County Geology Site Criteria for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

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4. CRITERIA FOR COUNTY GEOLOGY SITE/RIGS SELECTIONIN CORNWALL AND THE ISLES OF SCILLYThis section provides details of the locally definedcriteria for CGS/RIGS selection in Cornwall and the Islesof Scilly. Sites are selected according to the guidingprinciples in section 3.4.1. Scientific importanceCriteria S1 to S10 deal with the intrinsic scientificinterest of a site. Generally, if the site demonstrates agood example of a feature or features representative ofone of the 22 subject blocks for Cornwall and the Islesof Scilly, as defined in the Cornwall and Isles of ScillyGAP (2005), it will be considered eligible for selection.The criteria consider the subject blocks grouped within8 main subject areas corresponding to the establishedsub-disciplines of Earth science (S1-S8). S9 considerseconomic geology and S10 wider links between Earthscience and ecology:Criteria for assessing the scientificimportance of sites.Sites will be considered eligible for selection if theysatisfy any of the following criteria.S1 Mineralogy The site:• is important for a particular mineral or mineralassemblage;• demonstrates a particular style of mineralization.S2 Igneous Rocks The site exposes igneous rocksrepresentative of one of the subject blocks identified forCornwall and the Isles of Scilly:• pre-Devonian Basement;• pre-Variscan volcanics;• Lizard Complex;• granites;• associated rocks i.e. elvans, pneumatolytic breccias,lamprophyres etc.Quartz Vein.S3 Sedimentary Rocks The site exposes sedimentaryrocks representative of one of the subject blocksidentified for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly:• Cornwall Sedimentary Basins: Looe Basin,Gramscatho Basin, Trevone-South Devon Basin,Tavy Basin, Culm Basin;• Tertiary or Quaternary Sediments.S4 Metamorphic Rocks The site exposes metamporphicrocks representative of the Regional Metamorphism subjectblock identified for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.S5 Palaeontology The site:• is important for a particular fossil species orassemblage;• is important palaeo-ecologically in the context ofone of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s SedimentaryBasins;• is important for Tertiary or Quaternary sediments.S6 Stratigraphy The site shows stratigraphic featuresrepresentative of, or the site is important for stratigraphiccorrelation of:• Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s SedimentaryBasins;• Tertiary or Quaternary sediments.S7 Structures The site demonstrates any importantstructural features in relation to:• Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s SedimentaryBasins: Pre-Devonian Basement, Looe Basin,Gramscatho Basin, Trevone-South Devon Basin,Tavy Basin, Culm Basin;• Variscan Structures;• regional Metamorphism;• Lizard Complex;• granites;• associated rocks;• offshore Geology;• Tertiary;• Quaternary Sediments;• soils.S8 Geomorphology The site:• is an important landscape feature;• demonstrates characteristic geomorphologicalfeatures or processes.S9 Economic The site contains:• important minerals(metallic or chinaclay);• aggregates andbuilding stone;• other resourcesthat are of usefor educationand/or research.S10 Other geologicalinterests The sitehas the potential fordemonstrating links/relationships betweenwildlife and Earthscience.Engine House.County Geology Site Criteria for Cornwall & The Isles of ScillyPage 9
2. Educational valueThe criteria for selecting Local Geological Sites placea major emphasis on education. This is not justeducation in the context of school-based learningbut includes the development of knowledge andunderstanding by individuals, of the world aroundthem. This is often called life-long learning and isas important for adult personal fulfilment as for theformal education of children. Public awareness of Earthscience is increasing but is still a long way behindthat of the biological sciences. A major part of therole of the Local Geological Sites network is thereforeto increase public awareness and to encourageappreciation in order to ensure a long term sustainablefuture.Earth Science is an investigative discipline, the basisof which is in fieldwork. There is a fundamentalneed for hands-on experience, and access to awide range of appropriate sites is essential forstudents to understand the complexity of the naturalenvironment. First hand experience is widelyacknowledged as the most effective method oflearning and many concepts can only be appreciatedby studying field relationships.Educational sites are a finite resource and sites showinglocal phenomena and local historic, economic orcultural resources are difficult to replace. An evencoverage of suitable sites across the county will cutdown on travel time and expense.Local Geological Sites have the potential for Earthscience education at all levels but this potential islimited by a lack of understanding of the attributes thatmake a site useful for teaching and learning. Detailedbackground information on the National Curriculumuseful in assessing educational sites can be found on theinternet at http://curriculum.qcda.gov.uk. In general thescientific features suitable for education include:1. Sites suitable for different ages and abilities, whereinvestigation and active learning are possible.2. Sites where worthwhile materials, resources, featuresand relationships are apparent.3. Sites where integrated studies are possible, bothwithin and outside the sciences and which can berelated to others to be visited in a coherent plane.g. linking geology, geomorphology, biology,hydrology, agriculture, archaeology, economics,human geography and social history.4. Sites which permit the understanding of conceptsand processes only properly appreciated in the field.Primary criteria for assessing educationalsites:E1 If the site is safe and physically accessible it willbe considered eligible for selection.E2 If access to the site is permitted for educational visitsit will be considered eligible for selection.E3 If the site is robust and capable of absorbing limiteddamage it will be considered eligible for selection.Secondary criteria for assessing educationalsites:E4 If the site is suitable for teaching the Earth sciencecomponents of the National Curriculum it will beconsidered eligible for selection.E5 If the site is suitable for teaching the Earth sciencesat ‘A’ level it will be considered eligible forselection.E6 If the site is suitable for teaching the Earth sciencesat undergraduate level it will be considered eligiblefor selection.E7 If the site is suitable for other educational usersto learn about Earth science e.g. adult educationclasses, it will be considered eligible for selection.Ideally educational sites will have the followingadditional features but this will obviously be largelydependent on the status of the site (privately owned orowned by the Wildlife Trust or another public body)and the level of funding available.1. Have appropriate documentation such asexplanatory booklets or worksheets to helpinexperienced group leaders and students.2. Some form of management team that can regularlymaintain the site and assess its safety on a regularbasis.3. A programme of site improvement and management4. Some form of publicity or listing for educationalusers.5. A generic site risk assessment.6. A code of conduct for educational users.Cligga Head.County Geology Site Criteria for Cornwall & The Isles of ScillyPage 10
Page 1 and 2: HeadingCounty Geology SiteCriteria
Page 3 and 4: COUNTY GEOLOGY SITE CRITERIA FORCOR
Page 5 and 6: 2. CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND2.1 The Ge
Page 7 and 8: 3. COUNTY GEOLOGY SITE SELECTIONThe
Page 9 and 10: D Geological site assessment will b
Page 11: 4. The Local Sites Partnership will
Page 15 and 16: BIBLIOGRAPHYBristow, C.M. 1996. Cor
Page 17 and 18: LIST OF APPROVED COUNTY GEOLOGY SIT
Page 19 and 20: SITE NAME NO. GRID REF. SUMMARY OF
Page 21 and 22: APPENDIX 2The Geological Conservati
Page 23 and 24: APPENDIX 3Example of a County Geolo
Page 25 and 26: 80/2. Bromley, A.V.1989. Field Guid
Page 27 and 28: 01/07Cliff section showing raised b
Page 29 and 30: Cornwall RIGS Group County Geology
Page 31 and 32: Tick when Process CompleteProtocol
Page 33 and 34: Site Contraction/DeletionDetails of
Page 36: Heading

County Geology Site Criteria for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

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