Beeston Bump, Norfolk - paramoudras, flint circles and flint backbones found on the beach

Stunning giant flint shapes on the beach below the impressive towering cliffs of Beeston Bump (Beeston Hill), Beeston Regis, Norfolk. How were the variations of these massive flint concretions formed on the same beach?
Flint circles, paramoudras (Pot Stones) and flint backbones can all be found at low tides, sometimes embedded in the exposed Beeston Chalk.

More unique photos and a collection of other Paramoudra images and photographs

Flint circle (Vronny)

One of the most stunning Flint Circles you are ever likely to see. You can explore and find these flint stone circles surrounding Beeston Chalk at low tide on the sandy beach below Beeston Bump. The flint rock rim extends around three quarters of the circumference, although not continuous. There are "nodules" inside the flint circle. What can form the flint rim but not change the white Beeston Chalk inside it? There is also a flint backbone or column attached to the side of Vronny.

Things to look at are the white chalk inside it, the slightly yellowish protruding "nodules" and the Flint Backbone. This pdf about Paramoudras is a very detailed study on Paramoudras and associated features. Fig 8 shows protruding "nodules" in a Flint Circle.

Flint circle with backbone (Alan)

Another flint and chalk circle with an attached flint backbone or tail. What formed the flint stone backbone is likely to have created the flint stone circle, as they are part of the same formation.

Paramoudras - flint pot stones

The beach at Beeston Regis and along the North Norfolk coast is one of the few places where you can find Paramoudras or, as they are referred to in Norfolk, Pot Stones. You can dig these out of the sand at low tides. They are large flint stones with a "doughnut" shape to them. You will also see solid giant flint concretions, same size as the Pot Stones but with no hollow. These normally have no covering, showing the black flint colour material they are made of. Almost like Obsidian.

Strangely the same size paramoudra concretions (Pot Stones) are covered in white mineral or the outside flint has turned to white. What has happened to the Pot Stones to transform the outside mineral?

Potstones (Sassnitzer Blumentopf or Flint Krukke as they are also known in foreign places) look like the vertebrae of a Spinal Cord. Fulgurites are hollow glass like structures formed when an electric lightning bolt strikes sand. Maybe Paramoudras are one of natures versions of a backbone, with electricity having gone through the Pot Stones.

How were these giant flint concretions formed? Forum DIScussion on flint paramoudras and backbones.