Boulby Quarries

Boulby Quarries
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Country England
Region North East
Unitary Authority Redcar and Cleveland
Location Boulby
 - coordinates 54°34′12″N 0°50′48″W / 54.57000°N 0.84667°WCoordinates: 54°34′12″N 0°50′48″W / 54.57000°N 0.84667°W
Area 40.3 ha (99.6 acres)
Notification 1989
Managed by Natural England
Area of Search Cleveland
Interest Geological
Website : Map of site

Boulby Quarries (grid reference NZ745200) is a 40.3 hectare geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Cleveland, England notified in 1989. It is located close to the coast and the village of Boulby.[1]

In England SSSIs are designated by Natural England and Boulby Quarries is one 18 SSSIs in the Cleveland area of search.[2] The site is identified as being of national importance in the Geological Conservation Review.

The quarries are wholly within the North Yorkshire and Cleveland Heritage Coast and partly within the North York Moors National Park and the historic North Riding of Yorkshire.

The fossil content of Boulby Quarry is particularly important with two plesiosaur species (Eretmosaurus macroptera and Thaumatosaurus zetlandicus), an ichthyosaur Ichthyosaurus crassimonus and the only Upper Lias pterosaur known in Britain, Parapsicephalus being found at the site. The fossil are found in the bifrons zone, and although not abundant, it is very different from surrounding fossil sites.[3]

References

  1. "Site map". Nature on the map. Retrieved 2007-12-08.
  2. "SSSI information". Natural England. Retrieved 2007-12-08.
  3. "Boulby Quarries citation sheet". Natural England. Retrieved 2007-12-08.