Fossils are pretty common in Limestone rocks and you can find quite a number of erratics, that is rocks from other places transported to the West Pennine Moors by glacial action. Fossils of coral are frequently found, usually in the form of this example where the darker material shows the ‘branches’ of coral as a section cut through the rock. You can also find thicker coral ‘stems’ from time to time, often with a nice radial pattern of infilled mineral.
This specimen had been found by someone else and left on top for others to see.
Limestone rocks don’t usually occur naturally in the area, they are of a similar age to the carboniferous rocks we have but the limestones formed in a marine environment, that is to say in the sea. Limestone occur nearby, for example north Lancashire.
The carboniferous rocks found in the area around Winter Hill are missing limestone and instead have shales and mudstones, together with coal and clay. These types of rock form in an area perhaps where a river delta flows into the sea, or some form of flood plain. So it seems that this area was located near to the sea, and the limestones where formed actually in the sea. In the West Pennines we also have Marine Bands that are thin layers of marine sediment that indicate from time-to-time the river delta of plain was inundated by the sea, leaving behind marine animals in the sediment.
This is a really interesting fossil that is actually in Dolemite rock, although it looks a lot like Limestone. In this case the shape of the fossil Lithostrotion can be seen protruding from the Dolemite rock.
The easy to visit Lower Rivington Reservoir has good access to the water from the Rivington side and below the castle but can suffer Blue-Green Algae.
Lead Mines Clough is a great area to explore, with everything from excellent scenery and plenty of wildlife to lead mines and ancient fossil beds
Said to be the deepest, Yarrow Reservoir is often overlooked as one of the Rivington Reservoirs and to be fair it hasn’t easy access to the water but it does have interesting carvings.
