Rhossili rock textures (Part 1)

On the Gower Peninsula in South Wales, there is an amazing array of rock forms and surface textures in the cliff faces. Here are some examples from the south end of Rhossili Bay where the cliff edges the promontory that leads to Worms Head. The textures result from a combination of factors including the manner of deposition of the original sediments; the rock structure and layering or consolidation; the rock chemistry; erosion by weather and waves; and sometimes by biological activity (like erosion by endolithic lichens and the wearing away of circular depressions by limpets). Most of the rock textures shown here are from Carboniferous limestone with the exception of the brecciated conglomerate in the second photograph.

I am fascinated by the abstract qualities of the appearance of rocks. You can find more of these natural abstract images of rock on my other web site.