Stone in Archaeology Database


Swaledale Fossil Stone

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Local Name(s): Swaledale Fossil Stone. Example of Swaledale Fossil Stone
Stone Group: Sedimentary
Stone Type: Limestone
Geology:
Era:   Palaeozoic
Period:   Carboniferous
Epoch:   Lower
Geological Sub-Divisons:

Occurs near the top of the Carboniferous Limestone. Askrigg Block, Wensleydale Group, Underset Limestone Formation.

General Colour Description:

Colour varies from light/ pale brown, buff/grey, to blue and beige. Fossils are visible in polished examples.

Hand Specimen Description:

A crinoidal limestone with large fossils. It is a very hard, crystalline, coarse grained and poorly sorted rock that easily takes a polish.

General Comments:

Its use was contemporary with that of Purbeck marble in the south of England (North 1930: 143).

Stone Identifiers: Crinoidal,  Fossiliferous.
Reacts dilute to HCl? Yes