Clevedon Shore SSSI, Somerset
Coastal cliffs and foreshore, finite site, mineral collecting.
Clevedon Shore SSSI, Somerset is an important site for mineralogy. Barium, lead, zinc and copper mineralisation is associated with a faulted unconformity between Upper Palaeozoic sandstones and shales and Triassic dolomitic conglomerate. The site is noted for the occurrence of a number of relatively rare secondary minerals which have formed by reaction of the original primary minerals with sea water. The secondary minerals occur in situ and as rounded pebbles on the beach.
The site has attracted the interest of mineral collectors over the years, primarily because of the presence of the secondary minerals. Responsible collecting at this site would require no hammering of the in situ material and removal of only small amounts of pebbles. However, irresponsible collectors have now collected much of the in situ material and removed large quantities of loose material from the beach, so that there is now little mineralised material left in situ and the mineralised pebbles are also becoming relatively rare. As a consequence, the scientific interest of the site is under threat.
The site owners, North Somerset Council, following consultation with English Nature (now Natural England), decided to restrict collecting from the site unless collectors first seek permission and have a valid reason for wishing to remove material. It is unfortunate that such measures are necessary to conserve the remaining interest but, as with other sensitive sites, unless some controls are put in place, the interest will have completely disappeared in time, with no benefit for current or future generations of those interested in mineralogy.
