Elland Bypass Cutting
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE118202 | — | Favourable | 1.28 | 2010-03-30 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Carboniferous
Description
Area, 1.1 hectares 2.7 ac Description This cutting, which is the remaining face of a disused brick pit, lies one kilometre south east of Elland, overlooking the Elland Bypass. A considerable quantity of spoil was deposited at its foot when the road was constructed and this is now covered with rough grassland and planted trees. The cutting provides a fine section from just below the Ameliae Marine Band up to the 80 Yards Seam, in the lower Westphalian A Middle Carboniferous. The Section consists mainly of mid delta crevasse splay deposits and coals and reflects the decreasing influence of marine conditions in the British Productive Coal Measures of this age. One band has yielded non marine bivalves of the Carbonicola proxima Subzone, making it the best known 'permanent' section to have yielded this fauna in Britain. It is a site of outstanding interest for interpreting the Middle Carboniferous geological history of this country.