Coneyhurst Cutting facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | West Sussex |
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| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 0.2 hectares (0.49 acres) |
| Notification | 1992 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Coneyhurst Cutting is a very special place in West Sussex, near Billingshurst. It's a small area, about the size of half a football field, that's important for geology. It's officially known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, or SSSI for short. This means it's protected because of its unique natural features.
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What Makes This Place Special?
Coneyhurst Cutting is a "road cutting." This is a place where a road has been built through a hill, cutting into the ground. This cut reveals layers of rock that were once hidden. At Coneyhurst, you can find a special layer of rock called limestone. This limestone layer is about half a meter thick.
A Glimpse into the Past
This limestone layer is incredibly old! It formed during a time called the Early Cretaceous period. This was about 130 million years ago. Imagine, dinosaurs were roaming the Earth back then! The limestone here is part of something called the Lower Weald Clay. This tells us about the ancient environment.
Meet the Ancient Snails!
Inside this old limestone, scientists have found amazing fossils. These are fossils of large freshwater snails called Viviparus. What's really cool is that these snails are preserved in 3D. This means they look like actual snails, not just flat imprints. Finding these fossils helps scientists understand what life was like millions of years ago. It shows that this area was once home to rivers or lakes where these snails lived.
Protecting Our Natural Treasures
Coneyhurst Cutting is also a Geological Conservation Review site. This means it's one of the best places in the UK to study geology. It's important for understanding Earth's history. Even though the actual rock layers might be hidden by plants now, the site is still protected. This ensures that its scientific value is kept safe for future studies.
