Bardon Hill Quarry facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Leicestershire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 58.2 hectares |
| Notification | 1987 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Bardon Hill Quarry is a really important place in Leicestershire, England. It's a huge quarry where people dig up rocks. It's so special that it's been named a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This is because of its amazing and unique geology.
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What Makes Bardon Hill Quarry Special?
Bardon Hill Quarry is a very large area. It covers about 58 hectares, which is like 58 football fields! It's located near Coalville in Leicestershire, England. This site is important because it helps scientists learn about the Earth's past.
A Protected Natural Treasure
Because of its unique rocks, Bardon Hill Quarry is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a protected area. It helps keep the special natural features safe. It's also a Geological Conservation Review site. This means it's one of the best places in the UK to study geology.
A Glimpse into Earth's Ancient Past
Imagine a volcano erupting a very, very long time ago! That's what happened at Bardon Hill. The rocks you see here were formed from an ancient volcano. This volcano erupted about 570 million years ago. That's even before dinosaurs existed!
How Old is the Volcano?
The rocks at Bardon Hill are from the Precambrian era. This was a time when Earth was very young. The volcano here was similar to the Montserrat volcano that erupted in 1995. Scientists study these rocks to understand how volcanoes worked millions of years ago.
Hidden Treasures in the Rocks
Inside the rocks at Bardon Hill, you can find special veins. These are like cracks filled with minerals. Some of these veins contain quartz. This quartz can even have tiny bits of copper and gold!
What Do They Dig Up?
People have been working at Bardon Hill Quarry for over 400 years. It's a very busy place! Each year, they dig up about three million tonnes of rock. This is a huge amount. It makes up about 15% of all the rock dug up in the UK.
What is the Rock Used For?
The rock from Bardon Hill is very strong. It's often used for building roads and other construction projects. It helps build the world around us.
Can You Visit Bardon Hill Quarry?
Bardon Hill Quarry is an active working site. Because of this, it is not open to the public. There is no public access to the site for safety reasons.
