Crûg Farm Quarry facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
| Area of Search | Carmarthenshire |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°53′20″N 3°59′44″W / 51.88885°N 3.99558°W |
| Area | 0.5 hectares (1.2 acres; 0.0050 km2) |
| Notification | 1980 |
Crûg Farm Quarry is a special place in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it is protected because of its unique geological features. The quarry's limestone rocks hold important clues about Earth's ancient past.
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What is a Site of Special Scientific Interest?
A Site of Special Scientific Interest, or SSSI, is a protected area in the United Kingdom. These sites are chosen because they have special wildlife, plants, or geological features. Crûg Farm Quarry is an SSSI because of its amazing rocks and the fossils found inside them. Protecting these sites helps scientists study our planet's history.
Discovering Crûg Farm Quarry's Ancient Secrets
Crûg Farm Quarry is located north of Llandeilo in Wales. It covers a small area, about 0.5 hectares. That's roughly the size of half a football field!
Rocks from the Ordovician Period
The rocks at Crûg Farm Quarry are very old. They are made of a type of rock called 'shelly limestone'. This limestone formed during a time called the Ordovician period. The Upper Ordovician period was about 450 million years ago! Back then, this area was covered by a warm, shallow sea.
Fossils: Windows to the Past
The limestone at Crûg Farm Quarry is full of incredible fossils. These fossils are the preserved remains of ancient sea creatures. Scientists find many different types of fossils here, making it a very important place for studying Earth's history.
- Trilobites: These are ancient sea creatures that looked a bit like modern-day woodlice. They had hard shells and lived on the seabed. Crûg Farm Quarry is especially famous for its trilobite fossils.
- Brachiopods: These are marine animals with two shells, similar to clams. They attach themselves to the seabed.
- Conodonts: These are tiny, tooth-like fossils from eel-like creatures that lived in the ancient seas.
- Echinoderm fragments: These are pieces of creatures like starfish or sea urchins.
The fossils found at Crûg Farm Quarry help scientists understand what life was like millions of years ago. They also show how the Earth's environment has changed over time.
