Meezy Hurst facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
| Area of Search | Gloucestershire |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | to |
| Coordinates | 51°46′41″N 2°31′31″W / 51.778041°N 2.525381°W |
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 4.3 hectare |
| Notification | 1986 |
Meezy Hurst is a special place in Gloucestershire, England. It covers about 4.3 hectares, which is like nine football fields! This area is known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its amazing geology. It was officially recognized in 1986.
Meezy Hurst is also listed as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS) in the 'Forest of Dean Local Plan Review'. This means it's important for both its rocks and the wildlife that lives there.
Exploring Meezy Hurst's Ancient Rocks
Meezy Hurst is located in the Forest of Dean. It's actually made up of four different spots. These areas used to be quarries where rocks were dug out, and old railway lines ran through them. Now, these places let us see deep into Earth's history.
What Rocks Can You See?
The rocks at Meezy Hurst were formed about 310 million years ago. This was during a time called the Upper Carboniferous Period. The exposed rocks show us the lower part of the Westphalian succession. This is a fancy way of saying we can see layers of rock from a specific time period.
You can clearly see where these younger rocks meet the older rocks beneath them. The site also shows a good cross-section of the entire Trenchard Group. This is a specific set of rock layers. You can also spot the lower Pennant Group, which are part of the Upper Coal Measures. These are rock layers that often contain coal.
Why is Meezy Hurst Important for Science?
Meezy Hurst is a very important place for scientists to study. It helps them understand how sediments, like sand and mud, spread across the area long ago. By looking at these rock layers, geologists can learn about ancient environments and how the land changed over millions of years.
