Sudbourne Park Pit

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.1083, 1.5139

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
TM407513 Favourable 1.13 2023-03-06

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Neogene

Description

Area, 1.2 ha. 3.0 ac. Description This site is of geological importance for the study of the formation of Coralline Crag deposited in the Pliocene age. Unleached crag sediments yield an abundant and diverse fossil fauna and the site is notable for the abundance of the bivalves Cardita and Arctica as well as many other species of mollusc. Bryozoans are very common and include Cupuladria and occasional very large colonies of Meandropora. This is the only Coralline Crag locality where solutional pipes are present in otherwise unleached crag i.e. with unaltered sediments with original fossil content. It was a key locality in Harmer's discussions of Coralline Crag structure in 1898. This is an important site for the study of Coralline Crag faunas.