Winterbourne Chalk Pit

Winterbourne Chalk Pit is a 0.05-hectare (0.12-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest west of Winterbourne in Berkshire.[1][2] It is a Geological Conservation Review site.[3] It is located within the North Wessex Downs.[4]

Winterbourne Chalk Pit
Site of Special Scientific Interest
View towards Winterbourne Chalk Pit
LocationBerkshire
Grid referenceSU 447 722[1]
InterestGeological
Area0.05 hectares (0.12 acres)[1]
Notification1983[1]
Location mapMagic Map

The chalk sediments date to the late Cretaceous period, about 80 million years ago.[4] The pit is the only known area containing rocks of this age in the western part of the London Basin.[4] It is rich in macrofossils, particularly belemnites.[5] The site is private land with no public access.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Designated Sites View: Winterbourne Chalk Pit". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Map of Winterbourne Chalk Pit". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Winterbourne Chalk Pit (Cenomanian, Turonian, Senonian, Maastrichtian)". Geological Conservation Review. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 4 October 2019.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b c "SITE NAME: WINTERBOURNE CHALK PIT" (PDF). Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Winterbourne Chalk Pit" (PDF). British Upper Cretaceous Stratigraphy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 January 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020.

51°26′49″N 1°21′29″W / 51.447°N 1.358°W / 51.447; -1.358