Holymoorside fossils and fossil collecting
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Fairly Low
Fossils stems are common here, but decent plant remains are not. This is not particularly a good location for fossils, but one which is more interesting for those more interesting in the geology, or finding fossils from different geological formations.
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Suitable for Children
This location is suitable for children, but if looking through the rocks at the quarry, take care as the face is fairly unstable and can fall on those looking through the rocks below. |
Good Access
It is not too far from the parking area to walk, and fairly easy to find. The slope is also quite gentle. There are some lovely walks around this area if you wish to make a day out of it. |
Disused Quarry
The small overgrown disused quarry has one face still accessible. Fossils can be found in the face, or in the rocks that have fallen down the slope. |
No Restrictions
This location as no restrictions, it is along a public footpath and accessible to all. |
The location is fairly safe, but if looking through the rocks at the quarry, take care as the face is fairly unstable and can fall on those looking through the rocks below. |
| 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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This small overgrown quarry now only exposes the top part of the original sequence here, the rest is covered in scree. At the top of the beds, plant stems and debris can be found easily. Decent plant remains such as small leaves, are not common but can be found, although they are more common from the lowest part of these flags, now covered by the scree.
The quarry is quite dark as it is underneath a large tree, it is best to pull out some large slab sections, and then split these on the grass slope so you can see more easily.
Carboniferous Wingfield Flags
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Carboniferous, 310mya |
The rocks here are the lower part of the Carboniferous Wingfield Flags Formation (Westphalian (Langsettian) age). These flags are a Fine-grained sandstone with siltstone interbeds.....[more]
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Stone Tumblers |
Microscopy |
East Midlands Guide |
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. |
A microscope is very handy for viewiung microfossils. You only need a small sample of the sample, then, 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.
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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, head towards Chesterfield. Just before this, a minor road at Slatepit Dale, will take you to Holymoorside. Continue along this road to Holymoorside, you will see the “United Reform Church”, just after this a bus stop and a small lay-by. You can park here. 
