Conserving classic geological sections in the Inferior Oolite Formation, Middle Jurassic of the Wessex Basin, south-west England

Over 200 years since the publication of William Smith's 1815 geological map, we explore the conservation of the Inferior Oolite Formation including Dundry Hill in Somerset which was visited by, and critical to Smith's work. In particular, the network of nationally important Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) that encompass the Middle Jurassic Aalenian-Bajocian sequence in the Wessex Basin are considered. A number of examples of conserving disused Inferior Oolite quarries are used to illustrate these challenges and benefits of geoconservation, including Frogden Quarry SSSI and Horn Park Quarry National Nature Reserve (NNR) in Dorset, and South Main Road Quarry SSSI on Dundry Hill. This paper briefly reflects on John Callomon's critical contribution to understanding the Inferior Oolite Formation, and the shared challenge faced by William Smith and John Callomon.