Geological Sites | Leeds
| Bradford | Calderdale
| Kirklees | Wakefield
 STATUS: RIGS
OTHER DESIGNATIONS:
COUNTY: West Yorkshire
DISTRICT: Wakefield
OS GRID REF. SE 454 215
OS 1:50,000 Landranger 105 York and Selby
OS 1:25,000 EXPLORER 289 Leeds
BGS 1:50,000 Sheet 78 Wakefield
FIRST DESIGNATED by West Yorkshire RIGS Group in 1996
DATE OF MOST RECENT SURVEY October 2007 by West Yorkshire Geology Trust
SITE DESCRIPTION:
The site is reported to illustrate the boundary between Upper Carboniferous
Coal Measures sediments and overlying Permian Yellow Sands Formation
(formerly the Basal Permian Sands). However, this boundary could not
be found when the site was surveyed recently.
There are two sections to this site:
Mill Hill Road has excellent exposures of the Yellow Sands Formation,
although the face is very much overgrown in places. The road, however,
is so busy that it is hazardous for more than two or three people to
look at the site at once.
Dark Lane has good exposures on the south side of the lane, which are
more easily accessible as the road is quiet. The main cliff face is overgrown
and dark, but this may be where the unconformity could be seen. There
is an excellent exposure on the north side of the lane, but this is not
part of the RIGS and is in a private garden so is not accessible. However,
good views can be obtained from the gate.
 HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS:
In other areas around Pontefract the Yellow Sands Formation has been
quarried to provide sand for iron-moulding. The road cuttings in Pontefract
were probably utilised in this way. The map in the Wakefield memoir
(1999) (Figure 3) shows that this locality was an area of possible
sand mining.
Dwellings have been excavated into the cliff on Mill Hill, though these
are now behind locked doors, though public visits are sometimes organised.
EDUCATIONAL VALUE:
Unfortunately access to the exposures is limited by hazardous roads.
However the geology can be observed by a circular walk along Mill Hill
Road and Dark Lane. The site is only suitable for small groups of supervised
students.
AESTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS:
ACCESS AND SAFETY:
Parking is very limited in the area - be prepared to park away from the
locality and walk to the site. Do not approach exposures where there
is no roadside pavement.
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