Totternhoe Stone Pit

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.8902, -0.5774

Also within

Bedfordshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SP979222 Favourable 2.22 2023-10-04

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Cretaceous

Description

Description This is a Geological Conservation Review GCR site. It is adjacent to the biological SSSI of Totternhoe Knolls. Statement of Interest The phosphatic base of the Totternhoe Stone is exposed at this site. It consists of a lime mud containing phosphatic pebbles and a rich late Cretaceous deposit of shark teeth. It has yielded many taxa of small sharks, some of which are under described and will be an important research site for years to come. Working upwards through the deposit the faunal composition changes. The basal part contains larger teeth, but as the sediment fines upwards small rays make an appearance.