Lizard Point and Kynance Cove
This walk along the coast at the southernmost point of Britain is also a journey through the exotic geology and landscapes of the Lizard Peninsula. Discover the origins of famous rocks like serpentinite, and explore the boundary where two tectonic plates once collided!
What to expect?
The Lizard Ophiolite – The breadth of Cornish geology even includes its own ophiolite – a fragment of oceanic crust! Get your hands on exotic rocks that formed in the Earth’s mantle, and learn about their dynamic journey to where we can see them on the Lizard.
The story of serpentine – Discover of the origins of this rock that the Lizard is most famous for. Learn about the processes that gave us this popular ornamental stone, and its other uses as a source of industrial minerals. You might also find the infamous soapstone used for making porcelain.
The oldest rocks in Cornwall – Lizard Point isn’t only a geographic landmark, but a geological one too. These are the oldest rocks in Cornwall, around 500 million years old! Discover these rocks that experienced extreme pressures and temperatures on their journey to where we see them today.
Cornwall’s tectonic story – Experience the impact of global tectonics that moulded the dynamic landscape around us. See where two mighty tectonic plates once collided, and learn how they dragged up rocks from deep inside the Earth.