Smokejacks 2022

View across Smokejacks Brickpit from the plant bed, looking west.

Smokejacks brickpit, sitting on the plant bed terrace, looking west across the pit.

26/6/2022 – Perfect day for a visit to Smokejacks Brickpit, Walliswood, Surrey. The only problem was that there had been little rain since my last visit in May. The much dug out plant beds near the top of the section were much the same as they had been since my previous visit.

Instead of staying in one spot on the plant bed I decided to walk right around the pit and examine the different beds. Unfortunately this strategy was non-productive so I spent the last 2 hours on the plant bed. I think that this site is now suffering from too many visitors.

Somebody found a nice beetle fossil which will will be further studied by Ed. Plus I found some interesting fossil burrows.

Burrows made by ostracod, probably Unisulcus minutus. Underside of fine sandstone. Block from loose rubble.

Burrows made by ostracod, probably Unisulcus minutus. Underside of sideritic sandstone. Block from halfway up pit NW section.

Sample from the plant bed, near the top of the pit. Plant material diagenesis has turned it into black shiny ‘coal’ Between the coal lenses is sandstone with a large amount of granular pyrite.