Blackhorse Quarry facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
View across fields towards Blackhorse Quarry
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| Area of Search | East Sussex |
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| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 0.2 hectares (0.49 acres) |
| Notification | 1989 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Blackhorse Quarry is a very special place in East Sussex, England. It's a small area, about the size of half a football field. What makes it so special? It's a protected area called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's important for understanding Earth's history.
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Discovering Blackhorse Quarry
Blackhorse Quarry is located near the town of Battle. It was officially recognized as an SSSI in 1989. This protection helps scientists study the rocks and fossils found there. It's also a Geological Conservation Review site. This means it's one of the best places in the UK to see certain types of geological features.
What Makes it a "Type Locality"?
Blackhorse Quarry is known as a "Type locality" for something called the Wadhurst Clay Formation Telham Bond Bed. This sounds complicated, but it just means this is the exact spot where scientists first studied and described this particular layer of rock. Think of it like the original sample or example for that specific rock type.
This rock layer is part of a bigger group of rocks called the Wealden Group. These rocks were formed a very, very long time ago.
A Glimpse into the Ancient Past
The rocks at Blackhorse Quarry date back to the Lower Cretaceous period. This was about 145 to 100 million years ago! During this time, the area that is now East Sussex looked very different. It was likely a large, swampy floodplain with rivers and lakes.
Scientists have found many amazing fossils here. These fossils tell us about the creatures that lived in this ancient landscape.
Who Lived Here?
The fossils found at Blackhorse Quarry include:
- Turtles: Imagine ancient turtles, much like the ones we see today, swimming in the rivers.
- Crocodiles: Large, powerful crocodiles would have hunted in the waters.
- Pterosaurs: These were flying reptiles, often called "flying dinosaurs." They soared through the skies.
- Dinosaurs: Yes, dinosaurs! While specific types aren't always mentioned, finding dinosaur fossils here shows us they roamed this area millions of years ago.
These fossils help scientists piece together what life was like during the Lower Cretaceous period. They give us clues about the environment, the climate, and the food chains of that ancient world.
Visiting Blackhorse Quarry
It's important to know that Blackhorse Quarry is on private land. This means there is no public access to the site. It's protected for scientific study.
