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