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Introduction
Seaford is a good place to find fossils. The chalk cliffs are located just west of Seven Sisters, about 12 miles East of Brighton. Access to the beach is made via a footpath leading from the car park at the top of the cliffs. You'll also need to descend a number of steps.
Access
to the beach is made via a short walk from the cliff-top car park
Local information boards provide a background to how the chalk cliff's formed, including the river Cuckmere.
Visitors
can read about the local geology (Click here to
enlarge)
Where to look for fossils? Fossils are common in this area and include a variety of brachiopods, bivalves and echinoids. The best place to look for fossils is within the chalk cliffs, however for safety reasons it's advise to keep clear of the cliff base. There are plenty of chalk boulders on the beach, many of which contain complete specimens.
For more information about the features and processes controlling coastal fossil collecting locations click here.
What fossil might you find?
Echinoid
spine within Seaford Chalk (Right close-up)
Recent
cliff collapses provide a good source of chalk to examine.
Many of the fossils are clearly visible on the surface of the chalk, resulting from continuous erosion by the wind and sea.
Complete echinoid within foreshore boulder. Many of the echinoids are incomplete, often visible as
cross sections within the chalk or flint nodules.
The examples below illustrate this.
Echinoids from Seaford
The pictures below were supplied by Robert Randell (British Chalk Fossils). They show two good examples of echinoids which can be collected from Seaford.
Echinoids from Seaford (Left - Micraster, Right - Gautheria)
Protecting your finds
It's important to spend some time considering the best way to protect your finds onsite, in transit, on display and in storage. Prior to your visit, consider the equipment and accessories you're likely to need, as these will differ depending on the type of rock, terrain and prevailing weather conditions.
(Left) Fossil wrapped in newspaper, ready for transport. (Right) A small compartment box containing cotton wool is ideal for separating delicate specimens.
When you discover a fossil, examine the surrounding matrix (rock) and consider how best to remove the specimen without breaking it; patience and consideration are key. The aim of extraction is to remove the specimen with some of the matrix attached, as this will provide added protection during transit and future handling; sometimes breaks are unavoidable, but with care you should be able to extract most specimens intact. In the event of breakage, carefully gather all the pieces together, as in most cases repairs can be made at a later time...continued.
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