Boxford Chalk Pit

{{Short description|Chalk quarry in Berkshire, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox SSSI |image=Boxford Chalk Pit (3).jpg |image_caption= |name=Boxford Chalk Pit |aos=Berkshire |interest=Geological |gridref={{gbmappingsmall|SU 430 719}}<ref name=dsv/> |coordinates={{coord|51.444|-1.383|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title,inline}} |area={{convert|0.4|ha|acre|abbr=off}}<ref name=dsv/> |notifydate=1993<ref name=dsv/> |map=[https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002871%27 ''Magic Map''] }} '''Boxford Chalk Pit''' is a {{convert| 0.4 |ha|acre|abbr=off |adj=on }} geological [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] in [[Boxford, Berkshire|Boxford]] in [[Berkshire]].<ref name=dsv>{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1002871&SiteName=&countyCode=44&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Boxford Chalk Pit | series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate = 13 January 2020}}</ref><ref name=map>{{cite web|url=https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002871%27 |title=Map of Boxford Chalk Pit|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate= 13 January 2020}}</ref> It is a [[Geological Conservation Review]] site.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://archive.jncc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=4174&gcr=2948 |title= Boxford Chalk Pit (Mesozoic - Tertiary Fish/Amphibia) |series= Geological Conservation Review |publisher= Joint Nature Conservation Committee |accessdate= 4 October 2019 |archive-date= 16 April 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200416185900/http://archive.jncc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=4174&gcr=2948 |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.jncc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=4174&gcr=191 |title=Boxford Chalk Pit (Cenomanian, Turonian, Senonian, Maastrichtian) |series=Geological Conservation Review |publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee |accessdate=4 October 2019 |archive-date=16 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416185901/http://archive.jncc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=4174&gcr=191 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

This site has a unique succession of tilted beds dating to the [[Upper Cretaceous]], between the late [[Coniacian]] and the [[Santonian]], from around 87 to 84 million years ago. The beds are overlain by chalk which contains fractured and folded pieces of [[Carbonate hardgrounds|hardground]], which are interpreted as evidence of localised [[tectonism]] unknown in the rest of Britain in this period. There are also [[coprolite]]s and many tiny fish teeth.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1002871.pdf |title=Boxford Chalk Pit citation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate= 13 January 2020}}</ref>

==References== {{commons category|Boxford Chalk Pit}} {{reflist|30em}}

{{SSSIs Berks}} [[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Berkshire]] [[Category:Geological Conservation Review sites]]