Brownend Quarry
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK090502 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 1.75 | 2021-09-24 |
Geology & landscape
Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Carboniferous
Description
Area, 1.53 ha. 3.8 ac. Description The quarry faces and rock outcrops within this site provide important exposures of a sequence of limestones formed about 335 million years ago during the Carboniferous Period of geological time. The Carboniferous Period is divided into seven major Stages; the limestones at Brownend Quarry are most unusual, however, in that they appear to have formed during the first and fifth Stages, the intervening Stages not being represented. In addition, some characteristics of the limestones themselves differ from comparable sequences elsewhere. The origins of these unusual features are not fully understood and this site is thus likely to attract considerable research in the future.