Geological
Society
RIGS Geology Action
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Text and images from the Barns Ness leaflet, produced in 2002 by Geology Action and 4th Haddington Guides.
Visit
the RIGS publications page for more details
on ordering copies.
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From Haddington, go south along the A1 and pass the cement works, take the next road on the left. This crosses the railway. Turn first left again. Turn right when you see the sign for the Barns Ness Caravan Park. Pass the caravan park and drive down the hill towards the beach where there is a place to park your car. |
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The fossils found at Barns Ness are animals which lived 330 million years ago! Kayleigh McMillan Fossils are the remains or traces of a prehistoric animal or plant that has been buried in the ground for a very long time and become hardened in the rock. There are lots of fossils at Barns Ness. Kayleigh McMillan
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Catcraig Limekiln is a ruin near the shore of Barns Ness. It is interesting to see inside it. It was used to produce lime from the limestone to fertilise the land. The limestone is still important today and cement is made from it at the cement works nearby. Kayleigh McMillan
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Fossils
Koninckophyllum
coral 
Catcraig
Limekiln|
Limestone Limestone is a light grey colour and it was formed in the sea. You can find lots of fossils in limestone but the most common are coral and sea lilies. There are two large quarries just behind the beach. The lime and coal was burnt to be put in the farmers crops to help them grow. Isabelle Ives & Hannah Swan Coal Coal is very dark black and it is made up of lots of thin layers. It was formed in the forest. People now and in the past have used coal for making fires.
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Limestone is the main rock
An experiment (you must have a adult with you when you are dealing with dilute hydrochloric acid)
If it is limestone it will fizz!
Kayleigh McMillan Seat Earth Seat Earth has got many colours in it which are grey, orange and black. It was formed in the soil and its fossils are tree roots. Isabelle Ives & Hannah Swan |
Sandstone Sandstone can be red or yellow and if you brush it with your thumb you will find little grains of sand will come off. Lots of old buildings and castles were built out of sandstone. Sandstone is formed in rivers and the sea. Mudstone Mudstone is a dark grey sort of a colour. It has lots of layers. If you get mudstone wet, it would be a bit like mud. Mudstone was formed in the sea. Isabelle Ives & Hannah Swan Conservation Barns Ness is a lovely place for a picnic as it is by the sea but please take your rubbish home. It is also a good idea to preserve all the rocks so please do not break them and take them away as souvenirs. You can collect some of the loose fossils but please do not pick up too many and leave some for other people. Gail Dickson & Laura Gordon |
Stigmaria
is a fossil found at Barns Ness. It is the fossilised root of a
tree. The tree would have looked like this lepidodendron. The inset
is the pattern on the bark.
You
need dilute hydrochloric acid (vinegar might work and is much safer).
Drop
some acid on the rock.
