Smarts Quarry facts for kids

Smarts Quarry is a special place in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's protected because of its important natural features. Smarts Quarry was officially named an SSSI in 1987 due to its unique geological features, which tell us a lot about Earth's past.

What is Smarts Quarry?

Smarts Quarry is located in Carmarthenshire, a county in Wales. It's about half a mile (0.8 km) east-north-east of a village called Mynydd-y-Garreg. The quarry covers an area of about 2.6 hectares. To help you imagine the size, that's roughly the same as 6.4 acres, or a bit bigger than two football fields!

Why is Smarts Quarry Special?

Smarts Quarry is important because of the rocks found there. Scientists have discovered very unique marks on the rock surfaces. These marks are called "feeding traces." They look like stars and were made by ancient sea creatures called bivalves (like clams or mussels) when they were eating.

Ancient Footprints in Stone

These star-shaped feeding traces are found in a type of rock called quartzite. This quartzite formed during a time period known as the Namurian period, which was millions of years ago. What makes these traces so special is that they are very rare. In fact, they are unique to the Namurian "basal grits" (a type of coarse sandstone) found in South Wales.

A Clue to the Past

The presence of these specific feeding traces helps scientists understand how the rocks at Smarts Quarry were formed. They suggest that the rocks were laid down in an estuary (where a river meets the sea) rather than on a regular shoreline. This is a big clue about the ancient environment of this area. It tells us that long ago, this part of Wales might have been a muddy estuary, full of life, rather than an open beach.