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Whitbread, K, Ellen, R, Callaghan, E, Gordon, J E, and Arkley, S. 2014. East Lothian geodiversity audit. British Geological Survey Internal Report, OR/14/063.
ELC_17: Esk Valley
Site Information
Location and Summary Description:
The site comprises a 1 kilometre stretch of gorge along the River Esk near the village of Smeaton. The section extends from Smeaton Bridge in the north to the confluence of the River North Esk and River South Esk, at the ‘Meeting of the Waters’ to the south. The site displays strata from the Middle Coal Measures Formation of the Upper Carboniferous.
Field surveyors: Sarah Arkley and Eileen Callaghan
Current geological designations: None
Date visited: 7th May 2014
Other designations: River Esk Local Biodiversity Site, Smeaton Bridge is a Grade B Listed Structure
Site Map
Site Description
Background
Within East Lothian the River Esk flows from the council boundary just past the A68 and reaches the Firth of Forth at Musselburgh. This locality is the best exposure of the Middle Coal Measures Formation within East Lothian. The surrounding area has been mined for coal and Smeaton Colliery was located a few hundred metres to the south-west of this site in 1854. Also locally there was the Smeaton Brick and Tile Works which exploited the local clay, sand and coal deposits.
Sedimentary Rocks
The Middle Coal Measures Formation is a cyclic sequence of white, grey and brown sandstone and siltstone with dark grey mudstone and coals and seatearths. The sandstone and softer siltstone and mudstone are exposed in cliff sections along the west bank of the River Esk(ELC_17_P1). The sandstone is locally channelized (erosional base; ELC_17_P2), and the contact between the sandstone and underlying mudstone/siltstone is a sharp and erosive indicating high energy deposition in streams. In channel sandstones exposed on the east bank of the River Esk a layer of large carbonised wood and plant fragments can be seen at the base of the unit indicating that during flood flows, the channels carried woody debris and deposited it within the channel sediments (ELC_17_P5). Below the sandstone is a coal layer approximately 20 cm thick (ELC_17_P6).
Igneous Rocks
The Port Seton-Spittal Dyke is exposed in this site at Black Rocks to the west of Cockenzie Harbour, and also to the east at Cockenzie old harbour at Bell’s Rocks (ELC_16 P9). The quartz dolerite dyke trends east west and is black in colour with a blocky appearance. Bands of coarser grained crystals can be seen within the rock indicating flow of the magma during dyke emplacement. The rock is fractured with mineralised veins and the larger of these fractures trend north-east to south-west. The dyke intruded into the surrounding sedimentary rocks and its contact with the Upper Limestone Formation can be best seen at Cockenzie old harbour. Here the quartz-dolerite is glassy in appearance, with numerous veins. The adjacent sandstone is hard and red with little structure which may indicate baking of the margin as the dyke was intruded (ELC_16 P10).
Access and Additional Information
Access to the River Esk at this locality can be made by parking within the village of Smeaton and crossing the A6094 at Smeaton Lodge. The road can then be followed down to Smeaton Bridge. Even though this is a private estate the area appears used by local dog walkers. A bridle path runs from Smeaton Bridge on the east side of the river to Pickle Dirt on the south side of the A68. The path is a pleasant walk giving access to exposures on the east bank of the River Esk and views to the exposures on the west bank of the River Esk. Two footbridges are marked on the 1:10 000 OS map but neither of these still cross the river, (ELC_17_P9), therefore not giving access to the west bank of the river or offering a circular route.
Stratigraphy and Rock Types
Age: Upper Carboniferous
Formation: Middle Coal Measures Formation
Rock type: Sandstone, siltstone, mudstone with seatearths and coals
Assessment of Site: Access and Safety
Aspect
Description
Road access and parking
Parking can be found in Smeaton but as this is a very small village further parking can be found in Whitecraig. There is a pavement which follows the estate wall along the A6094 southwards towards Smeaton Lodge. The road easily leads down to Smeaton Bridge.
Safety of access
Care has to be taken when walking along the A6094, even though there is a good pavement. The bridle path along the River Esk may become slippy in wet weather so care should be taken, stout footwear is recommended. Care should also be taken when near the river particularly when it is in full spate.
Safety of exposure
The cliffs are continually eroding, so care should be taken at the base of the cliffs. When viewing the cliffs from the riverbank care should be taken to assess the flow of the River Esk.
Access
Access via tracks in open country.
Current condition
The rocks are well exposed, especially on the east bank of the river, some faces are covered in vegetation, especially the exposures on the west bank of the river.
Current conflicting activities
The site is on a private estate which may allow fishing although no signs or fishermen were seen.
Restricting conditions
The land is on a private estate which may restrict visiting although no signs suggesting this were noted.
Nature of exposure
River section exposing cliff sections along both banks.
Assessment of Site: Culture, Heritage & Economic Value
Aspect
Description
Historic, archaeological & literary associations
Smeaton Bridge is a single span sandstone bridge probably built of local stone.bridge and a Grade B listed building.
Aesthetic landscape
Pleasant tree lined walk along the River Esk.
History of Earth Sciences
Note applicable.
Economic geology
The Middle Coal Measures in East Lothian have been exploited for their deposits for the past two hundred years, located near to this location were Smeaton Colliery and Smeaton Brick and Tile Works.
Assessment of Site: GeoScientific Merit
Rarity
Quality
Literature/Collections
Primary Interest
Lithostratigraphy
Regional
Excellent
X
Sedimentology
Local
Good
Igneous/Mineral/Metamorphic Geology
Structural Geology
Palaeontology
Geomorphology
Site Geoscientific Value
This site displays the Middle Coal Measures Formation of the Upper Carboniferous. This is the best locality within East Lothian for seeing rocks of this age. The River Esk provides an excellent example of the Middle Coal Measures Formation with regional lithostratigraphical significance.
Assessment of Site: Current site usage
Community
The site is easily accessible and is used at present by dog walkers and horse riders.
Education
The site displays a variety of features suitable for amateur geologists to study depositional sedimentary environments.
Assessment of Site: Fragility and potential use of the site
Fragility
Weathering/erosion.
Potential use
The bridle path along the River Esk could be developed as a short trail with on-site interpretation opposite a cliff section on the west bank and also the cliff section on the east bank exposing the coal. Footbridges across the river would enhance access and could connect the site to Dalkeith Country Park. The cliff sections are well exposed and would provide educational opportunities for the study of coal formation.
Geodiversity Summary
This site contains good exposures of largely fluvial sedimentary strata of the Middle Coal Measures Formation and is the best site to view these strata in East Lothian. The structures and different lithologies seen at this site help to understand the terrestrial depositional environments of the upper Carboniferous in the Midland Valley.
The walk along the River Esk is attractive, peaceful and easily accessed. There are possibilities for adding geological interpretation to this site.