Langcliffe Scars and Jubilee, Albert and Victoria Caves
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SD831646 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 74.65 | 2022-01-11 |
| SD832640 | — | Favourable | 12.67 | 2021-11-22 |
| SD832649 | — | Favourable | 25.71 | 2021-11-22 |
| SD833635 | — | Favourable | 87.59 | 2021-11-22 |
| SD836650 | — | Favourable | 11.68 | 2021-11-22 |
| SD837655 | — | Favourable | 11.68 | 2021-11-22 |
| SD839635 | — | Favourable | 25.33 | 2021-11-22 |
| SD840624 | — | Favourable | 3.44 | 2021-11-22 |
| SD841648 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 74.65 | 2022-01-11 |
| SD843627 | — | Favourable | 83.21 | 2021-11-22 |
| SD843630 | — | Favourable | 31.13 | 2021-11-22 |
| SD846632 | — | Favourable | 87.59 | 2021-11-22 |
| SD847642 | — | Favourable | 20.61 | 2021-11-22 |
| SD850643 | — | Favourable | 83.21 | 2021-11-22 |
| SD859644 | — | Favourable | 327.49 | 2021-08-25 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Feature: Cave / Cavern · Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Carboniferous Limestone, Limestone
Landscape processes: Karst
Description
Description Langcliffe Scars is a classic Carboniferous Limestone locality which demonstrates the most complete sequence of Dinantian strata to be found in the Craven area, while the deposits of Victoria Cave are of particular interest because they have yielded a 'hippopotamus fauna' of Ipswichian age at an unusual altitude for this northerly latitude. Lying between the north and south Craven Faults, Langcliffe Scars shows ancient mature sediments typical of the southern edge of the Askrigg Block and northern Craven Basin, between which is a transitional apron reef development. The geology of the area has been the source of some controversy for a number of years and has yet to be fully understood and described. Features present include a variety of limestones with 'reefs', shales, dolomites and cherts as well as boulder beds at a number of stratigraphic levels. This site, with its thick and richly fossiliferous sequence spanning the Arundian Brigantian interval, has great potential for studies in the fields of carbonate sedimentology and diagenesis, stratigraphy and palaeoecology. The fauna of Victoria Cave, which includes spotted hyena, lion, straight tusked elephant, hippopotamus and fallow deer, has recently been dated to about 120 thousand years Before Present BP. The Albert and Jubilee Caves have so far received little more than superficial attempts at excavation and are likely to afford undisturbed fossiliferous deposits of a similar character to those of Victoria Cave. Other Information 1. This site is listed within the Geological Conservation Review under the names Langcliffe Attermire and Jubilee, Albert and Victoria Caves. 2. It was formerly notified as two separate sites named Langcliffe Scars and Scaleber Quarry. 3. During the 1987 revision, the boundary has been amended to include land not previously notified.* 4. The site overlaps Attermire SSSI and is adjacent to Pikedaw Calamine Caverns SSSI. * Under Section 23 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949.