sea. Photographed on a beach walk from Hopeman to Lossiemouth, Moray, Grampian, Scotland