Investigation - Storm Beach Pwlldu.

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Investigation: Storm Beach PwllDu

Introduction

Pwlldu storm beach lies on the Gower peninsula in South Wales approximately six miles to the west of Swansea, it is a remote and sheltered beach. A storm beach is a ridge composed of shingle and pebbles, which is built up by storm waves at the inner margin of the beach.  The pebbles at Pwlldu are situated on the beach, as there is an old coastal quarry present. Limestone from the slopes of Pwllldu head were quarried and then shipped to places such as Devon, where it would be used for agricultural lime.  Coastal quarries like the one at PwlllDu were evident all around Gower from mumbles to Rhossili, the dipping strata, which characterises certain area of Gower, made Quarrying very convenient.  . Other types of rock as well as limestone that appear on the beach are old red sandstone and sandstone, the diagram below (Fig 1) gives a more detailed view of the geology of PwllDu and the surrounding area.  

distance.

It is interesting to note that the magnificent shingle-banks of Pwll-Du are probably entirely the result of the quarrying operations there. These rejected all fine rubble, because it took too long to load. The weird landforms on the side and top of the head, which are the overgrown remnants of the quarries, have given the place the appropriate local name of Goonland.

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(Fig 1)

The prominent feature of Pwlldu bay is the ridges of pebbles that run parallel to the shoreline, it is these ridges that will be the centre of this investigation. (Fig 2). The initial ridge is formed and affected chiefly by sea washed quarry pebbles from the limestone quarrying that was carried out mainly on the western flank of Pwlldu Head. Quarrying work ceased here in 1884.

(Fig 2)

Aims of Investigation

The main aim of this project is to investigate the roundness of pebbles on the storm ridges of Pwlldu Bat.  Firstly ...

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