Smokejack Clay Pit facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
A view of the old brickworks area at Smokejack Clay Pit.
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| Area | 56.0 hectares (138 acres) |
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| Location map | Magic Map |
Smokejack Clay Pit is a really important natural area located east of Cranleigh in Surrey, England. It covers about 56-hectare (140-acre) of land. This site is officially known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it has special plants, animals, or geological features that are protected.
Smokejack Clay Pit is particularly famous for its amazing geology. It's also a Geological Conservation Review site. This means it's one of the best places in the UK to study rocks and fossils from a specific time in Earth's history.
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What Makes Smokejack Clay Pit Special?
Smokejack Clay Pit is like a window into the past. It shows us rocks from the Lower Cretaceous period. This was a long, long time ago, between 145 and 100 million years ago! The rocks here are part of something called the Weald Clay Group. This group of rocks is known for having lots of clay.
Amazing Fossils Found Here
One of the most exciting things about Smokejack Clay Pit is the incredible fossils found there. Scientists have discovered fossils of six different groups of insects. What's even cooler is how well-preserved these insect fossils are. You can see tiny details that usually get lost over millions of years.
Reptile Discoveries
This site is also considered the best place to find reptile fossils from the Weald Clay. Imagine finding teeth from ancient crocodiles! Scientists have also found coprolites here. These are fossilized droppings, which can tell us a lot about what ancient animals ate.
A part of an Iguanodon dinosaur has also been found at Smokejack Clay Pit. Iguanodon was a large plant-eating dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period.
The Baryonyx Dinosaur
Perhaps the most famous discovery at Smokejack Clay Pit is the Baryonyx walkeri. This dinosaur was a type of theropod, which means it walked on two legs and was a meat-eater. Baryonyx was special because it mainly ate fish.
The fossil found here was the first of its kind ever discovered. This main, first example of a new species is called the holotype specimen. Finding the Baryonyx walkeri at Smokejack Clay Pit was a huge moment for dinosaur scientists!
Why Protecting This Site Matters
Protecting places like Smokejack Clay Pit is very important. It helps scientists learn more about Earth's history, ancient life, and how our planet has changed over millions of years. These sites are like natural libraries, holding clues about the past for us to discover.
By keeping these areas safe, we make sure that future generations can also study and enjoy these amazing natural wonders.
