High Smithstone Quarry Site of Special Scientific Interest and replacement site

This report was commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to consider the options for the replacement of the existing Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) for the Carboniferous, Namurian to Westphalian age Ayrshire Bauxitic Clay Member of the Passage Formation (Clackmannan Group). The bauxitic clay is an unusual lithofacies and is only found in northern and parts of central Ayrshire on the western side of the Midland Valley of Scotland terrane. The existing site at High Smithstone Quarry has an extant planning permission for landfilling and the owner has exercised that right with the result that many of the features for which the quarry was noted are no longer visible. Whilst recognising that it was unlikely that any other site would demonstrate all the features, the British Geological Survey was asked to recommend the best available alternative exemplar site for SSSI status for the Ayrshire Bauxitic Clay Member