Wicklesham and Coxwell Pits
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SU285942 | — | Favourable | 0.24 | 2023-08-22 |
| SU289941 | — | Favourable | 0.16 | 2012-09-10 |
| SU292941 | — | Favourable | 12.24 | 2023-08-22 |
Geology & landscape
Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Cretaceous
Description
Area, 12.79 hectares 31.59 ac Description The active quarry and disused pits within this site provide good exposures through the Faringdon Sponge gravels of Lower Cretaceous Aptian age. The gravels, laid down under marine conditions some 110 million years ago, are unique to the Faringdon area and were-deposited in an unusual and very localised near shore sedimentary environment. They contain a very rich and unusual assemblage of fossil sponges, bryozoa, brachiopods and echinoids, with over 150 different species having been found here; many of these are known to occur only at Faringdon. In addition, the Faringdon Sponge Gravelshave yielded bones from several different kinds of fossil reptiles including turtles, ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs and crocodiles and Wicklesham Pit is of particular significance as a source of such material. This site is of great historical importance and is one of Britain's richest palaeontological localities.