Upware Bridge Pit North
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TL543725 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 2.49 | 2022-03-30 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Jurassic · Rock Type: Limestone
Description
Area, 2.8 hectares 6.9 ac Description This is a key locality for Oxfordian Jurassic aged rocks. It shows a condensed Elsworth rock section with a rich ammonite fauna, dominated by perispinctids and cardioceratids, including many forms such as Euaspidoceras, Goliathceras, Ochetoceras and Trimarginites. The overlying Upware Limestonewith its coral reef development is well known for its invertebrate faunas with a number of Tethyan species including echinoids, coral and in particular bivalves, with more than 60 species recorded. The condensation of the Elsworth rock and positioning of the reef facies of the Upware Limestone here were the product of the area’s situation on the edge of the East Anglian landmass during Oxfordian times. The Tethyan faunal elements are present because the area was connected with the ocean of Tethys via the London Platform Shoal. This is an essential site for the studies of Oxfordian palaeontology and palaeogeography in the English Midlands.