GB: These deposits are the youngest, with a maximum of 3 million years (Quaternary period). The unsorted layers with the large rounded rock fragments date back to the last great ice age, when Cornwall was a tundra area. In this permafrost area, existing rocks were cracked open by frost. Then the environmental temperatures increased so that the ground thawed and began to flow. The thawed soil with the rock fragments was finally deposited together with loess (fine sediment blown in by the wind).
The melting of the glaciers removed a large load from the continent, causing it to rise (effect of isostasy) and the periglacial deposits which were originally de-posited at sea level can now be found several meters on top of the cliffs. These deposits are also called raised beaches.
EN: These deposits are the youngest at a maximum of 3 million years old (Quaternary age). The unsorted layers with the large rounded rock fragments date back to the last great ice age, when Cornwall was a tundra area. In this permafrost area, existing rocks were broken open by frost. The ambient temperatures then rose, causing the ground to thaw and begin to flow. The thawed soil with the rock fragments was finally deposited together with loess (fine sediment blown in by the wind).
The melting of the glaciers removed a large load from the continent, causing it to rise (effect of isostasy) and the periglacial deposits originally deposited at sea level can now be found several meters above this level. In English, these deposits are also called raised beaches.