Cliffe Hill Quarry facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
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| Area of Search | Leicestershire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 19.2 hectares (47 acres) |
| Notification | 1990 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Cliffe Hill Quarry is a special place in Leicestershire, England. It covers about 19.2 hectares (47 acres) (which is like 47 football fields!). This site is known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its amazing geology. It's also part of the Geological Conservation Review, which means it's super important for studying Earth's history.
Contents
What Makes Cliffe Hill Quarry Special?
Cliffe Hill Quarry is a unique spot where you can see very old rocks. These rocks tell us a lot about what the Earth was like millions of years ago.
Ancient Rocks and Volcanoes
The quarry shows off two main types of rocks:
- Volcanic rocks: These formed from ancient volcanoes. Imagine lava flowing and cooling down a very, very long time ago!
- Sedimentary rocks: These formed from layers of mud, sand, and tiny bits of rock that settled over time.
These rocks are part of something called the Charnian series. They date back to the Precambrian eon, which was over 540 million years ago! Back then, this area was probably a volcanic island in an ancient sea.
The Story of Diorite and Markfieldite
One interesting rock found here is called diorite. It's a type of igneous rock, meaning it formed from cooled magma deep inside the Earth. A special kind of diorite found in the nearby village of Markfield is sometimes called markfieldite. It's known for being very uniform, meaning it looks the same all the way through.
Why Are Quarries Important?
Quarries are places where rocks, sand, or gravel are dug out of the ground. They are important for several reasons:
- Building materials: The rocks from quarries are used to build roads, houses, and other structures.
- Studying geology: Quarries often expose layers of rock that are usually hidden underground. This allows scientists to study Earth's history, ancient environments, and how different rocks formed. Cliffe Hill Quarry is a great example of a quarry that helps us learn about the past.
Visiting Cliffe Hill Quarry
It's important to know that Cliffe Hill Quarry is on private land. This means there is no public access for visitors. However, scientists and geologists can sometimes get special permission to study the amazing rocks found there.
