Foss Cross Quarry facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
| Area of Search | Gloucestershire |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°46′55″N 1°55′10″W / 51.781886°N 1.919501°W |
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 0.67 hectare |
| Notification | 1972 |
Foss Cross Quarry is a special place in Gloucestershire, England. It's a small area, about the size of a football field (0.67 hectares), that is protected because of its amazing rocks and fossils. It was officially recognized as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1972.
This quarry is also listed as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS). This means it's important for local plants and animals. It's also a Regionally Important Geological Site (RIGS), which highlights its value for understanding the Earth's history.
What Makes Foss Cross Quarry Special?
Foss Cross Quarry is located in the Cotswolds, a beautiful area known for its rolling hills and charming villages. This area is so special that it's called an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The quarry shows off important layers of rock called the White Limestone Formation. These rocks formed during the Middle Jurassic period, about 165 million years ago! That's a very long time ago, even before dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex walked the Earth.
Ancient Seas and Fossils
Scientists believe these rocks were laid down at the bottom of a warm, shallow sea. Imagine a place like the Bahama Banks in the Caribbean today, with clear, warm water and lots of sea life. That's what Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire might have looked like back then!
The rocks at Foss Cross Quarry have clear patterns from how they settled. They also contain many different fossils. These fossils are like clues that help geologists understand what life was like in that ancient sea.
One very important fossil found here is a red fossil alga called Solenopora jurassica. This ancient plant is sometimes nicknamed Beetroot Stone because of its color. The quarry also has areas where the ancient sea floor hardened, preserving even more details.
Learning from the Past
Foss Cross Quarry is a key place for research. Geologists study the rocks and fossils here to "reconstruct" the past. This means they use the clues in the rocks to figure out what the environment was like millions of years ago. By studying this site, scientists can learn a lot about the ancient seas that once covered much of England during the Middle Jurassic period.
