Geological Sites | Leeds
| Bradford | Calderdale
| Kirklees | Wakefield
 STATUS: Local Geological Site
OTHER DESIGNATIONS: Site of Ecological or Geological Importance/ Local
Nature
Reserve
COUNTY: West Yorkshire
DISTRICT: Calderdale
OS GRID REF. SE 054 318
OS 1:50,000 Landranger 104 Leeds and Bradford
OS 1:25,000 Explorer OL 21 South Pennines
BGS 1:50,000 Sheet 77 Huddersfield (Solid and Drift)
FIRST DESIGNATED by West Yorkshire LGS Group in 1996
MOST RECENT SURVEY West Yorkshire Geology Trust October 2007
DESIGNATION SHEET UPDATED August 2009
SITE DESCRIPTION:
Bold exposures of Upper Carboniferous Rough Rock sandstone and Rough
Rock Flags
are found in Ogden Kirk quarries to the north west of Ogden Water. Plant
and trace
fossils can be found in the sandstones blocks lying in the quarries.
Sedimentary
structures include cross bedding, graded bedding and ripple marks. Weathering
can be
observed where the Rough Rock is being broken down into its constituent
minerals.
Underlying shales and thin sandstones are seen in the deeply eroded clough
and these
produce many attractive small waterfalls alongside the narrow footpath.
Bivalve fossils
have been found in the shale exposures. Tufa can be seen forming on the
banks of the
stream where calcium carbonate is being precipitated from the ground
water in the form
of an algal mat.
Looking to the east towards Soil Hill, the Coal Measure
escarpment can be seen
overlying the Millstone Grit series.
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS:
The flagged quarry road leading to Ogden Kirk quarries is seen in a few
places to the
north of the Ogden Clough. A Roman road which crosses the area now covered
by
Ogden Water is shown on the local maps.
 EDUCATIONAL
VALUE:
The quarries on the moors are suitable for primary groups and upwards,
with many fallen
blocks, which make this is an ideal site for studying the weathering
and erosion of
sedimentary rocks. There is evidence of quarrying and coal mining nearby.
The
narrow path into the clough has been washed away recently, so it is
not possible to
reach the shale and tufa exposures in the stream beds and banks.
AESTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS:
The site is surrounded by open moorland and is much frequented by walkers
and cyclists.
The valley is wooded in the lower areas around Ogden Water, but the upper
part of the
Ogden Clough is more open and has many small waterfalls.
ACCESS AND SAFETY:
There is a car park by Ogden Water (small charge) which is suitable for
minibuses.
Access to Ogden Kirk Quarries on the moors is by public footpath and
Back Lane, which
is a track above the woods to the north of Ogden Water. The quarry faces
should not be
approached without hard hats. However, there are plenty of fallen blocks
in the floors of
the quarries which can be studied. There is no wheelchair access.
The narrow path along the stream in Ogden Clough has been washed away
recently so
the shale and tufa exposures are inaccessible.
OTHER INFORMATION:
Calderdale Countryside Countryside Centre, Ogden Water, has a classroom
which can be
used for educational activities, by arrangement with the managers of
the site. There are
toilets close to the information centre and a small café nearby.
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