Madeley Heath Pit
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO958769 | — | Destroyed | 2.74 | 2010-09-01 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Quaternary, Triassic
Landscape processes: Fluvial, Glacial, Volcanic / Igneous
Description
Area, 2.3 ha. 5.7 ac. Description This pit exploit's an enigmatic spread of gravel which caps this part of the Clent Hills, at over 200 metres above sea level. Research on this deposit is at an early stage, but it is clear that it is of considerable significance for the reconstruction of Pleistocene palaeogeography in the Midlands. The gravel occupies a deep channel cut in Triassic bedrock; a steep bedrock gravel contact is exposed in the pit. The orientation of this channel and the composition of the gravel pose a number of important questions for Pleistocene stratigraphy in this area. The gravel contains numerous semi durable igneous clasts, suggesting a glacial, ice proximal origin, whereas the orientation of the channel, from the north west to the southeast, suggests a possible connection with the pre glacial fluvial system, perhaps an Upper Severn Thames drainage route way. Till and lacustrine silts have also been observed in the pit. This site is of considerable importance as it may provide a unique link between the preglacial environment of the Midlands, about which very little is known and the main glaciation of the area.