Smokejack Clay Pit, Geological site near Cranleigh, United Kingdom
Smokejack Clay Pit is a working geological site near Cranleigh where layers of Lower Cretaceous rock from the Weald Clay Group are exposed and accessible for study. The exposed strata reveal fossils and rock formations that document conditions from millions of years ago.
The site began as an active clay quarry in the 1940s when the Ewhurst Brickworks started extracting material from the area. Industrial extraction revealed the geological layers underneath, making the site valuable for scientific study.
Scientists and researchers frequently visit the site to study the preserved fossils from six different insect orders and ancient reptile remains.
Access requires permission from site authorities and careful adherence to guidelines that protect the geological features. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing as conditions underfoot can be uneven and wet depending on recent rainfall.
In 1983 researchers uncovered the holotype specimen of Baryonyx walkeri, a fish-eating theropod dinosaur, within the pit boundaries. This discovery put the quarry on the scientific map as a site of global paleontological importance.
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