Environmental factors for around 305 million years ago in the Voyage area
Rock Name
Carboniferous Mudstone (Salop Formation which includes the Alveley Member)
Lithology (appearance)
Red and red-brown mudstone, and red-brown (mostly sublitharenite) sandstone containing beds of pebbly sandstone and conglomerate itself containing Carboniferous limestone and chert clasts, and thin ‘Spirobis’ limestone beds and caliche in the lower part of the unit. (Caliche is a hardened natural cement of calcium carbonate that binds gravel, sand, clay, and silt)
Period
Carboniferous
How old
Around 305 million years
Environment of rock formation
Flat muddy plains with a large lake in this area
Climate
Transition from Carboniferous equatorial to Permian desert
Latitude
On the equator
Oxygen as percentage of atmosphere
35% (21% today)
Carbon Dioxide as parts per million of atmosphere composition
340ppm (around 415ppm today and rising)
Maximum day time temperatures
40’C
Minimum night time temperature
15’C
Sea temperature
Weather risk
Lightning
Midday Sun
Overhead. Intense
UV index
8
Earthquake risk (scale 1 low risk to 9 high risk)
3
Tectonic
Variscan mountains eroded to low profile
Volcano risk
None in area
Top predator
Animal Life
Plant Life
Carboniferous forest trees – reducing in density
Humidity
Rainfall
Wind
Day length
22.9 hours
Days in year
383