Lower Whipcott
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST067184 | — | Favourable | 4.21 | 2012-02-27 |
| ST069185 | — | Favourable | 2.24 | 2012-02-27 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Limestone
Description
Area, 6.5 ha. 16.1 ac. Description The rocks and structures seen at this locality are typical of the Upper Westleigh Limestone and they are particularly valuable because comparable exposures in the area are now inaccessible. Palaeontological evidence for the Lower Carboniferous Dinantian age of the sediments is available here and the limestones appear to be of turbiditic origin. This indicates that the Westleigh area lay in a marine basis, receiving influxes of sediment, in the form of dense turbid debris flows, from a now concealed source to the east. The sediments and fossils conveyed in these turbidity flows originated in shallow water and were swept down the sloping sea bed, adding to the thickness of sediment already accumulating in the basin. An important site for studies of Dinantian sedimentation and stratigraphy.