Devon County Geological Sites or Regionally Important Geological / Geomorphological Sites - RIGS

Site reference no. SSS70SE1 Name: Knowle Quarry, Crediton

District: Mid Devon Parish: Crediton Hamlets

National grid ref: 789 022 OS sheets: 1:50k 191 1:25k 1294 1:10k SS70 SE GS 1:50k 325

GridRef x y Lat Long SS789022 278900 102200 50.80666 -3.7200547

Locality description(address): Quarry lies near Brandirons Corner at the end of a track through a field on the east side of the road signposted to West Sandford, north of the A377.

Nature of site : Quarry (D), small. Extensively wooded overgrown and rubbish filled making access to exposure difficult.

Geological / geomorphological features: A small exposure of Permian breccia occurs at the gateway to the field track. The quarry exposes Permian volcanic lava which forms a prominent feature because of faulting to the north. The lava is vesicular and in the quarry is in a relatively unaltered state.

Reasons for registration as a Regionally Important Geological / Geomorphological Site : The volcanic rock in this quarry is in an unaltered state and has been used to provide material for chemical analysis and age determination work.

Site sensitivity: No geological sensitivity. Continued tipping in the present part of the quarry will eventually conceal the remaining best exposed rock .

Safety: The overgrown state of the quarry together with the tipping of farm waste, including animal bones could be a health hazard. This and other rubbish has to be climbed over to reach the best rock exposure.

Interest groups: Schools. Primary - Secondary - 6th Form . University. Undergraduate - Research Professional geologists - Amateur geologists - General public.

Access and Parking: Along track from the road . An inclined track leads into the quarry but access to exposure is difficult from inside the quarry. A track runs round the perimeter of the quarry and it is possible to climb down to exposure at the eastern end. Parking is limited on the road, but it is possible to drive up the track to the quarry.

Date of assessment (V = visited) : V 3rd December 1994 R T Taylor

Site owner : Not known . Tel.

Other comments: Some control of the tipping in this quarry is urgently needed if its geological value is to be preserved. The tipping point needs to be moved towards the western end of the pit and the tipping of animal waste stopped. Clearance of part of the interior of the quarry and some of the tipped waste would improve safety and the geological value of the site, making it more suitable for a wider range of users.

References: Knill, D C. 1969. The Permian Igneous Rocks of Devon. Bulletin of the Geological Survey of Great Britain. No. 29, pp. 115-138. Edwards, R E, and Scrivener, R C. Geology of the Country Around Exeter. Memoir of the Geological Survey of Great Britain. In press.