A17 DR5 Levitthagg Wood

Site information

Site name: Levitthagg Wood

Site key: DR5

Grid reference: [SE 538 011] (centred on)

Site type: disused quarries, pits and cuttings

Local authority: Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, South Yorkshire

Site dimensions: 150 m x 60 m

Site owner: DMBC

Conservation status: Proposed Regionally Important Geological Site

Date: No Date

Field surveyor: Scott Engering Date: 13/3/07

Stratigraphy and rock types

Time unit: Permian Rock unit: Sprotbrough Member, Cadeby Formation, Zechstein Group

Rock type: Dolostone Details: Massive wedge bedded limestones, reefs and marls

Site map

(Figure 87) — DR5 Levitthagg Wood

This map is based upon Ordnance Survey topographic material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Licence Number: 100017897 [2007]

Site description

The site was surveyed principally to investigate the location of Levitt Hagg Hole (D303). However, this area was not investigated during the 1997 RIGS Survey and along with Nearcliff Woods and Nearcliff Quarries, there are features of interest, although the site was not assessed in detail.

From [SE 53791 01137] , a bed of red and green marl approxiamately 500 mm thick can be seen at about 4 m from the top of the exposed quarry face, which exceeds 25 m in height in places. From [SE 53780 01803], the red marls are seen to continue at a similar level. The quarry face is largely overgrown with well established trees and thick vegetation, so details cannot be clearly seen. Also, the floor of the quarry is covered by large boulders of rock waste, covered in moss and ferns and is not easily accessible.

At [SE 53769 01050], at the back of the Levitt Hagg Landfill site, there is approximately 17 m of good exposure, with massive, wedge bedded ooid-limestones in the lower section and a reef in the upper section. To the right hand side of the exposure, the limestone is very pale and fallen debris show this to possess a fine granular texture and a flow stone texture.

This site, although possessing points of interest, should mainly be recorded as having interest for any future geological work on the Don Gorge. There are still sites in the gorge that warrant further investigation but hese are considered to be beyond the scope of this report.

RIGS assessment of site value

Ratings: 1–2 very poor; 3–4 poor; 5–6 acceptable/useful; 7–8 quite good; 9–10 very good/excellent; N/A not applicable; D/K don't know

Access and safety

Aspect/Description/Rating

Road access & parking Limited at the hairpin bend on the Warmsworth-Sprotbrough road. Rating: 6

Safety of access Access along banks of Don is an established path. Off the path, there is some very uneven and potentially hazardous ground. Rating: 5

Safety of exposure Rock debris, moss and other vegetation prevent safe access to rock faces, which are not considered to be very stable. Rating: 4

Permission to visit N/A

Current condition Overgrown but there are reasonable rock exposures to be seen. Rating: 5

Current conflicting activities Some rubbish and littering. Increasingly vegetated condition is limiting exposures

Restricting conditions Vegetation and safe access

Nature of exposure Old quarry faces

Multiple exposures/prospect for trail Has potential as one of several sites of interest along the south side of the Don Gorge

Notes Accessible with care, taking usual fieldwork precautions

Culture, heritage & economic

Aspect/Description/Rating

Historic, archaeological & literary associations Industrial archaeology associated with quarrying in the Don Gorge. Rating: 6

Aesthetic landscape Adjacent to popular walking routes along the Don Gorge. Rating: 6

History of earth sciences Potentially a good site to study the formation of the Don Gorge along with other nearby sites. Rating: 6

Economic geology Quarrying history of dolostone in a regional context. Rating: 6

Notes One of several sites along the Don Gorge that has potential historical and archaeological value

Education and science

Surface processes Solution processes, formation of head and soil horizons. Rating: 6

Geomorphology Part of Don Gorge. Rating: 7

Sedimentary Various lithologies and sedimentary structures, including reefs and red marls. Rating: 7

Fossils Specialist interests in Permian fossils. Rating: 0

Igneous Not applicable. Rating: 0

Metamorphic Not applicable. Rating: 0

Tectonic: structural In conjunction with other sites, an opportunity to study processes that have formed the Don Gorge. Rating: 7

Minerals Not applicable. Rating: 0

Stratigraphy Possible occurrence of stratigraphic equivalent to Hampole Beds

Notes One of several sites along the Don Gorge that potentially have scope for further investigation

Geodiversity value

Possesses group value with other sites along the Don Gorge. Rating: 7

Site photographs DR5 Levitthagg Wood

(Figure 88) General view of reef/breccia and white flow stone to right hand side. [SE 53769 01050].

(Figure 89) Detail of red marl and associated breccia. [SE 53780 01083].