Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula 7.6km trail - good geology to see
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 4.74 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,093 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 1,093 ft
- Max elevation
- 548 ft
- TrailRank
- 39
- Min elevation
- 132 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- 2 hours 33 minutes
- Time
- 3 hours 44 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1382
- Uploaded
- February 15, 2024
- Recorded
- February 2024
near Caniçal, Madeira (Portugal)
Viewed 29 times, downloaded 0 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
These are some of the oldest rocks in Madeiras and belong to the Miocene basement complex. They are mainly ash and lava beds, the whole section has been interlaced with near vertical dyke swarms in two distinct orientations.
A a scientific description can be found in the Bulletins of Volcanology
Klugel et al, (2009) volume 71 pages 671–685 title: Structure and evolution of the volcanic rift zone at Ponta de São Lourenço, eastern Madeira.
A more general overview can be found in a field guide to the geology of Madeira. Burton and MacDonald (2008) published by the Glasgow geological society
Waypoints
Cave
Waypoint
157 ft
Agglomeratate
These are some of the oldest rocks in Madeiras and belong to the Miocene basement complex. They are mainly ash and lava beds, the whole section has been interlaced with near vertical dyke swarms in two distinct orientations.
Waypoint
318 ft
Crossing dykes
These are some of the oldest rocks in Madeiras and belong to the Miocene basement complex. They are mainly ash and lava beds, the whole section has been interlaced with near vertical dyke swarms in two distinct orientations.
Waypoint
276 ft
Vertical dyke
These are some of the oldest rocks in Madeiras and belong to the Miocene basement complex. They are mainly ash and lava beds, the whole section has been interlaced with near vertical dyke swarms in two distinct orientations.
Waypoint
302 ft
View of vertical crossings dykes
These are some of the oldest rocks in Madeiras and belong to the Miocene basement complex. They are mainly ash and lava beds, the whole section has been interlaced with near vertical dyke swarms in two distinct orientations.
Waypoint
361 ft
Looking west
View back towards the car park, notice the airport runway in the distance
Waypoint
400 ft
Waypoint
Looking east along the peninsula. This is the section where the path is very narrow and there are steep slopes on either side! Take extra care
Waypoint
243 ft
Coffee shop - path divides
View towards the cafe. Either route left or right will take you there
Waypoint
203 ft
Columnar basalt flow
These lava flows look to be younger than the underlying basement complex as they are not cut by the vertical dykes. There are several lava flows here, the thicker ones have cooled slower and developed columnar joints
Provisioning
Waypoint
292 ft
Steps in need of repair
Geological this is a nice section of volcanic tuff. Angular material extruded from a volcano. Occasionally large rocks or bombs mixed in. It has the feel of very coarse material occasional stratification layers can be seen
Waypoint
312 ft
Dyke cores
These are core holes left by researchers, the cores were taken to determine the age of the intrusion or to look for palaeo magnetic fields. Either way they should have been filled to make the rock look nicer and prevent erosion. These are some of the oldest rocks in Madeiras and belong to the Miocene basement complex. They are mainly ash and lava beds, the whole section has been interlaced with near vertical dyke swarms in two distinct orientations.
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