Pavey Ark in the English Lake District
July 16, 2014
Exposed rocks near the summit of Pavey Ark in the English Lake District tell a story of ancient volcanic activity. The photo above shows Stickle Tarn, a water filled corrie, above the Great Langdale valley. Windermere, England’s largest lake is in the upper center of the photo. The rocks formed by a chain of island arc volcanoes in the ancient Iapetus Ocean around 460 million years ago. When active, the volcano’s explosive nature produced pyroclastic lava flows. The rocks on Pavey Ark formed as the lava settled into the ocean. Close inspection of the rock surface reveals many angular fragments, volcanic bombs and andesitic lava spatter. Iapetus Ocean gradually disappeared as its floor was pulled beneath the converging Laurentia, Baltica and Avalon continental masses. The rocks in the photographs are 2300 ft (700 m) above sea level. Photo taken on June 14, 2014.
Photo details: Camera Maker: FUJIFILM; Camera Model: FinePix S1500; Focal Length: 5.9mm; Aperture: f/6.4; Exposure Time: 0.0071 s (1/140); ISO equiv: 64; Software: Digital Camera FinePix S1500 Ver1.03.