Quarry at Windyhills.

Layers of sand and gravel as deposited over 40 million years ago. The flow of the river from NW to SE and the rate of flow can be seen. Fine sand laid down when the river was slow and the heavier gravel deposits when the river was moving faster.

Quarry at Heatherbloom
Woodhead

The fine sand was said to be suitable for high quality lenses. The white powery residue is kaolin.

The topsoil above this quarry was removed prior to 2000 in readyness for quarrying the area.

Layers of sand formed over 40 million years ago.

The Windyhills deposits of quartzite gravels are believed to be unique in Europe. The 40 hectare site consists of five exposed quarries.

Heatherbloom Quarry

Looking from the top of the quarry towards the south.

Rounded Pebbles

The white sand and smooth rounded pebbles are presumed to have been left by a river flowing from NW to SE. over 40 million years ago.

Evidence of glacier action and melt water channels are also visible on the site.

Nick Everett

Nick Everett from Scottish Natural History explains how the gravel pits were formed.

Pod Soil

The very thin layer of acid top soil, which has a layer of iron under it, prevents the roots growing and as a result the trees are stunted.

Flintstone

The flintstone, in the above pictures, was found in separate parts of the quarry by Andrew Black and Murray Horn in September 2003