Geology in Anston Stones Wood - Part 3

 

The Anston Stones Wood Geological Trail

During my investigation of the geology of Anston Stones Wood, having walked less than 1 km, I had encountered dolomitic limestone crags, Mexborough Rock in the stream banks, cambered blocks, head and meanders – as well as various building materials used in the bridges. So far, my observations since entering the wood at its eastern end had been made from footpaths on the south side of Anston Brook.

 

A map of Anston Stones Wood

Crossing the western footbridge to the north side of Anston Brook, I stopped to have a further look at the stream bank exposures of Mexborough Rock on its west side and carried on along the path, which here leaves the brook and for a short distance runs parallel to the railway line.

 

An exposure of Mexborough Rock

Anston Brook here cuts a deep, steep sided channel and is not easily accessible but, after passing under the railway bridge, the path continues below the area known as Little Stones. Along this stretch, the north side of the wood is densely wooded and the frequent exposures of limestone are mostly heavily overgrown or virtually obscured.

 

Dense woodland and undergrowth

During a previous detailed survey of this part of the wood for the South Yorkshire RIGS Group and directly for Rotherham MBC, I discovered several further examples of cambering, with some very large slumped blocks, and the Cadeby Formation here contains bryozoan reefs and very small brachiopods of the genus Bakevellia.

 

A large slumped block

 

Compared to other easily distinguishable examples of reefs, however, such as those at Hooton Pagnell, North Cliff Quarry in Conisbrough and Maltby Crags, a casual visitor would probably need some expert help in their identification.

 

An exposure of limestone with a bryozoan reef

As I learned when I first joined the Sheffield U3A Geology Group in 2015, the group had acquired the last of the Anston Stones Wood Geological Trail leaflets for a field trip a couple of years earlier and, although they saw plenty of massive bedded limestone, they did not find any of the reefs.

 

An outcrop of massive bedded limestone

At the time, the South Yorkshire RIGS Group made a great effort to promote geological conservation and education in Rotherham and other regions of South Yorkshire, through this and other general leaflets. More than 20 years later, however, with the benefit of hindsight and more experience, if asked to produce a revised version of this very well received leaflet, I could make a few improvements.

 

Sites around the South Yorkshire Forest

On this occasion, although I could have easily spent more time further exploring the geology, I was on the last leg of a walk from Shireoaks to South Anston and, having spent two and a half hours without a break on a hot day in August, I quite fancied a pint of Abbot Ale at the Leeds Arms before I started on my journey back home.

The Leeds Arms