Thrapston Station Quarry

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.3877, -0.5321

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Declining (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SP999776 Unfavourable Declining 4.49 2023-07-17

Geology & landscape

Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Jurassic · Rock Type: Limestone

Description

Area, 4.6 hectares 11.4 ac Description An important and fossiliferous Jurassic stratigraphic locality showing the major remaining Cornbrash section in the Midlands. The rock sequence which can be seen in the quarry faces comprises Callovian, Upper Cornbrash resting on Bathonian Lower Cornbrash. These horizons in turn overlie Blisworth Clay and the White Limestone. The Upper Cornbrash is characterised by a pebble bed at its base which contains fossil material derived from underlying older beds, while the site shows the only complete section of the Blisworth Clay horizon. Both the Upper and Lower Cornbrash are fossiliferous and have yielded diagnostic ammonites which help date the rocks and important bryozoan faunas.