Lenham Quarry

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.2396, 0.7411

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TQ914525 Favourable 4.0 2020-07-31

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Neogene, Quaternary

Description

Area, 4.4 ha. 10.9 ac. Description This locality shows a section of the problematic Lenham Beds, variously ascribed in past accounts to the Miocene, Pliocene or the Pleistocene. The consensus of opinion presently assigns these rocks to the Pliocene time period, on the basis of their contained marine gastropod and bivalve faunas, as well as serpulid worms, brachiopods, bryozoans, scaphopods and echinoids. This fauna is important for it makes possible the placing of this deposit in a time period which is otherwise poorly represented in the rocks of the British Isles.