Cawdor Quarry
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK284605 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 4.47 | 2010-03-29 |
Geology & landscape
Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Carboniferous Limestone, Limestone
Description
Area, 4.53 ha. 11.2 ac. Description The limestones and shales seen at Cawdor Quarry were laid down in a warm shallow sea some 325 million years ago, during the Dinantian Stage of the Carboniferous Period. These rocks, which are the youngest part of a group of rocks called the Carboniferous Limestone, are of great interest to geologists because of the variety of shelly fossils and microfossils which they contain. These fossils include molluscs, brachiopods and echinoderms. This site provides the best exposure of this part of the Carboniferous Limestone sequence anywhere in Derbyshire. Included in the site is a pond, fed by a base rich seepage from the quarry face, with a rich and interesting fauna.