The Geology of Yorkshire in northern England shows a very close relationship between the major topographical areas and the geological period in which their rocks were formed. The rocks of the Pennine chain of hills in the west are of Carboniferous origin whilst those of the central vale are Permo-Triassic. The North York Moors in the north-east of the county are Jurassic in age while the Yorkshire Wolds to the south east are Cretaceous chalk uplands. The plain of Holderness and the Humberhead levels both owe their present form to the Quaternary ice ages. The strata become gradually younger from west to east.[1][2]
Much of Yorkshire presents heavily glaciated scenery as few places escaped the direct or indirect impact of the great ice sheets as they first advanced and then retreated during the last ice age.
- ^ Edwards, W.; Trotter, F. M. (1954). "The Pennines and Adjacent Areas". British Regional Geology (3rd ed.). London: HMSO. Natural Environment Research Council.
- ^ Kent, Sir Peter; Gaunt, G. D. (1980). Eastern England from the Tees to the Wash. British Regional Geology (2nd ed.). London: HMSO. Natural Environment Research Council. ISBN 0-11-884121-1.