Description

Exposure in front of a new wall adjacent to the A58 opposite the entrance to Shibden Park. This looks like a thin coal or an oily shale, interbedded with mudstones and siltstones. It was not possible to reach it to get a sample. The seam itself is 10 to 15 cm thick but has been smeared across the underlying clay by the digger, giving the appearance in parts of being much wider. Although not visible in any of the photos, the seam runs out at the east side of the section.
From Sheet 77 this appears to be the 36 Yard Coal. The cutting to the west of this exposure has coal adits (now blocked) which exploited several of the local coal seams. The location is very close to a Local Geological Site (Beacon Hill and Godley Cutting, Halifax) which has some details on the WYGT website www.wyorksgeologytrust.org.