Folkestone fossils and fossil collecting

Folkestone, Internationally known for the famous 'Channel Tunnel' but also the famous Gault Cliffs. These rapidly eroding cliffs yield a vast range of ammonite species, crabs, echinoids, belemnites, brachiopods & bivalves and much more.

During scouring tides, fossils can be simply picked up from the foreshore, if you are after specific fossils from certain zones or no scouring has occurred, then you will need the correct tools.

Other Locations similar to Folkestone

If you enjoy Folkestone, you could also try Speeton in Yorkshire which has very similar fossils to Folkestone. Other locations with Gault Clay are; Charmouth; Golden Cap (Seatown) ; Thorncombe Beacon; Eastbourne ; Yaverland; Rocken End

 

The Hunstanton Red Rock in Norfolk is of a very similar age to Folkestone.

 

        

The Gault clay contains a wide range of Ammonite species, both flat and thick. The best Ammonites are found in nodules and these are also the most well preserved. The crab and Echinoid bed are higher up and unfortunately these along with many of the Ammonites are very fragile, these often break during cliff falls and are best collected by searching in the higher zones using a pick. The Gault is also rich in a wide range of brachiopods, bivalves and gastropods. Crinoids and Belemnites are also commonly found.

In the Gault Junction bed and the Greensand, fish fragments, teeth and Ammonites can be found, the Ammonites are less well preserved, but teeth within the gault junction are well preserved. these break easily as the rock is harder than the fossil. The Chalk at the other side of the Warren is also full of fossils, shells and echinoid's, worth a visit but not as productive as other chalk locations.

The best place to find fossils is along the foreshore at Copt Point. However this normally requires scouring often in the months of January or February. Many of the harder fossils, particularly those within nodules can be collected from the beach. Look between the shingle in particular in the area near the golf course where the cliff is at its lowest and between the large greensand boulders along the foreshore.

Many fossils can be collected from the scree slopes at the base of the cliff particularly after persistent heavy rain and extreme high tides During these periods it is dangerous to climb the cliffs. During dryer times, it is possible to climb the scree scopes to collect from the higher zonal beds. Though this is not recommended for safety reasons. Family's can collect fossils from the low cliff at the Warren or along the foreshore which is safe and where the large landside's prevent any danger of cliff fall. Ammonites and shells are common.

Fossils can also be found in the Lower Greensand which is found at the base of the cliff and boulders scattered along the foreshore, though these are VERY large and will require a large hammer. Between the Gualt and Greensand exposed at the base of the cliff (occasionally covered by landslides), there is a sandy layer, the Gualt - Greensand Junction Bed, this layer contains fish and other bones and the fossils are in good condition.

At the top of the cliff, especially at the highest point the junction bed lays just under the surface, noted by many small black pebbles and large black gravel. Within this bed, fish remains and other bones can be found. The bed is best found from the 'Wind Swept' areas, but climbing these high cliffs is dangerous, so it is best to seek such fossils from the foreshore.

If all this isn't enough for you, the chalk at Folkestone, accessible from the Warren contains many fossil echinoid's and shells and is well worth a visit.

The Gault consists of dark bluish grey to pale grey soft mudstones and silty mudstones which weather to yellow and brown clays. The basic few feet of the formation are commonly silty or sandy, and at other levels the clays are generally either glauconitic or calcareous. Phosphatic nodule beds occur at several horizons, notably in the middle of the formation. The Gault contains a rich marine fauna in which molluscs predominate. The formation is divided into four ammonite zones; the zones of and, making up the lower Gault, correspond to the Stage, and the zones of and correspond to the. Other cehalopods which are usually present include other ammonites and other fossils. Locally the thickness of the formation varies considerably, but there is a general westwards thickening across the outcrop...[more]

Ammonites are very common from the Gault Clay at Folkestone ...[more]