Clicker Tor Quarry

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 50.4269, -4.4148

Also within

Cornwall County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SX286612 Favourable 3.72 2010-09-30

Geology & landscape

Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Carboniferous, Permian

Landscape processes: Volcanic / Igneous

Description

Clicker Tot Quarry SSSI Description Although the old disused quarry is now flooded, this represents one of the best examples of ultramafic (igneous rock primarily composed of ferromagnesian rock) rocks in the Hercynian (Carboniferous and Permian) belt in south-west England outside the Lizard Complex. The majority of the rock is a massive metaperidotite (dense, coarse grained igneous rock composed of olivine and pyroxene) exhibiting only limited serpentinisation (hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic) and still retains a high proportion of its primary mineralogy. It differs significantly in mineralogy and texture to the Polyphant metaperidotites.