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Mohorovicic Discontinuity at Coverack
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I’ve always loved the words plate tectonics, although until now it’s been impossible to toss them casually into conversation as often as I’d like. But not so any more, because understanding the geological importance of the Lizard peninsula isn’t possible without discussing plate tectonics. As we'll be hiking the South West Coast Path around the Lizard peninsula on our September 2016 trip, here’s my chance to use plate tectonics as often as I like.

Once upon a time about 390 million years ago, continental drift (another fine set of words) caused two tectonic plates to collide: Specifically, the Normannian tectonic plate subducted (had to look that up*) under the Laurasian plate. Probably it made a loud noise but we’ll never know. A bunch of things must have happened in that crash but there are two that are especially fascinating.

The first involves Mohorovicic Discontinuity (or moho), which usually lies miles under the ocean and is pretty hard to get to. The Lizard is one of the few places on earth where moho is seen at the earth’s surface. So of course we want to see it. I plan to stand on a bit of real live Mohorovicic Discontinuity and feel special and privileged and take a few photos to impress family and friends.

I looked up Mohorovicic Discontinuity: The earth, as we learned long ago but may have forgotten, has a core, a mantle, and an outer crust. The crust is made of different plates, the movement of which is called plate tectonics. When the Lizard tectonic plates collided, rocks that were normally found only in the earth’s mantle, especially Serpentine, were thrust to the surface, mixing with rocks on the crust. This mixing of oceanic crust and mantle rocks is called ophiolite, a word which I will never use in any other conversation ever. The boundary between the crust and the mantle is known as the Mohorovicic Discontinuity. Whew. In simple terms we’ll be stepping on a place where the earth’s crust and mantle meet.

The second fascinating thing about the Lizard is a rock called Serpentinite, which occur with dark grey gabbro rocks and striped amphibolite rocks along parts of the Lizard coast. Both red and green serpentinite can be found in a natural tunnel at Kynance Cove. (“Just past the cafe” one geology site helpfully informs you.) We will be seeking out this tunnel after stopping at the cafe. I will not illegally take rock, but I will hopefully be able to get some for my rock collection. This rock will enable me to have straight-faced conversations with friends and family and total strangers in line at the grocery store using words like Mohorovicic Discontinuity, plate tectonics, Serpentinite, and possibly, if I can work it in, subducted.

*In geology, subduction is the process that takes place at convergent boundaries when a tectonic plate moves under another tectonic plate and as the plates converge, sinks into the mantle. Molly's been to a moho region in Iceland!

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About: Who, How, Why 
The South West Coast Path
Three St Ives Slideshows
​Betsy's Trip  October 2023
Blog from Spring 2022
Blog from Fall 2022
​
Blog from Spring 2023
​

How to Build a Motte & Bailey
How a Lock Works
Big Burly Yorkshire Pudding
​
Mohorovicic Discontinuity at Coverack
First Attempt at Walking Hartland Quay
​
Contact


​Copyright © 2023
  • Home
  • About
    • Who, Why, How
  • The SWCP
    • SWCP Counties
    • Somerset & Exmoor Hikes >
      • Minehead to Porlock Weir
      • Lynmouth to massive storm
      • Lynmouth to Porlock Weir
      • Lynton to Lee
      • Holdstone Down to Lynton
      • Combe Martin to Holdstone Down
    • North Devon Hikes >
      • Ilfracombe to Combe Martin ​
      • Ilframcombe to Morthoe
      • Braunton to Morthoe
      • Barnstable to Fremington Quay
      • Bideford to Appledore
      • Westward Ho! to Appledore
      • Bucks Mill to Western Ho!
      • Buck's Mill to Clovelly
      • Hartland Quay to Clovelly
    • North Cornwall Hikes >
      • Padstow to Trevone
      • Mawgan Porth to Newquay
    • West Cornwall Hikes >
      • Hell's Mouth to Portreath
      • Carbis Bay to Gwithian
      • St Ives to Lelant
      • St Ives to Zennor
      • Zennor to Pendeen Watch
      • Land's End to Sennen Cove
      • Land's End to Porthcurno
      • Lamorna to Porthcurno
      • Penzance to Lamorna Cove
      • Penzance to Marazion
      • Marazion to Porthleven
      • Mullion Cove to Lizard Point
      • Cadgwith to Lizard Point
      • Coverack to Cadgwith
      • Helford Passage to Coverack
      • Falmouth to Helford Passage
    • South Cornwall Hikes >
      • Falmouth to Portscatho
      • Gorran Haven to Pentewan
      • Charlestown to Fowey
      • Charlestown to Pentewan
      • Portwrinkle to Rame Head
    • South Devon Hikes
    • Jurassic Coast Hikes >
      • Seaton to Lyme Regis
      • Abbotsbury to West Bay
  • Spring 2024 Trip
  • Fall 2023 Blog