Geological Sites | Leeds
| Bradford | Calderdale
| Kirklees | Wakefield
 STATUS: RIGS
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 RIGS Group in 1996
MOST RECENT SURVEY West Yorkshire Geology Trust October 2007
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.
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