Fossil Collecting in Lancashire, Geological Location Guides

Fossil Hunting in Lancashire

There are a few sites in Lancashire where you can collect Carboniferous plant remains. These are either disused quarries or spoil heaps. Lancashire was once a popular coal mining location. Insects can also be found at these sites as well as trace fossils, fish remains and brachiopods. These are all inland locations.

Newhey Quarry

Newhey Quarry is full of Calamities (fossil roots), brachiopods, and if your very lucky insects or fish remains. One of the most interesting finds at this site, is the superb trace fossils, including ripple marks, worm burrows, and 'fish marks'.

Besom Hill

Besom Hill at first sight can seem fairly poor for fossils, but if you can find the thin 'Marine Bed', you will be sure you change your mind! This Marine Band is Highly Fossiliferious and Fish Teeth, Scales, Fin Spines and other remains, Goniatites, Bivalves are rich within that layer.

Cliff	Fossils collected direct from cliff face
Foreshore	Fossils collected from the foreshore
Cliff/Foreshore	Fossils collected from the cliff and foreshore
Quarry	Location is a quarry or pit
Stream	Fossils collected from a stream or river bed,
Field	Fossils collected from a farm field
Cutting	Fossils collected from road or railway cutting.
Scree Slope	Fossils collected from hill or mountain scree slope.
Rock Outcrop	Fossils collected from rock outcrops.
Lake / Reservoir	Fossils collected from lake or reservoir banks.
Microfossils	Samples taken back for processing microfossils.