Formation of Sedimentary Rock Layers in GCSE Science

The Yorkshire Dales National Park spans over 1,500 square kilometers, featuring diverse geological formations. Around 350 million years ago, the area was submerged under a tropical ocean, leading to the formation of limestone from sea creature skeletons. Over time, rivers deposited sand, forming grit and sandstone layers. Earth movements and erosion shaped the landscape, which was further altered by ice sheets during the last ice age. Human settlement has also significantly impacted the region, transforming it from its natural state.

What was the Yorkshire Dales National Park covered by 350 million years ago?

• A dense forest

• A warm clear tropical ocean

• A vast desert

• A large freshwater lake

What type of rock was formed from the skeletons of sea creatures?

• Granite

• Limestone

• Sandstone

• Shale

What caused the sediments to be squeezed into limestone?

• Weight of the overlying mud

• High temperatures

• Volcanic activity

• Earthquakes

What geological process cracked the whole crust along fault lines?

• Tsunamis

• Earth movements

• Meteor impacts

• Volcanic eruptions

What did the great ice sheets leave behind as they melted?

• Volcanic craters

• Dense forests

• Sharpened peaks and bare limestone

• Deep lakes

What would the landscape be like if humans hadn't settled in the Yorkshire Dales?

• A tundra

• A desert

• A grassland

• An ash forest