Emborough Quarries facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
| Area of Search | Somerset |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°15′09″N 2°32′30″W / 51.2524°N 2.5416°W |
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 1 hectare (0.010 km2; 0.0039 sq mi) |
| Notification | 1971 |
Emborough Quarries is a special place in the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England. It's a 1 hectare (about 2.5 acre) area that was officially recognized in 1971 because of its amazing geological features. It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, which means it's protected for its unique natural importance.
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Emborough Quarries: A Window to the Ancient World
This old quarry is like a treasure chest for scientists! It has given us many different kinds of fossils from ancient animals with backbones, called vertebrates. What's really cool is that many early reptiles have been found here.
Meet Kuehneosaurus: An Early Flying Reptile
One of the most exciting finds is a creature called Kuehneosaurus latus. Imagine a reptile that could glide! This amazing animal is one of the earliest known vertebrates that could "fly" or, more accurately, glide through the air. Finding its remains here helps us understand how flight evolved millions of years ago.
How Fossils Formed at Emborough
About 230 million years ago, during a time called the Triassic period, the area we now know as the Mendip Hills looked very different. It had high lands made of limestone, and big rivers flowed through them. Over time, holes and caves formed in the limestone.
When it rained, water would wash dirt, rocks, and even dead animals into these newly formed cave systems. The remains of creatures that lived on the land during the Triassic period got swept into these deposits. Over millions of years, these remains turned into fossils.
Today, when people work in the quarry, they sometimes uncover these ancient deposits. Every time a rock falls, new fossil material can be revealed! This makes Emborough Quarries a very important place for scientists to study and learn about ancient life.
The Quarry Today
This former quarry, which was once used to dig for iron ore, is now home to different kinds of machinery. You might see cranes and other equipment used for construction. It's also the location of a seven-arch viaduct that was once part of the Somerset and Dorset Railway.
