The subject of this volume is the diverse suite of carbonate rocks known collectively as the Magnesian Limestone, that was formed near the margins of shallow tropical seas during the last five or six million years of the Permian Period. These unique rocks have been studied for more than 160 years and the names of some of the early workers - Geinitz, Murchison, Phillips, Sedgwick, Sorby - would grace any geological hall of fame. Despite this formidable assault, and the efforts of a host of later workers, the Magnesian Limestone still retains many of its secrets.

 

The rocks in the 28 localities described in this volume have been designated as worthy of special protection and are mainly types of limestone and dolomite. The greatly varied character of these indicates formation in a complex mosaic of tropical, shallow-water marine sub-environments, ranging from lagoons to barrier bars, reefs to basin-margin slopes. Their formation and regional settings provide an insight into the geological events that shaped the environment that we experience today.