Melton Bottom Chalk Pit
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE967272 | — | Favourable | 16.16 | 2010-05-19 |
| SE970270 | — | Favourable | 27.66 | 2010-06-01 |
| SE970281 | — | Favourable | 43.38 | 2010-05-19 |
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Chalk
Description
Area, 87.8 hectares 216.95 ac Description Melton Bottom Chalk Pit displays an extensive exposure of Chalk, overlying the Lias with marked unconformity and is the type locality for the Welton Chalk Formation. There is also an excellent section of the Ferriby Chalk Formation and the best exposure of the Black Band in England. The last named is a remarkably late Cenomanian organically rich band marking an anoxic event and is only seen in the most north easterly Chalk outcrops. Such deposits are common in deep oceanic sediments but rare in the Chalk, this horizon representing the spread of such conditions southwards from the deeper portions of the North Sea Basin. Other Information 1. The site is identified as of national importance in the Geological Conservation Review. 2. During the 1984 revision the boundary has been amended by both extension and deletion. 3. The site includes the former Earl’s Cement Works SSSI. * Under Section 23 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949.