Barr Beacon

Barr Beacon is a geological site of exceptional importance due to its location next to one of the great geological faults that runs through the Black Country. It borders the Black Country's exposed coalfield and long exposures of Hopwas Breccia (sandstone with thin beds of quartzite breccia) and Kidderminster Formation, comprising a thick pebble mass with thinner sandstones. Its summit provides an excellent view point of the surrounding areas. To the east, the grey and red mud rocks of the coal measures from the Carboniferous period form the landscape. These were formed in a steaming swamp forest between 310-315 million years ago. The rocks which form the Hill are a mixture of red sandstones, pebble beds and breccias which were formed in semi arid desert conditions within a vast river complex which flowed across the landscape during the early Triassic Period, between 241 and 248 million years ago. The rocks to the east have been vertically displaced by hundreds of metres on the Great Barr Fault, having the effect of placing rocks of very different ages immediately alongside each other. This fault was created as the landscape was torn apart by earth movements about 220 million years ago. Cutting into the eastern hillside and running towards Birmingham city centre is a 'v' shaped valley. This is now dry and long abandoned by the river that created at the end of the last Ice Age 20,000 years ago. Spectacular exposures of the red Triassic rocks are available in Pinfold Lane Quarry which is a short walk, 100m south of the viewpoint.

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