Moon's Hill Quarry facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
| Area of Search | Somerset |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°12′44″N 2°28′51″W / 51.21221°N 2.48097°W |
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 3.42 hectares (0.0342 km2; 0.0132 sq mi) |
| Notification | 1996 |
Moon's Hill Quarry is a special place in Somerset, England. It's a large quarry that covers about 3.42 hectares. This site is very important for understanding the Earth's history, which is why it was named a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1996. It's also recognized as a Geological Conservation Review site.
Contents
What is a Quarry?
A quarry is a large, open pit dug into the ground to get out useful rocks and minerals. Think of it like a giant outdoor mine! Quarries provide materials that we use every day. These materials include stone for building, sand, gravel, and even special rocks like basalt.
How Quarries Work
Quarrying involves carefully breaking up rock formations. Large machines then scoop up the broken rock. This rock is then processed, meaning it's crushed and sorted into different sizes. These different sizes of rock are then ready to be used for many purposes.
Moon's Hill Quarry: A Special Place
Moon's Hill Quarry is located near Stoke St Michael in the Mendip Hills. It's special because of the types of rocks found there. Geologists, who are scientists who study rocks and the Earth, can learn a lot from this site. The rocks here tell us about ancient times and how our planet was formed.
Why is it a Geological SSSI?
Being a "Geological Site of Special Scientific Interest" means that the rocks and landforms at Moon's Hill Quarry are very important for scientific study. They show unique examples of geological features or processes. Protecting these sites helps scientists continue to learn about Earth's past.
What is Basalt?
One of the main rocks found at Moon's Hill Quarry is Basalt. Basalt is a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock. It forms when lava cools down very quickly. You can often find basalt in places where volcanoes were active a long, long time ago.
Uses of Basalt Aggregate
The basalt from Moon's Hill Quarry is crushed into small pieces called "aggregate." This "hardstone" aggregate is incredibly strong and durable. It's mostly used for building roads, especially for the very top layer, called the "surface course." This top layer needs to be tough to handle all the cars and trucks driving on it every day.
Who Operates Moon's Hill Quarry?
The quarry has been operated by a company called John Wainwright & Co Ltd for a very long time. They bought the quarry in 1897 and have been working there continuously ever since. This long history shows how important Moon's Hill Quarry has been for providing materials for construction.
