Field Trip: Cross Hands Quarry, near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
Leader:
Entry Fee
Members: Free
Visitors: £3.00
Date and Time
10:30
Location
Cross Hands Quarry, Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 0SP
Field Trip Description
This SSSI site has been described as the most fossil-rich site in the county, the management of which earned the Newman family an English Nature Merit Award in 1998. Some of the most extensive and northerly exposures of the Clypeus Grit (Upper Inferior Oolite) underlie the basal units of the Hook Norton Limestone, (Lower Great Oolite Group). The Clypeus Grit comprises 3.5m of rubbly, fossiliferous pisolitic and oolitic limestones with interbedded, less resistant marl units. Bivalves and brachiopods are particularly abundant but also irregular echinoids (Clypeus being one) plus gastropods, corals and serpulid worms. The overlying Hook Norton Limestone is less fossiliferous but bivalves predominate and fragments of wood (ginkgo) are also common.
There are also many calcite-lined open joints giving evidence for cambering. This is a function of the relationship between local topography and geology where great thicknesses of Lower Jurassic argillaceous sediments capped by Middle Jurassic limestones have been dissected by deep, broad valleys.
Meet at the quarry, SP 269290, at 10.30 a.m. It is situated about 4 miles west of Chipping Norton, on the north side of the A44, immediately to the west of the Cross Hands Inn. Hard hats and strong footwear essential.
Important Notice: Bath Geological Society Insurance
Each person attending a field meeting does so on the understanding that he/she attends at his/her own risk. The Bath Geological Society has Public Liability Insurance Cover for field and indoor meetings, but Personal Accident Cover and Personal Liability Cover remain the responsibility and personal choice of the participant.
There may be an element of appropriate cover included in house insurance or in travel insurance: although Bath Geological Society activities are not particularly dangerous members are advised to check whether exclusions apply to activities in which they plan to participate in case they wish to arrange further cover. An annual travel insurance may be the best solution for any member who regularly attends field events: this again is a matter of choice.
Please note however that all members participating in overseas events will be required to have travel insurance for the duration of the event: this is so that participants are covered for Medical, Repatriation and Personal Liability expenses. The Personal Accident element remains the personal choice of the member and again members are advised to check exclusions so that they can make an informed decision about the cover they want.