Scully Grove Quarry facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
| Area of Search | Gloucestershire |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°51′55″N 2°29′56″W / 51.86537°N 2.498805°W |
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 0.4 hectare |
| Notification | 1974 |
Scully Grove Quarry is a special place in Gloucestershire, England. It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it has unique natural features that are important to protect. This site was officially recognized in 1974. It covers about 0.4 hectares, which is like half a football field. The quarry is also listed as a Key Wildlife Site in the Forest of Dean.
Contents
Exploring Scully Grove Quarry
Where is it?
Scully Grove Quarry is located in the northern part of the Forest of Dean. It's close to a town called Mitcheldean. This quarry is very important because of its unique rock formations.
What kind of rocks are there?
The deepest rock layer you can see at the quarry is called Crease Limestone. Over time, this limestone has changed into a different type of rock called dolomite. This change happened when the rock was formed in shallow, energetic water.
Above the Crease Limestone, there's another layer called Whitehead Limestone. This layer can be up to 25 meters thick. It shows that the area used to be a coastal environment, where the land met the sea. You can find interesting things in this rock, like thin layers made by algae and small, round rock formations called oncoids. These features are very useful for scientists who study how the Earth has changed over millions of years.
On top of these limestone layers, there's a small amount of Drybrook Sandstone. This sandstone was formed by ancient rivers.
Protecting this Special Place
Natural England is an organization that helps protect important natural sites. In 2009, they reported that some plants, like bushes and shrubs, needed to be controlled. This was to make sure the important geological features of the quarry remained visible and protected for future study.
