Carboniferous rock layers. The orange colour is due to limonite, an ore that is a mixture of hydrated iron oxide and iron hydroxide. The rock layers (

---

Carboniferous rock layers. The orange colour is due to limonite, an ore that is a mixture of hydrated iron oxide and iron hydroxide. The rock layers (strata) comprise alternating layers of sandstone (the thicker layers) and shale. These rocks date to the Carboniferous era (299 to 359 million years ago). Photographed on a beach in northern Cornwall, England.

---

Size: 5157px × 3425px
Photo credit: © JEREMY BISHOP/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: beach, britain, british, carboniferous, cliff, coast, coastal, cornwall, england, english, europe, european, geography, geological, geology, hydroxide, iron, kingdom, layer, layers, limonite, mineral, ore, oxide, physical, rock, rocks, rocky, sandstone, sedimentary, shale, stone, stones, strata, stratum, uk, united