Marl - Marl Pits

[TeeDee]

I do like Maps and even better are older maps - today I learnt something ( quite possibly slow on the uptake ) of why I tend to see 'Marl' in so many old roads or streets. Never really thought to question it until using an older map.

Marl - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marl

History of use:

• Marl was used in Britain as early as prehistoric times.
• Its use became more widespread in the 16th century, contributing to the agricultural revolution.
• Marl was used extensively in Britain in the 18th century.
• Marl was gradually replaced by lime and imported mineral fertilizers in the early 19th century.

Just sharing for the ignorant like myself.

 

[Tengu]

Arent they mostly in the East?

 

[TeeDee]

Arent they mostly in the East?

These are very much in the South West.

I have no idea how the geology of the UK distributes easy to access amounts but there are a lot of Marl pits located in my neck of the wood.

 

[Chris]

Interesting. I wasn't even aware of the word 'Marl' until just now. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Tengu]

Its degraded limestone, yes?

 

[TeeDee]

@tengu= Have a look https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html?layer=BGSMinAM

 

[Keith_Beef]

I was vaguely aware of it being a mix of clay and calcium carbonate and being used in a similar way to lime, but not that it was used for improving agricultural soils.

Marl - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Toddy]

Clay rich silt, usually marine origin, with algae involved in it somehow, iirc.
Much used in the past as a kind of soil enricher. Not quite a fertilizer but definitely a good stuff to add to the soil for crops.

It's not a thing around here at all. We have a lot of clay, a lot of sand and a lot of coal and sandstone in Lanarkshire, but no marl. No limestone either though, we'd need to go up to Perthshire to find that.

 

[Glow_worm]

When marl (alkaline) occurred in pockets amongst acidic clay farmland, it was dug and spread on the land to help neutralise the acidity which improved yields.

Quicklime was preferred later on, from chalk or limestone burnt in limekilns fired by coal or gorse stems. Loads of old limekilns in chalky areas amongst clay farmland, and on the coast where the product could be easily transported by sea.

 

[Tengu]

<Nods>

in North Cornwall they used sea sand...odd to us.

But when you have seen the sand...actually it is ground up seashell.

 

[Toddy]

<Nods>

in North Cornwall they used sea sand...odd to us.

But when you have seen the sand...actually it is ground up seashell.

That stuff was much used to make hearth fired pottery. It stops large cracking.

 

[William_Montgomery]

I do like Maps and even better are older maps - today I learnt something ( quite possibly slow on the uptake ) of why I tend to see 'Marl' in so many old roads or streets. Never really thought to question it until using an older map.

Marl - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marl

History of use:

• Marl was used in Britain as early as prehistoric times.
• Its use became more widespread in the 16th century, contributing to the agricultural revolution.
• Marl was used extensively in Britain in the 18th century.
• Marl was gradually replaced by lime and imported mineral fertilizers in the early 19th century.

Just sharing for the ignorant like myself.



View attachment 92978

I enjoy a good map too, and the etymology of place names.

The British Geological Survey do some interesting maps.

 

[TeeDee]

I enjoy a good map too, and the etymology of place names.

The British Geological Survey do some interesting maps.

Agreed- People who don't understand the difference between etymology and entomology bug me in ways I can't put into words.