1. Limestone… For limestone to form, there needed to be a tropical and clear water condition. This was what Britain was like at one stage. Creatures in water died and their bodies fell to the bottom and shells were slowly crushed to form limestone – they were later covered by sand and mud and hidden from view. Dudley and the surrounding area has limestone under the surface. It was used to build Dudley Castle and also was used as a raw material for iron smelting

2. Coal When trees died they fell in muddy soils and were covered up. Over many thousands of years they were turned into coal. The swamps were hot and steamy areas and so decomposition was quick. They were like African temperatures are today.

3. Sandstone For sand (central England) we generally need desert conditions. This is what happened in UK. This formed through weathering of mountains forming deserts. These desert sands pushed against each other under pressure and formed (New Sandstone Rock). We find this near Bewdley, Kinver and through some areas of Bridgnorth and Sedgley.

4. Dolerite Dolerite is a volcanic rock that has been cooled slowly to form the small crystals in it. Formed 60 million years ago. It is used for paving slabs and road use.

5. Clay Clay is a natural substance occurring in great abundance in nature. It is constantly being formed on the earth's surface as a result of the weathering of a very common form of rock called Feldspar. Is vital to line the blast furnace