Woodeaton Quarry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Site of Special Scientific Interest |
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Area of Search | Oxfordshire |
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Interest | Geological |
Area | 7.3 hectares (18 acres) |
Notification | 1986 |
Location map | Magic Map |
Woodeaton Quarry is a special place in Oxfordshire, north of Oxford. It's a geological Site of Special Scientific Interest, which means it's protected because of its important rocks and fossils. This site is about 7.3-hectare (18-acre) big, which is like 10 football fields!
What Makes Woodeaton Quarry Special?
Woodeaton Quarry is like a giant history book made of stone. It shows us rocks from the Middle Jurassic period. This was about 167 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth!
A Peek into the Past: Jurassic Rocks
The rocks at Woodeaton Quarry are very old. They help scientists understand what the Earth was like millions of years ago. This site has one of the most complete sets of rocks from a time called the Bathonian stage in Oxfordshire.
Why is This Quarry Important?
Natural England, a group that protects nature, says this quarry is super important. It's great for studying palaeontology (which is the study of fossils and ancient life). It's also important for sedimentology (which is the study of how rocks are formed from sand, mud, and other materials). Scientists can learn a lot about ancient environments and creatures from these rocks.