Stone Edge Plantation fossils and fossil collecting
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Fairly Low
The Carboniferous shale here is poor compared to other areas. Plant fossils can be found, but they are poorly preserved and few and far between.
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Suitable for Children
This site is suitable for children, as there are no real dangers. There is a mine around this site, which may be left open, so keep an eye out for this if you come across it. |
Easy Access
Easy to find, “Stone Edge Plantation”, is parked on OS 1:50,000 and OS 1:25,000 scale maps. A short distance from where you park and fairly easy to find. |
Spoil
Fossils are found in the spoil left over from the old workings of a coal mine. These are found by digging in around the area of workings. |
No Restrictions
This location has no restrictions, it is along a public footpath and accessible to all. |
There is an old mine around this area. Some of the covers around Holymoorside coal district have been removed for their metal, so take care when walking around. |
| Last updated: |
2011 |
| last visited: |
2011 |
| Written by: |
Alister Cruickshanks |
 
For other locations for plant remains, but you could also try Little Haven, Nelton Haven in wales, Writhlington, Whitehaven in Cumbria, Offerton in Cheshire, Besom Hill in Lancashire or New Hay Quarry in Lancashire which is very similar or try Jurassic plant remains from Yorkshire, Scalby Ness, Hayburn Wyke, Filey, Cloughton Wyke and Gristhorpe Bay. In Scotland, you can also try Joppa Shore, Anstruther, East Wemyss, or Crail.
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As with most other locations with the presence of old mine workings, the shale can be hard to extract good size pieces to work with. Over the years, most of the spoil has broken down or crumbled away to nothing. However, there are some good-sized pieces of shale to be found, you may have to use a pick or small spade to remove the weathered material.
Potentially, this could have been a good site, but the plant fossils here are much less common than other similar sites, and are poorly preserved. Once you find some nice size pieces of shale, split using a chisel pick and/or chisel. You can still find some fossil leaves and stems.
The plantation is also very hard, which makes collecting much harder. We recommend this site, only if visiting others in the area.
Belperlawn Coal Shale.
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Carboniferous, 310mya |
The coal measures here are of the Belperlawn Coal, (Lower Westphalian age). Carboniferous. There are no specific beds as the shale here is the spoil from the old workings......[more]
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Metal Polishing |
Meteorites |
East Midlands Guide |
Metal Barrelling Machines are used for de burring, polishing, cleaning or removing surface scratches from metal and jewellery.
These are ideal for cleaning or polishing a variety of metals including brass, silver, steel and gold. They can be used for silver clay and other hobbies.
The machines have a barrel with special fins inside, which helps turn the metal round, to polish or debur. We sell a variety of different sized machines from hobby to commercial. |
Meteorites can be found all over the world. Often, large pieces are broken down either naturally or by hand, or sliced and sold as small fragments, each fall is well documented. Meteorites are very collectable, especially ones of Mars or Moon rocks.
We sell Meteorites, which are in stock and mostly come in a display boxs. Our meteorites are from all over the world and include Mars and Moon Meteorites, and rocks from outer space. For more information, please see our meteorite page.
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 Locations of Geologicl interest and for collecting rocks, minerals and fossils in the East Midlands Area. Includes the Geological History of the area. Areas covered are Charnwood Forest, The Peak District & The Vale of Belvoir. 130 pages. £15.95.
Buy from UKGE |
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From the A632, if travelling from the South (Matlock), you will come to an area of trees on the left hand side, just past the turnoff for the B5057. This is Stone Edge Plantation. 
