UK Geography Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of British Geography

Study Notes

Geology of the United Kingdom

The UK's geology is varied and complex, shaped by a combination of tectonic forces and climate change
The oldest rocks in the British Isles are the Lewisian gneisses, metamorphic rocks found in the far north-west of Scotland and in the Hebrides, dating back to at least 2,700 million years ago

Precambrian Era

Around 1,000 million years ago, the North West Highlands and Grampian Highlands in Scotland were formed through the folding of sedimentary rocks
At the same time, England and Wales were largely submerged under a shallow sea studded with volcanic islands

Palaeozoic Era

Around 520 million years ago, what is now Great Britain was split between two continents: Laurentia and Gondwana
England and Wales were largely submerged under a shallow sea, with volcanic islands that later formed part of the landscape
The remains of these volcanoes can still be seen in central England
Avalonia broke away from Gondwana and drifted towards Laurentia, eventually colliding and forming a mountain range in north and west Britain

Caledonian Orogeny

The Caledonian Orogeny occurred around 425-400 million years ago, resulting from the collision of continents and the formation of mountains in north and west Britain
The resulting erosion deposited numerous sedimentary rock layers in lowlands and seas
The Old Red Sandstone and contemporary volcanics and marine sediments found in Devon originated from these processes

Carboniferous Period

Around 360 million years ago, Great Britain was lying at the equator, covered by warm shallow waters of the Rheic Ocean
During this time, the Carboniferous Limestone was deposited, as found in the Mendip Hills and the Peak District of Derbyshire
River deltas formed and the sediments deposited were colonized by swamps and rainforests
The Coal Measures were formed during this period, which are the source of the majority of Britain's extensive coal reserves

Variscan Orogeny

Around 280 million years ago, the Variscan orogeny mountain-building period occurred, resulting in deformation in south-west England
Granite was formed beneath the overlying rocks of Devon and Cornwall, now exposed at Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor

Mesozoic Era

During the Triassic period, Great Britain moved away from the equator and became a hot, arid desert climate with frequent flash floods
The remnants of the Variscan uplands in France to the south were eroded, resulting in layers of the New Red Sandstone being deposited across central England
Pangaea began to break up at the start of the Jurassic period, and Britain drifted on the Eurasian Plate to between 31° and 40° north
Much of Britain was under water again, and sedimentary rocks were deposited and can now be found underlying much of England

Cenozoic Era

Between 63 and 52 million years ago, the last volcanic rocks in Great Britain were formed
The seas started to flood the land again, and chalk and flints were deposited over much of Great Britain

Description

Geological Landforms Quiz: Test your knowledge of major eruptions and folding of strata in Europe. Explore the Antrim Plateau, Giant's Causeway, and more. How well do you know the geological history of southern England? Find out now!