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Lincolnshire Limestone




There are two sub-divisions, the Upper and Lower Lincolnshire limestones respectively. The dividing marker is the 'Crossi' bed which is distinguished by the fossils of ''Acanthothris crossi'' it contains. The Crossi bed forms the top of the Lower Lincolnshire limestone. The bottom of the Lower Lincolnshire limestone has some of the characteristics of the underlying Lower Estuarine Series , in that it tends to contain more than usual amounts of sand. A stone from this part of the formation which was commercially exploited is the Collyweston slate which was used for roofing for several centuries. It is now largely replaced in new work by concrete imitations.

Much of the rest of the Lower Lincolnshire limestone is oolitic. It formed in warm, shallow seas where evaporation concentrated the dissolved calcium carbonate and wave action rolled the precipitated material into tiny balls. It takes its name from its similarity to the hard roe of fish.


REFERENCE

  • Hains, B.A. & Horton, A. ''British Regional Geology Central England 3rd edn. (1969) ISBN 0-11-880088-4