California Farm Quarry, Swanage SZ018.774
Site description: Working quarry.
Geology: Lower Cretaceous, Purbeck Group, Lulworth and Durlston Formations. A strike section on the northern side of this quarry exposes the Middle Purbeck. At the top are the weathered beds of the Freestone Vein, with the Grub (DB127 & DB 126), Roach (DB 125), Thornback (DB 123), Freestone (DB 121), Laper (DB114) and Downs Vein (DB 113) above the Soft Cinder and Hard Cinder Beds (DB 111).
Below the Cinder Member the beds exposed in the Cherty Freshwater Member include the Button Bed, the Cap, the Five Bit (Vybit) and the New Vein. In this quarry the beds are dipping northwards. [DB numbers refer to the beds which have been correlated with R.G. Clements, 1993, Type section of the Purbeck Limestone Group, Durlston Bay, Swanage, Dorset. Dorset Proceedings, 114, 182-206.]
Access: By prior arrangement, e-mail us for contact details. Visitors will require their own insurance, and must wear hard hats and strong boots. There is a fee for guided parties.
Parking: Limited on site, please follow instructions on making appointment.
Size of party: 25
Education level: School