Lyehill Quarry facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Oxfordshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 2.8 hectares (6.9 acres) |
| Notification | 1986 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Lyehill Quarry is a special place located east of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. It's about 2.8 hectares (or 6.9 acres) in size. This site is important because of its geology, which means it's about the Earth's rocks and history.
It is known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means the area has been officially recognized for its unique natural features. Lyehill Quarry is also a Geological Conservation Review (GCR) site. This means it's one of the best places in Britain to study geology.
What Makes Lyehill Quarry Special?
Lyehill Quarry used to be a place where rocks were dug out of the ground. Now it's no longer used for quarrying. This disused quarry is very important because it shows us rocks that are incredibly old.
These rocks date back to a time called the Middle Jurassic period. This was about 160 million years ago! Imagine, dinosaurs were walking the Earth when these rocks were forming.
Ancient Rocks and Fossils
The rocks you can see at Lyehill Quarry are part of something called the Wheatley Limestone member. This is a specific layer within a larger rock group called the Stanford Formation.
These rocks are mostly made of limestone. They formed in an ancient sea, in an area that was like an unstable reef. A reef is a structure built by living things, like corals, in the ocean.
Even though it was a reef, the only fossils found here are from oysters. Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of ancient life. Finding oyster fossils tells us that these creatures lived in the sea when the rocks were forming.
Visiting Lyehill Quarry
It's important to know that Lyehill Quarry is on private land. This means there is no public access to the site. People cannot visit it without special permission.
