Newney Green Pit
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationEssex
Grid referenceTL 648065
InterestGeological
Area0.07 hectares
Notification1989
Location mapMagic Map

Newney Green Pit is a 0.07-hectare (0.17-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest west of Writtle in Essex.[1][2] It is a Geological Conservation Review site.[3]

This former quarry exposed the Kesgrave (Thames) Gravel, first recognised in Suffolk, dating to the Cromerian interglacial around 500,000 years ago. This preceded the severe Anglian ice age, which is also seen, marking the transition to glacial conditions. The site is described by Natural England as "of prime importance for the correlation between Pleistocene stratigraphic sites in the Thames and East Anglian areas".[1] Ice wedge polygons just below the Anglian layer reveal very cold conditions just before the advance of the ice sheet across East Anglia.[4]

The site has now been filled in and is part of a field.

References

  1. ^ a b "Newney Green Pit citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Map of Newney Green Pit". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Newney Green Quarry (Quaternary of the Thames)". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  4. ^ "Picture: Newney Green Pit ice wedge polygons". Essex Field Club. Retrieved 30 July 2016.

51°43′55″N 0°23′06″E / 51.732°N 0.385°E / 51.732; 0.385

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