Clearing the Barnt Green Road Quarry

Cleaning the Barnt Green Road Quarry

Volunteers Steve and Penny (Wardens) and Julie, Jill, Peter, Laura, David and myself (hope I‘ve not forgotten anyone), have extended the quarry exposure at the southern end and in doing so have revealed a new feature, the first of its kind in the area, unless you know otherwise. A large block of Lickey Quartzite, a metre wide and of unknown thickness (but exposed to at least 15 cm) was uncovered and found to be oriented at nearly 90° to the surrounding main body of Lickey Quartzite. Between the block and the overlying beds of Lickey Quartzite is a localised brecciated zone and above this a bed or layer of marly mud. The marl is essentially reddy-brown in colour with pockets of grey-green marl. This is not unlike the Upper Triassic Mercia Mudstone previously Keuper/Tea Green) marl in colour and consistency, but is it possible to be the same age?

New discovery in the Barnt Green Road Quarry, southern end

The exposed surface of the block appears as if it had just been split off from an overlying bed. There are no slickensides or grooves to indicate shearing or movement. The beds in contact with this upper surface abut as if ‘cut by a stone mason’s hands’. There is little or no damage to the truncated “ends” of the beds above. After a previous clearance, geologists discovered a fault several metres to the right. Questions arise as to whether the block has become detached during normal faulting or reverse faulting. The explanation for this discovery will be the subject of hot debate, I am sure.

New discovery in the Barnt Green Road Quarry, southern end