Dartmoor National Park Authority
Meldon Industrial Archaeology case study Meldon Ecology case study Meldon Geology and Geomorphology case study
Meldon Geology & Geomorphology Case Study
The Meldon area is situated on the north-west corner of Dartmoor granite massif, south-west of the town of Okehampton and is one of the most important geological locations in the UK. It demonstrates, par-excellence, the effects of contact metamorphism and mineralisation associated with the intrusion of a major granitic body, but is also famous for its structural geological features, including the well-known ‘Meldon Anticline’ - a southwards inclined antiform dating from the late Carboniferous Variscan Orogeny. A range of other geological and geomorphological features are also well developed.
1A. Introduction to the geology and geomorphology of the Meldon area (including access and conservation) PDF icon 2,517 kb (pdf help)
1B. Late Lower to Upper Carboniferous: Crackington Formation (Culm Basin ‘autochthon’ / ‘parautochthon’) PDF icon 89 kb (pdf help)
1C. Greystone Nappe: Lower Carboniferous, Lower Culm Group (‘allochthon’) PDF icon 2,623 kb (pdf help)
1D. Blackdown Nappe: Late Lower to Upper Carboniferous, Bealsmill Formation (‘allochthon’) PDF icon 84 kb (pdf help)
1E. The Dartmoor granite and associated igneous rocks PDF icon 1,866 kb (pdf help)
1F. Metalliferous mineralisation PDF icon 542 kb (pdf help)
1G. General tectonic evolution and structural geology PDF icon 448 kb (pdf help)
1H. Quaternary PDF icon 1,015 kb (pdf help)
1I. The geological landscape of Meldon PDF icon 2,493 kb (pdf help)
1J. Glossary PDF icon 258 kb (pdf help)
For more information relating to geology on this website visit geology.
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Page updated 6 July 2009
