Slickstones Quarry, Cromhall facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Avon |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | ST704916 |
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 2.7 hectare |
| Notification | 1966 |
| Location map | English Nature |
Slickstones Quarry, Cromhall is a special natural area in South Gloucestershire, England. It covers about 2.7 hectares, which is roughly the size of three football fields. This site was officially recognized in 1966 because of its important geological features.
It is known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because it helps scientists understand the Earth's history.
Discovering Ancient Rocks
Slickstones Quarry is a great place to see very old rocks. Here, you can find red rocks from the Triassic period. This period was about 252 to 201 million years ago, when dinosaurs first appeared!
These red rocks are found inside cracks, called fissures, in even older rocks. The older rocks are Carboniferous Limestone, which formed about 359 to 299 million years ago. This was a time when Earth had huge forests and swamps.
Studying these rocks helps geologists learn how the Earth changed over millions of years. It shows how different types of rock formed and moved.
Fun Activities at the Quarry
Today, Slickstones Quarry is not just for studying rocks. The quarry has a large lake, about 4 hectares in size, which is used for fun water activities.
You can go diving in the clear waters of the lake. There's a gentle slope that used to be a road, making it easy to get into the water. There's also a pontoon, which is like a floating dock, that divers and swimmers use.
Many people also enjoy open water swimming here. It's a great spot to swim outdoors in a safe and controlled environment.
