Roche Rock
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
Favourable (1)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SW991596 | — | Favourable | 2.22 | 2011-06-22 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Carboniferous
Description
Roche Rock SSSI Description The finest example of quartz-tourmaline rock in Britain and a locality that is of international renown. The rock, of Permo-Carboniferous age, is entirely composed of quartz and black tourmaline (schorl) with the latter exhibiting a variety of habits including prismatic, acicular and radiating (tourmaline ‘suns’). The rock is thought to have formed from an immiscible boron and fluorine rich fluid and although details of the process are poorly understood it is likely to have been highly complex. The site is of prime importance for future research.