Geology of Merseyside

The geology of Merseyside in northwest England largely consists of a faulted sequence of Carboniferous Coal Measures rocks overlain in the west by younger Triassic and Permian age sandstones and mudstones. Glaciation during the present Quaternary Period has left widespread glacial till as well as erosional landforms. Other post-glacial superficial deposits such as river and estuarine alluvium, peat and blown sand are abundant.

This article describes the geology of the ceremonial county of Merseyside which includes the City of Liverpool and the modern metropolitan boroughs of Knowsley, Sefton and St Helens which prior to 1974 were part of the historic county of Lancashire and the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral which was until then part of the historic county of Cheshire.