Cottonshope Head Quarry

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 55.3463, -2.3123

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Also within

Northumberland County NORTHUMBERLAND National Park

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
NT802058 — Favourable 14.42 2021-11-16

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Basalt

Landscape processes: Volcanic / Igneous

Description

Area,1,10 00015.3 hectares 38.0 ac Description Cottonshope Head Quarry provides the only good exposure of Lower Carboniferous lava flows in north east England. Two alkaline olivine basalt flows, of Dinantian age, can be seen in the quarry and in the stream section south east of the sheepfold. The flows have rubbly tops and bases and the top of the uppermost flow forms a well marked bench along the hillside. Pale sandstones can be seen to underlie the lavas in the stream section. Although the exposures are limited in extent, the site is significant in recording what is probably the southernmost extension of the Scottish Kelso Traps and, also, provides critical evidence on the role of volcanic activity in the development of the Northumberland Basin during the Carboniferous Period.

Plant communities

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea