Paleo-Channels on the foreshore near Scarborough

On the foreshore north of Scarborough the wave cut platform has cut across rocks laid down in a Jurassic alluvial plain
The rocks show remarkable features resulting from the formation of point bars in meandering channels, channel infill and other structures.

Foreshore at Cowlam Hole

At first this looks like an anticline similar to that displayed on the foreshore at Robins Hoood Bay. Closer analysis shows that the strata are pretty much level, it is current bedding that gives the miniature 'dip and scarp'topography. In the cliff section are a whole series of small sand filled channels. Some are choked with coalified remains of tree trunks and other vegetation. What you are seeing accumulated as a series of point bars laid down as the meander of a river channel migrated.

Idealised diagram of fluvial environment.

As point bars accumulate the sediment is laid down at an angle to the horizontal creating current bedding structures, formerly called "false bedding". It is the subsequent horizontal planation of these by wave action that creates the micro-topography seen.

The photograph shows a meander belt making a spectacular 180^o sweep across the wave cut platform. Trough cross bedding within the chutes shows that the current flow was clockwise (right to left in the picture)

The red box shows approximately the area of the photograph
Blue arrows show paleocurrent direction.

Location map showing details of the paleo-channel. The approximate area of the photo is outlinesd in red.

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