Furley Chalk Pit
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST275041 | — | Unfavourable No Change | 2.72 | 2010-03-17 |
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Cretaceous · Rock Type: Chalk
Landscape processes: Coastal
Description
Description The site is stratigraphically important for its marine Cretaceous Cenomanian–early Turonian succession, which is different from that known on the coast and further east. The boundary beds at the junction of the Cenomanian and Turonian, in particular, are ‘expanded’, the comparatively thicker sequence containing siliceous nodules, an unusual fauna and no hardgrounds. Rarely exposed at the base of the pit is a chalk basement bed yielding Cenomanian ammonites of various ages.