Crag Pit, Aldeburgh
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM458580 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 0.25 | 2010-11-16 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Neogene
Description
Area, 0.8 ha. 1.9 ac. Description This site is of geological interest because it represents the most northerly existing exposure of Pliocene Coralline Crag. The deposit, which is up to 2.5 metres high, is of horizontally bedded Crag with prominent solution pipes in the upper surface. No aragonite fauna is present due to post depositional solution but the calcitic fauna is both very abundant and exceptionally well preserved. A rich and diverse bryozoan fauna is present and is particularly notable for the abundance of finely preserved encrusting species found growing on the Chlamys valves which are common at this locality. The fauna includes other encrusting species such as serpulids and a number of boring forms. Evidence of such extensive bioerosion and encrustation is restricted to the most northerly Coralline Crag exposures. The large bryozoans Blumenbachium globusum and Meandropora are common at this locality. The site provides one of the most abundant and diverse faunas of the Coralline Crag and is of great palaeontological and sedimentological interest.