Bruton Railway Cutting

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.1112, -2.4478

Also within

Somerset County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable No Change (3)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
ST686347 Unfavourable No Change 0.59 2011-01-06
ST687348 Unfavourable No Change 1.06 2010-05-26
ST688347 Unfavourable No Change 1.06 2010-05-26

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Jurassic

Description

Area, 1.7 ha. 4.3 ac. Description Bruton Railway Cutting is internationally recognised as the type section of the Middle Bathonian standard morrisi Zone and is, therefore, a Jurassic locality of great biostratigraphic importance. Both morrisi Zone and subcontractus Zone ammonites have been obtained from this small exposure, the small size of which has enabled the bed yielding each ammonite specimen to be accurately determined. Bruton Railway Cutting is one of the best sections in England for demonstrating the stratigraphic distinction of subcontractus Zone and morrisi Zone ammonite faunas.