Croft Quarry

Croft Hill located South West of Leicester in the UK hosts the biggest man-made hole in Europe. Croft Quarry operated by Camas Aggregate Industries is 300 meters deep and measures half a mile wide. Up to 2 million tones of granite a day was mined here until the mine ceased operations in 2022. Proposals have been made for mining to recommence in the future in a new location. This is expected to be under where the existing mine processing plant currently resides. The bottom of the mine needed 250 thousand gallons of water pumped out of it and sits 150 meters below sea level. The first signs of excavations on the site date back 200 years ago. Croft Hill was created around 500 million years ago by a volcanic eruption that pushed up molten igneous materials deep in the earth’s crust creating a hard lump of granite that pushed through the softer Marl and Boulder Clay. Also seen near the top of the quarry is red desert sand which was blown in over the years from the Sahara. Due to weathering and erosion Croft Hill now sits at a height of 300ft above the surrounding flat landscape. It was once a focal point for important gatherings as far back as the bronze age. These days walkers enjoy walking around the mines perimeter and enjoying the views from the top of the hill.