Studland Bay fossils and fossil collecting

Studland Bay can be reached either by going to Swanage, and then taking the minor roads to Studland, or by taking the main B3351 from Corfe Castle. The later is the best route as it takes you directly to Studland Bay.
There are two car parks at Studland, North and South. From the B3351, the first signposted, is the South Car park, so take this road.
You can use this South Car Park, which is situated near the 'Bankes Arms Hotel'. From here, follow the short track in a narrow ravine to the shore. From here you can either go South to visit the chalk or north to visit the Poole Formation. The Poole Formation yields plant remains and is recommended a visit.

GRID REF: 50.64351°N, 1.94495°W

plants, belemnites, insects, mollusc's

The famous plant beds from the Poole Formation used to be found at Bounemouth, but after the sea defence was constructed, this bed gradually became obscured, today it can hardly be seen. However, the Poole Formation can also be found at Studland Bay, which also yields some plant remains.

Medium

Fossils at Studland Bay are common from the Plant Beds, but they are poorly preserved. Fossils can also be found from the Upper Chalk.

Older Children

Studland Bay is suitable for older children to fossil hunt, but fossil are not easy to find.

Good Access

Accessibility at Studland Bay is very good, there is parking nearby and you don't have to walk very far. Please watch tide times as they reach the base of the cliff.

Cliffs

Fossils are mostly found in the cliff. The foreshore is nearly always sand, which continues from the northern sand dunes, so scouring is most rare.

World Heritage Site

Studland Bay is part of the Jurassic World Heritage Coastline. Please follow the Fossil Code of Conduct on the safety notes page below.

Common sense when collecting at all locations should be taken and knowledge of tide times should always be noted. At Studland Bay, the sea often reaches the base of the cliff, so you must collect on a falling tide and return before the tide returns.

Accommodation

Seaview

Family run bed & breakfast, comfortable non-smoking accommodation with tea & coffee making facilities and networked & wireless broadband in all rooms. Open all year. Private parking.

151 Weston Street, Portland, DT52DG
Tel: 01305 821573

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£10/Year or 'FREE' for return links from accommodation website pages.

Last updated:
last visited:

Written by:

15/03/08
2008

Alister and Alison Cruickshanks


To the south of Studland Bay, the upper chalk yields belemnites and bivalves, occasional brachiopods have also be found. The Poole Formation at the North end of the bay yields plant remains, although these are mostly debris. The best plants used to be found at Bournemouth, but this is now the only accessible location for the Poole Formation. London Clay and the Reading Beds are mostly overgrown and so fossils are few. Within this same bed, insects are also found. These are well documented and can be seen in local museum collections. The insect remains are small, so you may need to take back samples,

Eocene, Cretaceous

At the southern end of the bay, the upper chalk is exposed. This is of the Mucronata Zone from the Campanian stage. Above the chalk is the Reading Formation from the Eocene period, this is mostly pale grey sands.

The Northern end of the bay begins with the London Clay Formation, although this is poorly exposed and overgrown. The Redend Sandstone from the Poole Formation is well exposed up to Redend Point.

At Redend Point, the Pipe Clay Series yields plant remains. This is also part o the Poole Formation of Eocene age.....[more]


Geological Tools	Most of the fossils at Studland Bay are found by splitting layers of the Poole Formation. A Chisel pick is most handy at this location....[more]

Other Locations similar to Studland Bay

You can find plant remains at this location. Other locations you can find plant remains are Little Haven, Nelton Haven in wales, Whitehaven in Cumbria, Offerton in Cheshire, Besom Hill and New Hay Quarry in Lancashire or try Radstock and Writhlington in Avon. which is very similar or try Jurassic plant remains from Yorkshire, Hayburn Wyke, Cloughton Wyke, Filey, Scalby Ness, Gristhorpe Bay. In Scotland, you can also try Anstruther, East Wemyss, or Crail.

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.

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