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Wenlock Edge

escarpment, England, United Kingdom

Quick Summary

Wenlock Edge is a prominent escarpment in Shropshire, England, stretching approximately 29 km. This ridge is primarily composed of fossiliferous limestones, known as Wenlock Limestone, with underlying siltstones and mudstones.1

The Wenlock Series, a division of the Silurian System, derives its name from this escarpment. This geological period, the Wenlock Epoch, occurred between 433.4 and 427.4 million years ago. The Wenlock Limestone is renowned for its rich and well-preserved fossils, including brachiopods, corals, trilobites, and crinoids. The town of Much Wenlock is situated at the northeastern end of this limestone ridge.12

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. Wenlock Series
  2. Much Wenlock

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