A Beautiful Day of Discovery at Stanford’s Cove

The 23rd of September 2024 was a perfect day for a coastal geology walk! Starting at Stanford’s Cove, we dove into the fascinating history of our landscape. From the formation of the Gondwana supercontinent to the rifting that created the sandstones of the Cape Fold Belt mountains, we explored millions of years in broad brush strokes. We also took a look at the stratigraphy of the Western Cape, discovering which rock groups surround us every day.

After some geological context, we hit the beach! First stop: examining shales, folds, and quartz veins up close. The walk took us along the coast, pausing at a fascinating shear zone right in front of the car park, where we discussed cracks, joints, and tectonic movements that shaped this beautiful piece of coastline.

Our journey through time - from 500 million years ago to the present - revealed Cape Supergroup sandstones and Bredasdorp Formation strata. Even though the names like Aeolianites, hydro thermals, and swash zones might sound mystical, they represent the incredible stories locked in our landscape.

Of course, we couldn’t let coffee and pancakes wait too long! After a quick but informative walk, we finished with warm refreshments and a glass of Sherry as breaching whales made their appearances. A big thank you to Glenda from Tourism for organizing, and to everyone who came with curiosity, great questions, and good spirits.

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