South Lodge Pit
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
Favourable (1)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SU905819 | — | Favourable | 0.53 | 2021-11-16 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Cretaceous · Rock Type: Chalk
Description
Description South Lodge Pit exposes part of the only known British example of a late Santonian early Campanian chalk phosphorite calcium phosphate deposit. This is directly comparable to the late Cretaceous deposits of the Paris Basin where granular phosphates fill channels cut into normal white chalk. These chalk phosphorites are variable and contain a distinctive range of lithofacies; several of these rock types are displayed here. The brown phosphate chalks are also rich in certain fossils making the site of great interest palaeontologically.