Colehill Quarries
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK286551 | — | Favourable | 11.31 | 2021-06-23 |
| SK287553 | — | Favourable | 11.31 | 2021-06-23 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Carboniferous Limestone, Limestone
Description
Area, 10.84 ha. 26.8 ac. Description The rocks seen in the Colehill Quarries Complex were laid down in a warm shallow sea some 320 million years ago during what is called the Dinantian Stage of geological time. These rocks, which form part of a group of limestones known as the Carboniferous Limestone, are very variable in type and contain a rich assemblage of fossils. The site is of national importance to geologists as studies of the limestones and their fossils have revealed that a number of very distinctive reef environments existed in the Wirksworth area in late Dinantian times, with the Colehill Quarries Complex demonstrating sediments laid down on the reef itself, in front of the reef, behind the reef and in areas between individual parts of the reef.