SITE
Name: Chipley Quarries
Parish: Bickington
Local Authority: Teignbridge
National Grid Ref: SX 808 721
OS Sheets: 1:50k, 191, 1:10K, SX87 SW
Locality Description: This site lies just outside Dartmoor National Park, 4km west of
Newton Abbot and 1km to the south east of Bickington.
Nature and Status of Site: Four disused quarries in an area of broadleaved
woodland. The site is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Summary of Geological / Geomorphological Interests: A classic site for the study
of pillow lavas which were extruded through submarine volcanic activity near the end
of the Devonian period some 360 million years ago. The lavas, which are formed
from basalt, can be traced out into the adjoining sedimentary rocks - the grey
Gurrington Slate Formation - which were deposited as mud on the seabed. Deepwater slates which overlay the lavas have yielded ostracods, indicating a late
Fammennian age.
Safety Considerations: Care should be taken in the overgrown quarries and hard
hats should be worn when near the quarry face.
Educational Age Groups: Secondary, College/6th Form, University.
Parking and Access: The farmer at Chipley owns the site and a small charge per
head is made to visiting educational groups. Contact should be made with Mr
Westcott on 01626 821486 prior to any visit. Vehicles should be parked at Chipley
Farm.
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References
Floyd, P. A, et al. (1993). Igneous Rocks of South-West England. GCR Series No.5,
Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, and Chapman and Hall, 256pp.
Middleton G. V. (1960). Spilitic Rocks in Southeast Devonshire. Geological
Magazine, 97, 192-207.
Selwood, E.B., Edwards, R.A., Simpson, S., Chesher, J.A., Hamblin, R.J.O., Henson,
M.R., Riddolls,B.W. and Waters, R.A. 1984. Geology of the Country around Newton
Abbot. Memoir of the British Geological Survey, Sheet 339 (England and Wales).
Educational Register of Geological Sites
Detailed Geology: This is a classic site for the study of pillow lavas. The lavas,
which are vesicular, shallow water pillow alkali basalts can be precisely dated due to
their association with fossiliferous sediments. The lava sequence is situated within
the grey Gurrington Slate Formation, which has yielded ostracods (Hemisphaericadichotoma Biozone) indicative of a Famennian age. Geochemical work indicates that
the Chipley lavas are also intra-plate alkali basalts. They provide excellent examples
of extrusive submarine activity, with a 30m sequence of tectonically flattened, but
well-formed, closely fitting lava tubes. Good ovoid cross sections are visible,
displaying the highly vesicular (up to 50% volume) nature of the lavas. The high
degree of vesicularity suggests extrusion into relatively shallow water (< 500m
depth). However, the basalts were originally alkaline and often contain a relatively
high volatile content. The lavas have undergone low-grade alteration and secondary
minerals have replaced their original mineralogy, although textures are still present to
show the evidence of rapid chilling. Laterally the lavas may be traced out into the
sedimentary rocks, which were deposited as mud on the seabed. Volcanic activity
occurred near the end of the Devonian around 360 Million years ago.
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Suggested Questions
1. Pillow lava has a unique shape that relates to its mode of formation. Locate and
draw a ‘pillow lava’ and describe how their mode of formation produces this
shape.
2. What characteristics can be used to identify these rocks as i, volcanic, ii, basaltic
and iii, submarine eruption?
Educational Register of Geological Sites
Chipley Quarries SSSI
Sketch diagram of Chipley Quarries, showing the relationship of the pillow
lavas
Adapted from Perkins. J, 1973. Geology Explained in South and East Devon. David &
Charles: Newton Abbot
Educational Register of Geological Sites
LOCATION PLAN
CHIPLEY QUARRIES, SSSI
BICKINGTON, TEIGNBRIDGE
National Grid Ref: SX 808 721
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Devon County Council Licence No. 100019783 2008
Scale 1: 40,000
Site locality
Parking and Access
The site is located
alongside a minor
road to the east of
the A38 near
Bickington.
• Prior appointments with owner essential for visiting groups.
Vehicles should be parked at Chipley Farm from where it is
only a short walk to the site.
Educational Register of Geological Sites
SITE PLAN
CHIPLEY QUARRIES
BICKINGTON, TEIGNBRIDGE
National Grid Ref: SX 808 721
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Devon County Council Licence No. 100019783 2008
Scale 1: 5,000
Approx. Extent of Site
Main Points of Interest:
• A classic site for the study of pillow lavas resulting from
submarine volcanic activity.
• Excellent exposures of pillow structures in the lavas.
• The lavas are overlain by deepwater slates.
Educational Register of Geological Sites
Nature Conservancy Council
CHIPLEY QUARRIES
Well developed Upper Devonian pillow lavas in Chipley quarries.
Educational Register of Geological Sites