Corton fossils and fossil collecting
|
Medium
Although the sea defences limits collecting, the beach does still scour and rain keeps fresh exposures of Boulder Clay. Fossils can also be found during storms when the sea defences fail. Belemnites are the most common find here.
The best time to collect is after heavy rain which washes the Boulder Clay from the top beds down the cliff.
|
Suitable for Children
The wave baffles keep the sea away, and so this area is safe for children providing they keep away from sheer cliff. Because the sea no longer washes the cliffs, and the rain is responsible for the erosion, most of the cliff is at 45 degrees or less, but be careful especially after heavy rain.
There is an excellent sandy beach for children to play at Hopton-on-Sea. |
Good Access
Access has changed for this location, you used to park at Pleasurewood Hills and walk along the sea wall. However after defence repairs, this is now closed, but the alternative route is much safer and suitable for children. by parking at Hopton-on-Sea is is a fairly short walk to the site, and sandy beaches make it ideal for families. |
Foreshore, Cliffs
Most fossils are found in the scree slopes where the boulder clay has slipped down from the top after heavy rain. Large erratic's which have fallen down and have been washed out, can also be found along the beach, especially near the wave baffles. Some of these contain fossils and can be split with a hammer. During scouring, the forest bed can be seen exposed on the foreshore which also contains fossil wood and seeds. |
No Restrictions
There are no restrictions at this site, but please follow our code of conduct below. |
Common sense when collecting at all locations should be taken and knowledge of tide times should always be noted. At Corton, the wave baffles keep back the sea, although during stormy conditions, waves can pass over these. Cliff falls do occur after heavy rain. The main danger is at the Southern end of Corton. There is NO ACCESS to Corton village anymore since the sea originally destroyed part of the defence, and the answer was to dump granite blocks in front of the cliff. They have blocked the old footpath along the seawall. However, access is easy via Hopton-on-Sea. |
Last updated:
last visited:
Written by: |
25/08/08
2008
Alister and Alison Cruickshanks
|
 
Other locations similar to Corton
|
|
  |
|
|
From the Boulder Clay, fossils of a wide variety can be found including ammonites, reptile remains, belemnites and shells. Ichthyosaurs vertebrae have been found in these slippages and also within nodules from the clay. There are so many Jurassic erratics, that some of the rocks are full of shells, and occasionally if you split some of these, they will yield fossils. Fossils can also be found in the chalk erratics such as echinoids, but these are less common.
On the foreshore to the northern end of Corton Cliffs, blue forest beds that are rich in fossil wood and seeds, can sometimes yield bones, but the brown forest bed at the southern end is unfossiliferious.
Collecting is best done after intense heavy rainfall, which causes slippages from the top Bolder clay beds. Cliff falls are not common, but slippages take place regularly during winter months which is sufficient for collecting.
Typical belemnite find at Corton, from the Boulder Clay
Ichthyosaurs vertebras in nodule
|
 |
|
During the second ice-advance in the Pliocene age gave rise to the Lower Chalky Boulder Clay, of a Jurassic type being deposited during the ice age. This clay rests on the Corton beds and contains fossils including various types of ammonites, bones and shells. Because it is deposited, you can find a huge variation. It is a shame that Corton was protected by the sea, otherwise this would be a highly productive site.
At the base of the cliff you can see the Forest bed, at the southern end, this is brown and unfossiliferious, but the northern end of Corton Cliffs, this is often exposed on the foreshore as a blue bed containing fossil wood, seeds and occasional bones...[more]
Geological succession
|
|
Stone Tumblers |
Microscopes |
Test Sieves for Microfossils |
If you are interested in fossil collecting, then you may also be interested in a stone tumbler (Lapidary). You can polish stones and rocks from the beach which
will look fantastic polished using a stone tumbler.
You can polish rough rock and beach glass whilst collecting fossils, on those days where you come back empty handed.
These are all high quality machines to give a professional finish to your samples. They can even be used for amber and fossils. |
At most locations, you can find microfossils. You only need a small sample of the sand. You then need to wash it in water and sieve using a test sieve. Once the sand is processed, you can then view the contents using a microscope.
We have a wide range of microscopes for sale, you will need a Stereomicroscope for viewing microfossils. The best one we sell is the IMXZ, but a basic microscope will be fine. Once you have found microfossils, you will need to store these microfossils.
|
Test Sieves are used when searching for microfossils. Microfossils can be found in many locations, and all you need is a small amount of sample such as clays, sands and shales, or if you have acid, limestone, oolite or chalk.
Our UKGE Store sells Endecotts Test Sieves, which are the highest in accuracy and extremely durable and long lasting. These Test Sieves are fantastic for microfossils. Endecotts Test Sieves come in a variety of sizes, frame material and types, they are certificated to EU Standards. |
|
Our International Rock
and Fossil Magazine |
 
|
Drive to 'Hopton-on-Sea'. From the South, you should see a road on the right hand side called 'Beach Road', take this road. 
