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| Protected Sites |
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| Clevedon Shore SSSI, Somerset |
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| Clevedon Shore SSSI, Somerset is an important
site for mineralogy. Barium, lead, zinc and copper mineralisation
is associated with a faulted unconformity between Upper Palaeozoic
sandstones and shales and Triassic dolomitic conglomerate. The site
is noted for the occurrence of a number of relatively rare secondary
minerals which have formed by reaction of the original primary minerals
with sea water. The secondary minerals occur in situ and as rounded
pebbles on the beach. |
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| The site has attracted the interest of
mineral collectors over the years, primarily because of the presence
of the secondary minerals. Responsible collecting at this site would
require no hammering of the in situ material and removal of only small
amounts of pebbles. However, irresponsible collectors have now collected
much of the in situ material and removed large quantities of loose
material from the beach, so that there is now little mineralised material
left in situ and the mineralised pebbles are also becoming relatively
rare. As a consequence, the scientific interest of the site is under
threat. |
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| The site owners, North Somerset Council,
have decided, following consultation with English Nature, to restrict
collecting from the site unless collectors first seek permission and
have a valid reason for wishing to remove material. It is unfortunate
that such measures are necessary to conserve the remaining interest
but, as with other sensitive sites, unless some controls are put in
place, the interest will have completely disappeared in time, with
no benefit for current or future generations of those interested in
mineralogy. |
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Pink barite mineralisation at the unconformity
between the steeply dipping Old Red Sandstone and the massive Triassic
dolomitic conglomerate (upper left) at Clevedon Shore SSSI, Somerset.
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| Photos: Mick Murphy, Natural England |
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