Beadnell fossils and fossil collecting
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 You can reach Beadnell on the B1340. Park on harbour Road just south of the large field by the sea or alternatively in the spaces at the north of the village, just north of the post office.
If you are coming from the parking area near the post office, walk south along Harbour Road until you have passed the large field. Walk along the southern side of this field and down the bank to access the beach.
There are plenty of areas to explore, but this route will take you to the most productive.
GRID REF: 55.55074°N, 1.62513°W
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Foreshore
Fossils are collected on the foreshore where rocks have been eroded out of the protruding layers.
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No Restrictions
There are no restrictions at this location, but please follow our own code of conduct for all locations.
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Beadnell
Tide Times
UK Tidal data is owned by Crown Copyright, and therefore sadly we are not allowed to display tide times without paying expensive annual contracts. However we sell them via our store, including FREE POSTAGE
Click here to buy a tide table |
As with all fossil hunting locations, you should tell someone where you are going and what time you expect to be back. This location is fairly hazard free. There is no chance of getting cut off by the tide and no large boulders to climb over. Wear sturdy waterproof boots here. |
Last updated:
last visited:
Written by: |
06/01/10
2009
Joe Shimmin |
 
Other Locations similar to Beadnell
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A good eye is mostly all you need, but a pick will prove very useful for the shale. Wear hiking boots as this is a foreshore location.
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The sloping strata on the foreshore contain varying numbers of fossils. The harder limestones contain crinoid stem pieces and corals, while some shale layers are packed with well preserved brachiopods and other fossils. Collecting should be limited to loose blocks.
To the north of the field the beach is flatter and sandy with pebbles containing pieces of crinoid stem and corals.
This location has an extensive area of foreshore to investigate. Allow a good few hours to hunt!
Typical brachiopod rock
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Carboniferous, 330mya |
At Beadnell, the marine Carboniferous deposits are of Visean age, this is part of the Brigantian stage. Beadnell was once a mining village, with the Beadnell Coal being excuvated...[more]
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Stone Tumblers |
Microscopes |
Test Sieves for Microfossils |
If you are interested in fossil collecting, then you may also be interested in a stone tumbler (Lapidary). You can polish stones and rocks from the beach which
will look fantastic polished using a stone tumbler.
You can polish rough rock and beach glass whilst collecting fossils, on those days where you come back empty handed.
These are all high quality machines to give a professional finish to your samples. They can even be used for amber and fossils.
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At Beadnell, you can find Microfossils from the chalk. They are much easier to collect because they are so small that you only need a small amount of chalk sample. You then need to break it down in water and view using a microscope to view these.
Chalk is actually composed of fossil shells, so you only need a small amount of sample on your microscope.
We have a wide range of microscopes for sale, you will need a Stereo microscope for viewing microfossils.
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Test Sieves are used when searching for microfossils. We recommend that you use a test sieve with water at different levels. Test sieves for chalk fossils should be 300 microns, and 500 microns.
Our UKGE Store sells Endecotts Test Sieves, which are the highest in accuracy and extremely durable and long lasting. These Test Sieves are fantastic for microfossils. Endecotts Test Sieves come in a variety of sizes, frame material and types, they are fully certificated to EU Standards. |
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