Arkley, S. L. B., Browne, M. A. E., Albornoz-Parra, L. J. and Barron, H. F. 2011. East Dumbartonshire Geodiversity Audit. British Geological Survey Open Report, OR/09/19. 265pp.
EDC 10: Manse Burn, Bearsden
Grid reference:
Site type: Natural section
Site ownership: Not known
Current use: Recreational land
Field surveyor: Sarah Arkley & Luis Albornoz-Parra
Current geological designations: SSSI Date visited: 6th March 2009
Site map
Summary description
Manse Burn, SSSI. Carboniferous fossil sharks found in 1980's with 14 species of fish. Carboniferous black shale outcrops found in stream bed and banks. Bedrock exposures up to 1.5 m high in stream banks. Top of Lower Limestone Formation, Top Hosie Limestone and base of Limestone Coal Formation are exposed along the burn.
Small rivulet flowing out of bank (?at rockhead), very iron-rich, coating bank sediments in bright orange - ?mine waters. Site is interesting/important scientifically but not very impressive for public. Being a SSSI, public passing by and trying their luck at fossil picking should not be encouraged. Manager of Douglas Muir quarry informed BGS that local residents are hoping to pull together some information for the public after someone turned up at Milngavie Railway Station with a rifle asking where he had to go to shoot the sharks! Tarmac is supporting the 'Shark Project'. Exposure of the Wilderness Till Formation at the western end of the burn.
EDC 10: Stratigraphy and rock types
Age: Upper Carboniferous Formation: Limestone Coal Formation
Rock type: Sedimentary Rock Cycles of the Clackmannan Group Type
Age: Lower Carboniferous Formation: Top Hosie Limestone, Lower Limestone Formation
Rock type: Limestone
Age: Lower Carboniferous Formation: Lower Limestone Formation
Rock type: Sedimentary Rock Cycles of the Clackmannan Group Type
Assessment of site value
Access and safety
Aspect/Description
Road access and parking Ample street parking in the housing estate surrounding the site
Safety of access Burns runs through an area of open ground in the estate, small informal footpath runs alongside the burn allowing access, although frequently crosses the burn. Wooded along the burn. A higher path exists along the edge of the woodland above the burn
Safety of exposure Low outcrops within the burn or in the banks. Some of the dipping strata underwater is slippery
Permission to visit No permission sought possibly Council property
Current condition A few small exposures in the stream are kept fresh by flowing water, bank side exposures could become overgrown with shrub very easily
Current conflicting activities Although protected, fossil collecting does appear to be happening on a large scale
Restricting conditions None
Nature of exposure Natural stream exposures
Culture, heritage & economic
Historic, archaeological & literary associations None known. Rating: 0.
Aesthetic landscape Valuable open space with urban environment. Rating: 2.
History of earth sciences None known. Rating: 0.
Economic geology Non recorded. Rating: 0.
EDC 10: Geoscientific merit
Total Geoscientific merit score 74
Current site value
Community Frequent use by local residents. Rating: 9.
Education One of the best Carboniferous fish sites in the world. Most of the recovered material is now in a collection at the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow. We believe there is currently a 'Shark Project' underway, initiated by local residents to inform the public of the importance of the site. Rating: 10.
Fragility and potential use of the site. Rating: 4.
Fragility Erosion, Natural Overgrowth, Over-collecting, Dumping, Development
Potential use Research, Higher/Further Education, School, On-site Interpretation, Multidisciplinary
Geodiversity value
The significance of this site has already been recognised in designating it a SSSI. The site is of major international importance for its Carboniferous age fossils. Fossil fish of this age (approximately 330 Ma) are rare throughout the world, the Bearsden sharks have exceptional preservation and eleven new bony fish species have been found here. The quality and variety of the Carboniferous assemblage found at this site is unrivalled worldwide. However the site's value for geoconservation is currently lessened by dumping, litter, erosion, over-collecting and natural overgrowth. Rating: 8.