Barrington Chalk Pit facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Cambridgeshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 97.1 hectares |
| Notification | 1997 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Barrington Chalk Pit is a special place near Barrington in Cambridgeshire, England. It's a huge area, about 97.1 hectares (that's like 240 football fields!). This site is super important for understanding Earth's history because it's a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its amazing geology. It's also recognized as a Geological Conservation Review site, meaning it's one of the best places in Britain to study rocks and fossils.
Contents
Barrington Chalk Pit: A Window to the Past
Barrington Chalk Pit is a large quarry, which is a place where people dig out rocks, sand, or minerals from the ground. This particular quarry is unique because it's the only place left where you can clearly see a special rock layer called the Cambridge Greensand. This rock layer formed a very, very long time ago during the Cretaceous period.
What is the Cretaceous Period?
The Cretaceous period was a time in Earth's history that lasted from about 145 to 66 million years ago. It was the last part of the "Age of Dinosaurs." During this period, the Earth's climate was much warmer, and sea levels were higher. Many of the rocks we see today, like chalk, formed in warm, shallow seas during the Cretaceous.
Amazing Fossils Found Here
The Cambridge Greensand at Barrington Chalk Pit is famous for its fossils. Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of ancient life. Here, scientists have found many interesting fossils, including:
- Brachiopods: These are small sea creatures that look a bit like clams, but they are a different type of animal. They lived on the seabed and filtered food from the water.
- Fish teeth: You can find teeth from various types of ancient fish that swam in the seas millions of years ago. These teeth can tell us a lot about the fish that lived during the Cretaceous period.
Above the Cambridge Greensand, you can also see thick layers of chalk and another type of rock called Totternhoe Stone. These layers were deposited on top of the Greensand over millions of years.
Exploring the Site Today
While Barrington Chalk Pit is a very important geological site, large parts of it are still used as a working quarry. This means heavy machinery is often operating there, so these areas are closed to the public for safety reasons. However, other parts of the site have been filled in over time. These areas are now fields, and you can explore them using public footpaths. It's a great place to imagine what the world was like millions of years ago!
Images for kids
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A view of Barrington Chalk Pit.
