Winterbourne Chalk Pit

Site of Special Scientific Interest west of Winterbourne in Berkshire

Winterbourne Chalk Pit
Site of Special Scientific Interest
View towards Winterbourne Chalk Pit
LocationBerkshire
Grid referenceSU 447 722[1]
InterestGeological
Area0.05 hectares (0.12 acres)[1]
Notification1983[1]
Location mapMagic Map

Winterbourne Chalk Pit is a 0.05-hectare (0.12-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest west of Winterbourne in Berkshire.[1][2] It is a Geological Conservation Review site.[3] It is located within the North Wessex Downs.[4]

The chalk sediments date to the late Cretaceous period, about 80 million years ago.[4] The pit is the only known area containing rocks of this age in the western part of the London Basin.[4] It is rich in macrofossils, particularly belemnites.[5] The site is private land with no public access.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Designated Sites View: Winterbourne Chalk Pit". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Map of Winterbourne Chalk Pit". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Winterbourne Chalk Pit (Cenomanian, Turonian, Senonian, Maastrichtian)". Geological Conservation Review. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 4 October 2019.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b c "SITE NAME: WINTERBOURNE CHALK PIT" (PDF). Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Winterbourne Chalk Pit" (PDF). British Upper Cretaceous Stratigraphy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 January 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020.

51°26′49″N 1°21′29″W / 51.447°N 1.358°W / 51.447; -1.358

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