In front of the President Hotel in Sea Point a plaque informs passing pedestrians that this is the site of the Sea Point Contact. On the rocks below the notice board, when the tide is low, you can see swirls of light and dark rocks all mixed together. This is the contact point where, 540 million years ago, upwelling magma intruded into an existing sedimentary system of shales. With all the rocks above now eroded away and the contact exposed, it was recognised by geologists in the early 1800s - notably by a chap called Abel Clarke - and described in detail by the famous South African geologist Alexander du Toit. This contact point was important to science as it clearly demonstrates one of the processes that shapes our world. Charles Darwin was taken to this exact spot in 1856 when the Beagle docked in Cape Town - hence the local name of Darwin's Point.Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Making contact
In front of the President Hotel in Sea Point a plaque informs passing pedestrians that this is the site of the Sea Point Contact. On the rocks below the notice board, when the tide is low, you can see swirls of light and dark rocks all mixed together. This is the contact point where, 540 million years ago, upwelling magma intruded into an existing sedimentary system of shales. With all the rocks above now eroded away and the contact exposed, it was recognised by geologists in the early 1800s - notably by a chap called Abel Clarke - and described in detail by the famous South African geologist Alexander du Toit. This contact point was important to science as it clearly demonstrates one of the processes that shapes our world. Charles Darwin was taken to this exact spot in 1856 when the Beagle docked in Cape Town - hence the local name of Darwin's Point.
I've never been to this point. I've wanted to see it but have never known where exactly it was. Clearly I was looking in the wrong place.
ReplyDeleteWent there on a first year Geology excursion. Then I lived on the granite side in Camps Bay, now I live on the Malmesbury shale side in Porterville. Both bound together by the chain of Table Mountain sandstone mountains. Story of my life (without the Swiss bits ;~)
ReplyDeleteJust love your posts. Always some pertinent information. Haven't been to this part of the world for ages, maybe time for a stroll in Sea Point again.
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