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Ordovician(510-439 Ma.) and
Silurian (439-408 Ma.) ( Lower Palaeozoic) times. Part 3 of 3
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The Ordovician Skiddaw Slates in the northern part of the Lake District consist mainly of low grade metamorphosed mudstones, siltstones and greywackes, except where thermally metamorphosed by igneous intrusions, e.g. the Skiddaw Granite. They are therefore generally softer than the Borrowdale Volcanics and tend to give the landscape a less craggy more rounded appearance as the two photos of Blencathra and Glenderaterra show. In contrast, the scenery in many parts of the central Lake District is much more craggy with steep valley sides due to the more resistant andesite lavas and tuffs of the Borrowdale Volcanics. The southern part of the Lake District consists mainly of Silurian mudstones and siltstones, again giving the landscape a much gentler lower lying rolling landscape. |
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