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General Description

This grouping includes both natural and artificial exposed rock surfaces where these are almost entirely lacking in vegetation, as well as various forms of excavations and waste tips. Significant communities of mosses, lichens and ferns growing on walls or rock ledges should be target noted. See also maritime cliff and slope (H8).

I1 Natural exposures

Natural Exposure DescriptionThis category is subdivided into inland cliffs (see I1.1), scree (see I1.2), limestone pavements (see I1.3), other exposures (see I1.4) and caves (see I1.5).

• I1.1 Inland cliff Description - This category is defined as rock surfaces over 2m high and sloping at more than 60o. Vegetated cliffs with more than 10% vascular plant cover are not included, but should be mapped using the relevant vegetation code, and target noted as necessary. Whether the cliff comprises of acidic/neutral or basic rock should be recorded (see I1.1.1 and I1.1.2)
  • I1.1.1 Inland cliff - acid/neutral Description - Inland cliffs comprising of acidic/neutral rock types. Inland cliffs are defined as rock surfaces over 2m high and sloping at more than 60°. Vegetated cliffs with more than 10% vascular plant cover are not included, but should be mapped using the relevant vegetation code, and target noted as necessary.
  • I1.1.1 Inland cliff - acid/neutral Description - Inland cliffs comprising of acidic/neutral rock types. Inland cliffs are defined as rock surfaces over 2m high and sloping at more than 60°. Vegetated cliffs with more than 10% vascular plant cover are not included, but should be mapped using the relevant vegetation code, and target noted as necessary.
• I1.2 Scree Description - Scree is defined as an accumulation, usually at the foot of a cliff, of weathered rock fragments of all sizes, mostly angular in shape. This category includes large boulders (boulder scree) which should be mapped using enlarged red dots. Whether the scree comprises of acidic/neutral or basic rock should be recorded (see I1.2.1 and I1.2.2).
  • I1.2.1 Scree - acid/neutral Description - Scree comprising of acidic/neutral rock types. Scree is defined as an accumulation, usually at the foot of a cliff, of weathered rock fragments of all sizes, mostly angular in shape. This category includes large boulders (boulder scree) which should be mapped using enlarged red dots.
  • I1.2.2 Scree - basic Description - Scree comprising of basic rock types. Scree is defined as an accumulation, usually at the foot of a cliff, of weathered rock fragments of all sizes, mostly angular in shape. This category includes large boulders (boulder scree) which should be mapped using enlarged red dots.
• I1.3 Limestone pavement Description - This comprises a near horizontal surface usually of Carboniferous Limestone, which is irregularly corrugated and furrowed by solution and often cut by deeper and more regular fissures (grikes), which correspond to naturally occurring joints within the rock.
• I1.4 Other exposure Description - Exposed rock on mountain tops and in river beds should, for example, be included in this category. Whether the exposure comprises of acidic/neutral or basic rock should be recorded (see I1.4.1 and I1.4.2).
  • I1.4.1 Other exposure - acid/neutral Description - Exposures comprising of acid/neutral rock types. Exposed rock on mountain tops and in river beds should, for example, be included in this category.
  • I1.4.2 Other exposure - basic Description - Exposures comprising of basic rock types. Exposed rock on mountain tops and in river beds should, for example, be included in this category.
• I1.5 Cave Description - Any natural recess, large enough to enter and with a complete ceiling, should be mapped as cave and any features of interest target noted. Large crevices and deep narrow gullies should not be included here, but should be mapped under 'other'.

I2 Artificial exposures and waste tips

Artifical Exposure and Waste Description The boundaries of quarries, spoil heaps, mines or refuse tips should be outlined in red. Covering vegetation, if abundant, should be coded as appropriate, under grassland, scrub, etc, or target noted if sparse.

• I2.1 Quarry Description - Excavations such as gravel, sand or chalk pits and stone quarries should be included in this category. Target note the mineral or ore which has been, or is being, extracted. If the site is water-filled, map as open water and target note previous use.
• I2.2 Spoil Description - Includes abandoned industrial areas and tips of waste material such as coal mine spoil and slag. Spoil heaps within quarries should be included in I2.1. Target note the type of soil.
• I2.3 Mine Description - Mark the area on the map and target note any features of interest.
• I2.4 Refuse-tip Description - (* This Phase 1 alphanumeric reference code differs from that used in either the 1984 NCC/RSNC classification or the 1982 SSSI mapping system.) - Target note any vegetation of interest, if it covers an area too small to map, and code the dominant species.