Ladies Cave Anticline: interior hinge zone

Saundersfoot to Swallowtree Bay geological structures

The Ladies Cave Anticline is a well-known and much visited structure in Lower Coal Measures rocks, just south of Saundersfoot harbour.

This is a photo of the hinge zone in the 'cave', developed in the hinge zone of the fold. The weaker mudstones have 'flowed' up into the thickened fold hinge to form saddle structures. There are also small scale thrusts, marked by disruption of the brown ironstone layers.

The horizontal ridges on the underside of the steep northern limb probably indicate development of a fan cleavage, although it does not appear to be present on the opposite limb.

The main anticline photo is here: