Seaton Sluice fossils and fossil collecting
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Fossils are common at Seaton Sluice, although most of the plant remains are stems. However, there are plenty of corals and bivalves to be found.
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Older Children Only
This location is suitable for older children as the foreshore is quite rocky. |
Easy Access
There is a good car park and a short walk to the shore, this location is easy to find and is north of the lighthouse at St Mary's Island. |
Cliffs, Foreshore
Most fossils can be found in the boulders and rocks on the foreshore. You may need a hammer to split these out. |
No Restrictions
There are no restrictions at this location, you are free to collect fossils and hammer the rocks. |
Common sense when collecting at all locations should be taken and knowledge of tide times should always be noted. The tide can easily cut you off at Seaton Sluice so please double check tide times. The rocks can also be very slippery so please take extra care. |
Seaton Sluice
Tide Times
UK Tidal data is owned by Crown Copyright, and therefore sadly we are not allowed to display tide times without paying expensive annual contracts. However we sell them via our store, including FREE POSTAGE
Click here to buy a tide table
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| Last updated: |
2008 |
| last visited: |
2007 |
| Written by: |
Alister and Alison Cruickshanks |
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Geological Tools
The best tool to take at this location is a chisel pick. This is ideal for splitting the rocks which contain fossils.
You will also need plenty of paper to wrap your finds as some of these can be fragile, especially the plant remains.
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Other Locations similar to Seaton Sluice
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Other good locations for plant remains are Little Haven, Nelton Haven in wales, Writhlington in Avon or Whitehaven in Cumbria, Offerton in Cheshire, Besom Hill in Lancashire or New Hay Quarry in Lancashire which is very similar or try Jurassic plant remains from Yorkshire, Scalby Ness, Hayburn Wyke, Filey, Cloughton Wyke and Gristhorpe Bay. In Scotland, you can also try Joppa Shore, Anstruther, East Wemyss, or Crail.
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Fossils at Seaton Sluice are found mostly in the rocks and shale on the foreshore. The grey coloured non-marine rocks contain plant remains and bark, and the sandy orange coloured rocks contain the marine fossils such as corals and bivalves. There is plenty to be found here.
Fossil bark is also quite common, and pieces of bark can be collected along the foreshore loose. We recommend splitting the shale as often, you will find fossils inside.
The Carboniferous coal measures are full of plant remains
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Carboniferous, 307mya |
The coal measures at Seaton Sluice are of Westphalian age, division D and part of the 'Newcastle Formation'. These are grey sandstones, siltstones and mudstones with minor reddened strata; coals few and thin with some thin limestones near base....[more]
Fossil coral from Seaton Sluice
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Bivalve from Seaton Sluice
Calamities stem
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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.
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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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Seaton Sluice can be reached from the A193 either by heading north from Whitley Bay, or south from Blyth. You can also access Seaton Sluice from the A19 via the A186 exit Most roads.
