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Barton QuarryDesignations: Proposed CGS/RIGS This site is of key historical importance as a source of rich late Middle Devonian faunas. Limited access. GCR block / key theme: Marine Devonian Associated SSSI: Not applicable Geological / geomorphological features: [Provisional] The old quarry, now occupied by development, still shows important exposures of the bioclastic Barton Member of the Torquay Limestone Formation, and effectively forms the type locality of the unit. In the past the site has yielded a rich fauna, not dissimilar to that from the better known Lummaton Quarry, including varied brachiopods, bivalves, gastropods, trilobites and rare ammonoids. Current exposures show rich coral-stromatoporoid assemblages, with the tabulate Thamnopora being particularly abundant. The exposures have also yielded conodont faunas confirming an uppermost varcus to lower assymetricus biozone age (Upper Givetian). Reasons for proposal as a RIGS sites: The site is of key historical importance as a source of rich late Middle Devonian faunas and has the potential to yield additional material of palaeontological importance. Crucially, it is also effectively the type locality of the Barton Member of the Torquay Limestone Formation, and therefore has regional lithostratigraphical significance. Limited access makes the site primarily a research rather than educational locality. [Torbay High: Torquay Limestone Formation, Barton Member] |