Geodiversity Audit & Action Plan for the Causeway Coast & Glens Region April 2013 William Burke Acknowledgements This document has been produced with the help of many individuals and organisations who have contributed to the process by offering advice, information, the use of their facilities and documents and invaluable comments on drafts. The authors are grateful to the following: Staff at the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust; Northern Ireland Environment Agency; Geological Survey NI; the National Trust; Queens University, Belfast; University of Ulster; Officers from Limavady, Coleraine, Ballymoney, Ballymena, Moyle and Larne District Councils, Western Education and Library Board, North Eastern Education and Library Board and for all the others who have contributed information and provided assistance. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES 4 PART 1 INTRODUCTION TO GEODIVERSITY 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Scope of the Report 6 1.2 Structure of the Report 6 1.3 Study area 7 1.4 Defining Geodiversity 8 1.5 The Relevance of Geodiversity 9 1.6 Conserving Earth Science in the CCGHT area – Strategic Considerations and Designations 10 1.6.1 Regional Development Strategy 10 1.6.2 Northern Area Plan 2016 10 1.6.3 Causeway Coast & Glens Tourism Masterplan 2004-2013 10 1.6.4 Causeway Coast & Glens Tourism Area Plan 11 1.6.5 Earth Science Conservation Review 11 1.6.6 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty 11 1.6.6.1 Antrim Coast and Glens AONB 12 1.6.6.2 Causeway Coast AONB 12 1.6.6.3 Binevenagh AONB 13 1.6.7 World Heritage Site Designation 13 1.6.8 Areas of Special Scientific Interest 13 1.6.9 Special Aras of Conservation 14 1.6.10 Special Protection Areas 14 1.6.11 National Nature Reserves 14 1.6.12 Local Nature Reserves 14 PART 2 THE GEODIVERSITY OF THE CAUSEWAY COST AND GLENS 2.0 Background to the Geological and Geomorphological History 2.1 Introduction to the Geological Basement of Ireland 15 2.2 Geology of Northern Ireland 17 2.3 Geological Evolution of the Causeway Coast and Glens area 20 2.3.1 Precambrian Period 24 2.3.2 Devonian Period 27 2.3.3 Carboniferous Period 30 2.3.4 Triassic Period 33 2.3.5 Jurassic Period 35 2.3.6 Cretaceous Period 38 2.3.7 Palaeogene Period 43 2.3.8 Quaternary Period 50 2.4 Intrusive Igneous Rocks 54 2.4.1 Plugs 54 2.4.2 Sills 56 2.5 Landforms 58 2.5.1 Glacial Landforms 58 2.5.2 Coastal Landforms 60 2.5.3 Slopes 62 2.6 Soils 65 2.7 Fossils and Palaeontology 66 2.8 Minerals and Mineralogy 67 2 2.8.1 Industrial Minerals 67 2.8.2 Mineral Site Examples 67 3.0 Importance of the area in the development of geological science 69 4.0 Assessment of Key Sites of Geodiversity Interest 4.1 Factors contributing to site Selection 73 4.1.1 Economic Value and Tourism Potential 73 4.1.2 Access Conditions and Recreational Opportunities 74 4.1.3 Geoconservation Challenges and Opportunities 74 4.1.4 Education and Learning Opportunities 75 4.2 Site Register 77 4.3 Description of Key Geodiversity Sites of Importance 83 4.3.1 Torr Head 83 4.3.2 Fairhead to Murlough Bay 83 4.3.3 Cushendall to Waterfoot 84 4.3.4 Cushendun 84 4.3.5 Ballycastle Coalfield 84 4.3.6 Waterloo Foreshore, Larne 85 4.3.7 Portrush Sill 85 4.3.8 White Park Bay 85 4.3.9 White Rocks, Portrush 86 4.3.10 Ballintoy 86 4.3.11 Giant’s Causeway 86 4.3.12 Rathlin Island 87 4.3.13 Carrickarede 87 4.3.14 Slemish Mountain 87 4.3.15 Binevenagh 88 4.3.16 Portballintrae 88 4.3.17 Magilligan Foreland 88 5.0 Connections with landscape and biodiversity, built and cultural heritage 5.1 Geodiversity Connections with local Biodiversity 89 5.2 Geodiversity connections with the Built Heritage 91 5.3 Geodiversity connections with the Extractive Industries and Quarrying 92 5.4 Geodiversity connections with the Cultural Heritage 93 5.4.1 Myth and Folklore 93 5.4.2 Industrial Heritage 93 5.4.3 Painting, Art and Photography 93 References and Bibliography 94 PART 3 ACTION PLAN 6.0 Causeway Coast and Glens Geodiversity Action Plan 6.1 Introduction 99 6.2 Stakeholders 99 6.3 Action Plan 100 APPENDICES 115 3 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Map of Northern Ireland showing the location and extent of the Causeway Coast and Glens Geodiversity Audit. Figure 2: Map of Ireland illustrating the geological Terranes Figure 3: The rocks of Northern Ireland Figure 4: Map showing the simplified geology of the Causeway Coast and Glens area Figure 5: Map showing the Dalradian Geology of the Causeway Coast and Glens area Figure 6: Torr Head Limestone overlying the younger Altmore Formation Psammite beds. Figure 7: Map showing the Devonian Geology of the Causeway Coast and Glens area Figure 8: Sandstone Conglomerate at Cushendun Figure 9: Conglomerate beds and coarse sandstones at Cushendall Figure 10: Pink – Red pebbly sandstone of the Red Arch Formation, Cushendall. Figure 11: Map showing the Carboniferous Geology of the Causeway Coast and Glens area Figure 12: Coal bearing strata at Ballycastle Figure 13: Coal Mine entrance at Ballycastle Figure 14: Map showing the Triassic Geology of the Causeway Coast and Glens area Figure 15: Map showing the Jurassic Geology of the Causeway Coast and Glens area Figure 16: The rocks at Waterloo Bay looking at the boundary between the Triassic and Jurassic periods. Figure 17: Mudslide at Minnis North Figure 18: Map showing the Cretaceous Geology of the Causeway Coast and Glens area Figure 19: Tilted blocks of chalk on the west side of White Park Bay showing successive chalk members Figure 20: Raised Beach Caves, Stacks and Arches at Ballintoy Figure 21: Cretaceous Rocks at Whiterocks, Portrush Figure 22: Ulster White Limestone Members overlain by Basalt at Portrush Figure 23: Map showing the Palaeogene Geology of the Causeway Coast and Glens area Figure 24: Geological succession at the Giants Causeway covers the Lower and Middle Basalts and the lower of the two Inter-basaltic Beds of the Antrim Lava Group Figure 25: Lower Basalts at Windy Gap Figure 26: Colonnade/entablature junction at ‘The Organ’ Figure 27: The Giants Causeway Figure 28: Carrickarede volcano, now an island. This volcano erupted through the chalk during the initial explosive stage of igneous activity in Antrim Figure 29: Carrickarede vent agglomerate, weathered to red laterite with basalt boulders Figure 30: Binevenagh cliffs showing the presence of extensive slipped masses of basalt overlying Cretaceous, Liassic and Triassic rocks Figure 31: Glacio emergent sequence at Portballintrae consisting of glaciomarine diamict, shallow marine sands and muds overlain by shoreface gravels. Figure 32: Magilligan Dune System Figure 33: Slieveanorra and Croaghan Blanket Bog Figure 34: Slemish Mountain Figure 35: Tievebulliagh Mountain Figure 36: Scwat Hill Limestone – Dolerite contact zone Figure 37: Fair Head Sill Figure 38: Layered hornfels (baked mudstone) on top of Portrush sill. Figure 39: U shaped valley of Glenariff Figure 40: Carey Valley Delta Figure 41: Distribution of selected glacial geologic features and the position of the Armoy moraine Figure 42: Examples of Cliff, shore platform, cave, arch, and sea stack found at the Whiterocks Figure 43: Raised rock coast landforms at Ballintoy 4 Figure 44: Principal Areas of Landslides around the Basalt Plateau Figure 45: Rotational Landslide (Basalt over Chalk) at Garron Point, Coast Road Figure 46: Debris Flow at the Giant’s Causeway Figure 47: Rockfall on the Antrim Coast Road Figure 48: The “Neptunist” Abraham Gottlob Werner and the “Plutonist” James Hutton Figure 49: Lias shales containing Ammonites subjected to hornfelsing by intrusive rocks Figure 50: The Giant’s Causeway (Rev William Hamilton 1786) Figure 51: Sketch from Bald’s report to the Commissioners of Public Works in 1834. LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Geological Timescale illustrating the geological history of N. Ireland Table 2: Geological Timescale illustrating the geological history of the Causeway Coast and Glens Table 3: The currently accepted classification of the Precambrian Rocks of the CCGHT area Table 4: Currently Protected sites containing Precambrian Rocks Table 5: The currently accepted classification of the Devonian Rocks of the CCGHT area Table 6: Currently Protected sites containing Devonian Rocks Table 7: The currently accepted classification of the Carboniferous Rocks of the CCGHT area Table 8: Currently Protected sites containing Carboniferous Rocks Table 9: The currently accepted classification of the Triassic Rocks of the CCGHT area Table 10: The currently accepted classification of the Jurassic Rocks of the CCGHT area Table 11: Currently Protected sites containing Jurassic Rocks Table 12: The currently accepted classification of the Cretaceous Rocks of the CCGHT area Table 13: Currently Protected sites containing Cretaceous Rocks Table 14: The currently accepted classification of the Palaeocene Rocks of the CCGHT area Table 15: Currently Protected sites containing Palaeocene Rocks Table 16: The currently accepted classification of the Quaternary and Holocene deposits of the CCGHT area Table 17: Site Register 5 PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CONCEPT OF GEODIVERSITY 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Scope of the Report In 2012 the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust (CCGHT) was awarded funding from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to undertake a Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan for the Limavady, Coleraine, Ballymoney, Ballymena, Moyle and Larne Council areas focusing especially upon the geological heritage within the boundaries established by the Antrim Coast and Glens, Causeway Coast and Binevenagh Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).