Teindland Quarry
Also within
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Quaternary of Scotland | Favourable | — | 2005-03-31 |
Geology & landscape
Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Quaternary
Landscape processes: Glacial
Description
Teindland Quarry The Teindland Quarry, located 10 km south-east of Elgin, is a key site for interpreting and dating Quaternary events and environmental change in Scotland. The sequence of deposits includes a unique fossil podzol (type of soil) that formed towards the end of the Last (Ipswichian) Interglacial (around 120 000 years ago). The soil is developed in outwash gravels associated with an earlier glaciation. The upper part of the soil has been disturbed by frost-related processes and is overlain by younger glacial deposits. Pollen grains preserved in the soil reveal the presence of pine and alder woodland, followed by heath and grassland, indicating a deteriorating climate and the onset of the last glacial period (the Devensian). The overlying glacial deposits, and related deposits nearby, indicate a complex history of glaciation during the Devensian. Teindland Quarry is one of only a few sites in Scotland with deposits dating from the Last Interglacial. It is therefore a site of outstanding importance for establishing the sequence of events and environmental changes that occurred in Scotland during the Late Quaternary.