Lydney Cliff

Lydney Cliff
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Location within Gloucestershire
Area of Search Gloucestershire
Grid reference SO654020
Coordinates 51°42′58″N 2°30′05″W / 51.716106°N 2.501503°W / 51.716106; -2.501503Coordinates: 51°42′58″N 2°30′05″W / 51.716106°N 2.501503°W / 51.716106; -2.501503
Interest Geological
Area 8.0hectare
Notification 1990
Natural England website

Lydney Cliff (grid reference SO654020) is a 8.0-hectare (20-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1990. Part of the site is included in the Severn Estuary SSSI.[1][2]

Geology

The site has exposures in the Raglan Marls (topmost) of the Lower Devonian time period (up to the level of the Psammosteus Limestone). The section includes calcrete profiles and a complex sand-body. The sandstone has fish fragments. The outcrop is significant for research in assessing the extent of marine tidal influence on the sequence in the Lower Old Red Sandstone (below the Psammosteus Limestone). The site has contributed significantly to the geological record (for calcrete soils).[1]

The site has two important fish beds and the assemblage is regarded as proof of a marine incursion within environments which are predominantly estuarine to fluvial. Other fish beds present are fluvial. Species found are mixed. The location is significant for Sabrinacanthus arcuatus.[1]

References

SSSI Source



This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 4/11/2014. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.