Oakenhill Railway Cutting
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SO630079 | — | Favourable | 0.55 | 2011-10-12 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Shale
Description
Area, 0.81 ha. 2.0 ac. Description Rock outcrops in this railway cutting provide valuable exposures of a sequence of rock layers of Carboniferous age, formed about 300 million years ago. These consist predominantly of shale layers, separated by thin sandstones or coals and form part of a sequence known as the Supra Pennant Group, a subdivision of the Coal Measures. This is the only extensive exposure of this group in the Forest of Dean and offers an important opportunity to examine the fossil content of these rocks, which are rarely found elsewhere in Britain. This is a site of unique importance in understanding the geological development of this area, which was centrally placed in relation to other Coal Measures deposits in Southern Britain.