Nostell Brickyard Quarry
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE403170 | — | Destroyed | 11.42 | 2010-02-16 |
Geology & landscape
Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Carboniferous
Description
Area, 12.5 hectares Description, This site lies 5 miles S W of Wakefield on an underlying geology of clay and Coal Measures. Open water and ruderal vegetation exist both inside and out of the quarry, but it is the geological features, especially those of the Shafton Marine Band, which contribute its special interest. This is the best and most fossiliferous available exposure of the Shafton Marine Band low Westphalian C Carboniferous, the penultimate marine phase in the British Coal Measures. It yields a diverse fauna including goniatites, nautiloids and a variety of bivalves and gastropods. There is no evidence of a decline of marine influence in the composition of the fauna, as might be expected in such a late marine band. It is a site of considerable importance for interpreting the history of Britain during the latter stages of this major period of coal formation.