This is a disused Carboniferous limestone quarry, within a small wood. It can be rich in fossils but has in recent years become overgrown and overcollected. Studies indicate important changes in the palaeo-environments of the deposits and in the varied macrofossil assemblages from the surrounding Carboniferous sediments, which are of similar age. Due to the importance of the site, keep collecting to a minimum.
DIRECTIONS
♦ Take the A1 and turn into Haddington at the roundabout.
♦ From the crossroads and traffic lights in the northeast of the town, take the A6093 to Pencaitland.
♦ From the garage in the village of Pencaitland, turn left into the B6355. Follow this road to the village of East Saltoun. Park here and walk the end of the village, turning left at the end of the wood and keep going until you reach a gate near to the southeast corner of the wood. It is now only about 180m to gate of the quarry.
♦ Ref: 55.90216°N, 2.83718°W
PROFILE INFO
FIND FREQUENCY: ♦♦♦ – Fossils are not as common as they used to be sadly, fossils can be found in several horizons and when blocks are found the rock is full of fossils.
CHILDREN: ♦♦♦ – There are no shops or toilets in village. This location is becoming dirty with fly tipping taking place. What was a child-friendly site has sadly changed. Stay away from the face of the quarry.
ACCESS: ♦♦♦♦♦ – Access is easy, as there is a gate and entrance leading to a path through the wood. Note that parking is easiest in the village of East Saltoun. A short walk alongside a very quiet country road leads to the gate. Although there is an entrance to the wood on the other side, this is on a busy farmers lane with no parking, so should be avoided.
TYPE: – Fossils can be found in the many small spoil heaps, but the quarry face must not be touched. The piles of broken limestone heaped at the foot of the face are rich in fossils, but note that this is an important site that is currently being researched. However, the wood is used by the public and limited fossil collection should not need permission.
FOSSIL HUNTING
The disused limestone quarry at East Saltoun contains an unusually rich macrofossil fauna. Fossils can be found throughout the wood in spoil heaps close to the quarry face. As well as molluscs, nautiloids, trilobites, gastropods and sponges, a shark fin spine and scales, and two species of sharks teeth have also been found, and the official faunal list is ever-growing.
GEOLOGY
The strata are of Blackhall Limestone of the Lower Limestone Formation, from the Brigantian substage of the Dinantian (Lower Carboniferous), which is about 326-331 Mya.
The Blackhall Limestone is pale to dark grey, crinoidal, bioclastic, earthy to hard limestone, interpreted to be of marine origin, with thicker occurrences comprising calcareous mudstone and lime mudstone beds, thinly bedded above and massive below.
The accessible strata are approx 80m in length and 5.5m in height. The face of the quarry runs in a north-south direction and has an approximate dip of 5°.
The top horizon consists of a hard grey ochre intrusion of amorphous, argillaceous limestone, which has no apparent cleavage horizons. This overlies approximately one meter of hard crystalline limestone marl. Below this is four meters of softer limestone marl. All three rock types are found in the spoil heaps.
Studies have shown that this succession was laid down a shallow marine lagoon, which was protected from the elements by a crinoidal reef, enabling nursery conditions for the juveniles of many species. This reef was breached at various intervals, leading to turbid disruption to the ecosystem.
SAFETY
Please be aware this old quarry has become a site for fly tippers, ensure you stay away from the quarry face, as well as the top of the high spoil heaps.
EQUIPMENT
A small geology hammer, a splitting chisel and safety glasses are all that is required. Mobile phones work fine here.
ACCESS RIGHTS
Scotland’s fossil resource is at risk of abuse and damage, and so we must all safeguard and managed fossil collecting to ensure its survival for future generations. For this reason it is VITAL you read and adhere to the Scottish Fossil Code for ALL sites in Scotland.
It is important to follow our ‘Code of Conduct’ when collecting fossils or visiting any site. Please also read our ‘Terms and Conditions‘
LINKS
♦ Buy Fossils, Crystals, Tools
♦ Location Discussions
♦ Deposits Magazine
♦ Join Fossil Hunts
♦ UK Fossils Network