Cottonshope Head Quarry

Cottonshope Head Quarry is a Site of Special Scientific Interest[1][2] within Northumberland National Park, Northumberland, England. It is located north of the hamlet of Cottonshopeburnfoot. The site is an abandoned quarry within a military training area.

Cottonshope Head Quarry
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Cottonshope Head Quarry is located in the United Kingdom
Cottonshope Head Quarry
Location within the United Kingdom
Map
Location of Cottonshope Head Quarry.
Area of searchNorthumberland
Grid referenceNT803058
Coordinates55°20′45″N 2°18′44″W / 55.345831°N 2.3121813°W / 55.345831; -2.3121813
Area38.0 acres (0.1538 km2; 0.05938 sq mi)
Notification date1968

Details

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Cottonshope Head Quarry provides an exceptional exposure of a Lower Carboniferous lava flow. This abandoned quarry contains alkaline olivine basalt flows of Dinantian age. Sandstones underlie the lavas.[1]

This site is probably the southernmost extension of the Scottish Kelso Traps. This site provides evidence of the role of volcanic activity in the development of the Northumberland Basin.[1]

See also: Cottonshope Volcanic Formation.[3][4]

Land ownership

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All of the land in Cottonhope Head Quarry SSSI is owned by the Ministry of Defence.[5] Cottonhope Head Quarry is within the Otterburn Training Area (access is closed when red flags are flying).

References

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  1. 1 2 3 "SSSI detail". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  2. "Protected Planet | Cottonshope Head Quarry". Protected Planet. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  3. "Cottonshope Volcanic Formation - MediaWiki". earthwise.bgs.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  4. "BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units - Result Details". webapps.bgs.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  5. "Mapping the habitats of England's ten largest institutional landowners". Who owns England?. 2020-10-06. Retrieved 2024-11-15.

55°20′45″N 2°18′44″W / 55.345831°N 2.3121813°W / 55.345831; -2.3121813