Marsh Wood Quarry

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.4963, -2.8196

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SO444890 Favourable 0.5 2019-11-20

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Ordovician

Description

Description This locality provides the best exposures of the Upper Cheney Longville Flags in the classic geological area of South Shropshire. It is of outstanding geological importance as the standard or type locality for the Marshbrookian Stage of the Ordovician Period; the base of the overlying Actonian stage is also seen here. These sandstones and siltstones were originally deposited in a shallow sea and are rich in fossil remains. A number of species of trilobites and brachiopods were first defined from material collected at this locality.