Dinton Quarry
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SU006307 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 0.3 | 2024-03-06 |
Geology & landscape
Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Jurassic · Rock Type: Limestone
Description
Area, 0.3 ha. 0.7 ac. Description This long disused quarry is of very great importance to British geology since it was the main source of the late Jurassic fossil insects described in the first book ever to be written on British fossil insects, published in 1845 by a Wiltshire vicar named Brodie. The fossils occur in an 'insect limestone' within the Middle Purbeck beds, laid down in a shallow lake some 135 million years ago and are of vital importance to our understanding of late Jurassic insect faunas. Over 60 different specimens were illustrated by Brodie, many of them unique and the diversity of the fauna is such that insects belonging to eight different Orders occur. This is one of the most important localities for fossil insects anywhere in Britain and has played an important part in developing a better understanding of how the various groups of insects have evolved.