Stone
SSSI
Grid
reference: SP 778
126
Area
of site: 0.12 ha;
0.3 acres
Access,
location and parking:
(not visited)
Site
description: small pit, not currently exposed.
Geological
interpretation:
The site contains undated sands of the Wealden deposits which were deposited in
a westerly flowing channel. The sands comprise cross-bedded quartz sands, with
pebbles, with at least one bed of silty clay with ironstone nodules. The sand is
of northern origin as shown by the inclusion of feldspar, tourmaline, kyanite,
staurolite and garnet within its mineralogy. This is potentially recycled from a
Portland Beds source, as the pebbles are quartz and Carboniferous chert. There
is abundant plant debris, much of which is charcoal. As this is the most
north-easterly outcrop of the Wealden facies, this site is important for its
bearing on Purbeck-Wealden palaeogeography as well as climate and
palaeoenvironments.
Current
and potential educational use
(geology, ecology, archaeology, industrial archaeology):
None
Conservation
interest:
To maintain the integrity of the potential geological resource.
Threats
to site (present and future): None envisaged.
Constraints
(basic risk assessment): (not assessed)
Development
potential:
No potential for public visits.
Reference
list/bibliography:
Recommendations:
File information, BEHG could become involved by invitation to record and
re-interpret.