Round Hill Pit, Aldeburgh facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Suffolk |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 0.5 hectares |
| Notification | 1987 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Imagine a place where you can see rocks that are millions of years old! Round Hill Pit, Aldeburgh is one such special spot in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, England. It's a small area, about half a football field in size (0.5 hectares), that's protected because of its amazing geology.
This site is known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a very important place for nature or geology. It's also part of the Geological Conservation Review, which highlights sites that are key for understanding Earth's history. Plus, it's located within the beautiful Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a place known for its stunning landscapes.
What Makes Round Hill Pit Special?
Round Hill Pit is like a window into the past! Here, you can see a 2.5-meter tall section of rocks. These rocks are from the Coralline Crag Formation. They formed during the early Pliocene period, which was about five million years ago.
Ancient Burrows and Rare Fossils
The rocks at Round Hill Pit tell an interesting story. They contain many horizontal burrows. These are tunnels made by ancient creatures that lived in the sea long ago.
What makes this site truly special are its fossils. It has fossils preserved in a mineral called aragonite. This is quite rare! Aragonite usually dissolves easily in water. So, finding fossils made of aragonite that have survived for millions of years is very unusual and exciting for scientists. It helps them learn more about ancient life and how fossils form.
Visiting Round Hill Pit
It's important to know that Round Hill Pit is on private land. This means there is no public access to the site. It's protected so that its unique geological features can be preserved for future study.
