Shepshed Cutting facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Leicestershire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 6.0 hectares (15 acres) |
| Notification | 1985 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Shepshed Cutting is a special place in Leicestershire, England. It is west of the town of Shepshed. This area is known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, or SSSI. An SSSI is a protected area because it has rare plants, animals, or important geology. Shepshed Cutting is special for its geology, which means its rocks and how they were formed. It covers about 6.0 hectares, which is like 15 football fields.
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What Makes Shepshed Cutting Special?
Shepshed Cutting is very important for understanding Earth's history. It has unique rock layers from the Triassic period. This period was about 252 to 201 million years ago. Imagine dinosaurs just starting to appear!
Discovering Unique Rocks
Inside the cutting, you can see layers of red clay. On top of this clay, there is a flat sheet of a mineral called galena. Galena is a shiny, grey mineral. It is a main source of lead. All these layers are surrounded by sandstone. Sandstone is a common rock made from sand grains.
Why is This Site Important?
The way these rocks and minerals are found together is very rare. Natural England is a group that protects nature in England. They say Shepshed Cutting is "of international importance." This means it helps scientists around the world learn. It helps them understand how minerals form. It also shows the processes that create these valuable deposits deep inside the Earth.
Exploring Shepshed Cutting
Even though it's a protected site, you can visit Shepshed Cutting. A public footpath runs right through the area. This path lets you see the amazing rock formations up close. It's a great place to learn about geology. You can also enjoy nature at the same time.
