Little Heath Pit
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TL016081 | — | Favourable | 1.21 | 2021-11-04 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Quaternary
Landscape processes: Glacial, Periglacial
Description
Area,0.3 hectares 0.7 ac Description The controversial Plio Pleistocene deposits of Little Heath Pit are thought to be amongst the earliest"plateau deposits " preserved in Britain. A new exposure shows a sequence of pebbly gravel, of possible marine origin, overlain by a pebbly clay thought to be a solifluction deposit derived from local slope erosion, rather than till, as hitherto supposed. New work at the site may not fully settle the long standing question of the marine origin or otherwise of the Little Heath gravel. Whatever the outcome it seems likely that these sediments will continue to attract considerable interest in future years.