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Home , Cushendun, Dervock, Glendun, Glenoe, Gracehill, Mussenden Temple

Key

Clay and lignite Lough Neagh Group Mudstone and conglomerate Dunaghy Formation Basalt Upper Basalt Formation Palaeogene Bauxite clay Interbasaltic Formation Columnar basalts Causeway Basalt Formation Basalt Lower basalt formation

Chalk and flints Ulster White Limestone Formation Cretaceous Grey mudstones Waterloo Mudstone Formation Jurassic Mudstone Penarth Group

Rathlin Island Mudstone Mercia Mudstone Group Triassic Red sandstone, mudstones and conglomerates Sherwood Sandstone Group

Giant’s Sandstone, siltstone and mudstone Millstone Grit Causeway Whitepark Bay Fair Head Limestone Carboniferous Limestone Series Ballintoy 5 Carboniferous Portballintrae Sandstone, conglomerate and mudstone Barony Glen Formation Greencastle Ballycastle Portrush Conglomerate and sandstone Cross Slieve Group Devonian Magilligan Point Bushmills Torr Head Portstewart Metamorphosed sandstone, mudstone and siltstone Runabay Formation Castlerock Glenshesk Benone Glentaisie Downhill Limestone Torr Head Limestone Dalradian Metamorphosed sandstone, mudstone and siltstone Murlough Bay Formation 5 Cushendun Coleraine Armoy Dervock Glendun Binevenagh River Glenaan Microgabbro Mountain Bush Glencorp Macosquin Lough Foyle Rhyolite Bann Slieveanorra Cushendall Granodiorite Valley Mountain A2 Tievebulliagh Mountain Glenari Metamorphosed lavas and tuffs Loughguile City of Derry Ballymoney Garron Garron Airport Plateau Point Andesite Limavady Glenari Ballykelly Glenballyemon River Roe River Eglinton Bann Cloughmills Carnlough Roe Londonderry Valley Glenarm Garvagh 3 Glenarm A6 Glencloy Rasharkin Kilrea

Dungiven Swatragh Ballygally Claudy A6 Carnfunnock Broughshane Country Park Cairnryan Causeway Coastal Route Causeway Coast and Glens Region Feeny Cullybackey Slemish Troon Upperlands Mountain Additional Scenic Routes Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty AONB Portglenone Islandmagee Gracehill Ballymena Motorways UNESCO World Heritage Site A42 Larne B900 Sperrin Maghera Ahoghill Roads Marinas Mountains Railway Airports A2 A6 A8 B1550 Ferry Crossings Bellaghy Glenoe Kells A54 0 5 km 10 km 15 km 20 km Castledawson Ballycarry A57 0 5 miles 10 miles 15 miles A6 A26 Whitehead Randalstown Toome Ballyclare Magherafelt A29 A8 A2 Carrickfergus A31 Antrim

Templepatrick

A6 Whiteabbey Cairnryan A26 Isle of Man Lough Glengormley Neagh A57A Liverpool A29 Newtownabbey

A52 N Crumlin A26 W E A29 Belfast Reproduced by permission of the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Oce. S © Crown copyright 2008. Permit Number: 70124

A30 Mid Antrim Teacher’s Sheet Visit Time: 2-3 hours NB: The location numbers are provided moving Northwards from Larne to Waterfoot Bay, but can be done in the reverse order. Students will see a range of rock types representing almost 300Ma of Earth’s history from Triassic to Palaeogene. It is possible to find a range of fossils in the storm beach material at several sites. Evidence of coastal erosion and a range of methods used for coastal protection are evident as are the constant engineering tasks undertaken to keep the coast road open . Waterloo was shortlisted for the global stratotype for the Triassic - Jurassic boundary which can be seen at the foreshore.

LWMM T 65 Shingle

63 RO A D

5 HWM MT

1 71

3 57

15.9

Shingle

WELLINGTON AVENUE 2 ± 49

47 18

17.6

41 1

39 11 5 Shingle

Kiln

32 Und

(disused) 26

11 3 Irish Sea 24

19.6

GLENARM ROAD

111

Playground

Def

Sloping Masonary Sks

Flat 13 8 Pond Rock

UPPER WATERLOO ROAD

Playground Und Und Outfall

13 2 Iss Def

13 0 D Fn

WELLINGT Shelter Def Shingle Chaine Park Shingle Flat Roc k

12 8 13 2 CH

ON PARADE 12 6

13 0 Shingle

FW 8a

FW Iss 6a

12 8 a Def

4a Shelter

2a Nursing Home

Priv ate Bur ial Ground 12 8 Flat Rock EarthEarthwork Works

12 4

Sloping

Flat Rock

ESS Rathmore House Masonry

24.4

LWMM T

Rathmoyle Car Park

P R OME

W MT HWM HAWKINGE AVENUE 7 to 12 6 to 1

25.0 N A D E E D Sks Iss Glenarm Road10 7

12 0 05 5 10

BM 24.39

Shingle Tennis Court Bowling Green G L E N A R M R O A D Tennis Courts Playground 23.8 Groy nes

Sloping 1 Masonry

DOVER A VENUE

Tennis Court 97

Pav ilion Tlts

11 0

Groy ne 22.6

Shingle

Sloping Masonr y

Bandstand Shingle 10 6 Groy ne

Larne Bank Heads

LWMM T Town Park 4.0

Bathing

10 4 Place

HWM MT 85 Larne Town Shelter

Pos ts

Park Prom

10 0

enade 81 Shingle

FW 4.0

Slop

19.8 ing M

CR BANKHEADS LANE asonry

96 - 98

73 71

S l o p i n g M a s o n r y

4.3

65 Pos t 1

Shingle 3 63a

18.0 63

B A N K H E A D S L A N E

Pos t Slipway 47a Tank

Pos ts 84 3.7 CR 53 St ComgallsSt Comgall's P R O M E N A D E High School

LWMM T 51

S l o p i n g Nursery High School

Tennis Courts

M a s o n r y

16.6

Boulders ESS

Boulders

Car Park Sloping BM 16.06 P Shingle Car Park

Masonry 49 P

ESS Larne Leisure

Lodge LarneCentre Leisure Sand Centre HWM MT

Pos ts D Fn

Car Park Sand 44 2.7 Drumalis Convent

47 FB

3.7 38

rp 2.7 36 C H A I N E

6.4 2 RUGBY ROAD ts rp 41 rp

ME M O R I A L R O AD

4 4

2a a 32

CW 30

28 26

T O W E R R O A D

9.1

0 50 100 200 MetersH A R B O U R W A R D P 24 Location Map Glenarm ±

6.4

Issues

Und

Shingle Irish Sea

4.9

Lay-by

4.3 Shingle

Shingle

Coast 4.0Road (A2)

3.4 3 Beach

Und

P Ballygally

CB 3.4

Layby Shingle

419

M I N N I S S O U T H

4.0

Foxhall

BB C O A S T R O A D

54 56

025 50 100 Meters Location Map

This map material is based upon Crown Copyright and is reproduced with the permission of Land and Property Services under Delegated Authority from the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office © Crown Copyright and database rights – MOU 206.2 POSSIBLE POINTS TO NOTE STOPS All sites can be accessed from the coast road. In most cases there are lay-bys or Access: larger car parks near the beaches. Toilets are adjacent to the large car parks. Waterloo Beds: Drive to Larne Leisure Centre, parking is also available along the seafront road. The sea-side promenade is wide and runs the entire length of the study area. The geological features are on the intertidal bed and are only accessible at low or ebb tide. Check the local tide chart for Larne Harbour and time your visit accordingly. Starting on the seaward side of Larne Leisure Centre head North away from Larne Town, keeping the sea to the right. As you travel north the rocks become younger in age and the colour of the rocks change, from red, through greenish-grey, to dark grey. When these rocks formed (approximately 200 million years ago) sea level and the local environment changed from arid coastal plains, through shallow salty lagoons and eventually open sea. At low tide patches of soft RED SILTSTONE are exposed on the shore. Beneath this siltstone lays more than 1000 metres of similar rock and several thick beds of ROCK SALT. The red siltstone was laid down on a dry arid plain, with salt forming through the repeated evaporation of saline lakes. Today this rock salt is mined deep beneath the surface near Carrickfergus and is used to salt the roads in winter. Continue northwards, the rocks you can see at Waterloo Bay were originally deposited as horizontal layers of mud and silt. Today these rock layers slope to the north with the oldest rocks, around 210 million years old, found towards the southern end of the bay and younger rocks, about 195 million years old at the northern end. In one 4 metre bed of mud and sand these layers have been crumpled, folded and in places almost erased. They were deformed by violent shaking from a powerful earthquake when the layers were part of a soft sea-bed rather than the tough rock they are now. This can be seen to the 1 left, behind an inset picnic bench. All across the UK, from Derry~Londonderry in Northern Ireland to Dorset in southern England, rocks of exactly the same age show the same crumpled layers. This would have been a truly catastrophic earthquake. Continue northwards until you reach steps which lead from the promenade onto the intertidal beds. Occasional fossils can be found here. This is also an excellent location to observe the sharp changes between beds of different ages as the rocks here represent the transition between the Triassic and the Jurassic period. The rocks here at Waterloo Beds were shortlisted as the global stratotype for this boundary, meaning that it would have been the international reference point for this key period in Earth history. This prestigious accolade was awarded to an alternative site in Austria, but the time period setting of this site remains of great significance and for that reason it has been designated as an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI). At low tide layers of grey MUDSTONE and SILTSTONE are uncovered on the shore. They contain fossils of various marine creatures that inhabited a shallow muddy sea. Fossils of sea creatures first appear where the rock layers change abruptly from greenish- grey to almost black. This marks the time when sea-levels had risen enough to flood across the coastal plains and lagoons, bringing with it scallops, clams and fish. As sea levels continued rising many more sea creatures moved in, such as the coiled-shelled AMMONITES which are extinct relatives of squid. At the top of the food chain were predatory Ichthyosaurs, dolphin-like swimming reptiles. A skeleton of an Ichthyosaur was discovered here in 1999 and is on display in the Ulster Museum. The path continues north where a storm beach can be seen. There are information panels and fossil rubbing plaques along the promenade.

Black Arch: Just north of Waterloo forms a tunnel over the road. This is BASALT, a hard igneous rock formed form lava. The joints in the lava provide a weakness 2 exploited by weathering processes and students should note the wire mesh fixed to the cliff edge with rock bolts to prevent scree falling onto the road. Irish Sea ±

Glenarm Bay

Cushendall

H & LW M M T

LW M M T BM C O A S T R O A D H & L WM M T 5. 39 d Un

Na vig a tio n L ig ht BM [ F la s hin g R ed ] Bo u lde r s 6. 20

4. 3

Ta nk

(c ov d ) Nav igation Light BungalowsCloney [F la sh in g G re e n] Slip wa y

Co n ve yo r s

CS 2 2 Bo u lde r s M

Ch y 1 1 Pie r W

Un d

Ho p pe r s

13 H & LW W M T 11 4. 9 Po lic e Picn ic Ar ea Sta tio n P Castle Patrick Ta nk s (c ov d ) Ca r Pa rk

Te l Ex 9

M an s e HW M M T LW M M T H & LW M M T Ha rb o u r

HW M M T 7 7 Sh ing le P

Glenarm Bo u lde r s 7a

Sh ing le Un d H & L WW M T 5 5 Su rg e ry 4. 6

4. 9 S T R A I D K I L L Y Ca r 4. 3

T H E Pa rk 3 3

C O A S T R O A D

Un ita r ian Picn ic 1 1 To wn Are a Ch u rc h f De Lady's Hill Sh ing le C L O N E Y Qu a rr y Pa th R O A D T lts D LW M M T 4. 9 Ballygally Pa r Ho Pla yg ro u n d A

F o ot br id g e O CR

R 2 2 F ac to ry ESS Abbey W

(r e m ain s o f) LW M M T 12 E N St Patrick 's Se wa g e Ho p pe r Pp g Sta 2. 7 Glenarm Church BM 3 .4 4 4. 9 T C Whitebay Point

Td & W ard Bdy Slip wa y

(C o f I) Church Primary 17 R iv e r of the School Immaculate Picn ic Ha ll Ar ea 4. 6 Conception

8 (RC) R O A D CAS T LE D EM ESN E

HW M M T T d & Wa r d Bd y 11 H & LW M M T

3 Legnageeragh

2 9 9 E T 1

CS 4 7 7

Gl e n a r m Seaview R E 2a N 3 F B Pr Sc h S T Sh ing le Pla yg ro u n d

5 BM 1 K Un d

6 4. 54 R White Bay PH 6 Iss u es

Glenarm F B A D I C K E Y S T O W

5 To we r 2 2

T O ff Ha ll

4 4

22 8 8

ST 9

2 2

1 1 PH

Castleview Cottages

10 12 10 WAL K

3 3 CB 6

PH E 18

14 16 R

O 12

7 7 5 8 8

H & LW M M T H & LW W M T Un d 18

12 13 9 9

T T 11 10

TO B ERW IN E

20 to 26

15 13

19 0

Ha ll 14

34 32

21 23

Pa th

38 36 4. 3

Ca r Pa rk OBEWI EET RE T S E IN ERW B TO

Barbican 42 Sin ks 44 Bridge 46

1 to 20 31 29 50 P

Antrim Arm s 52 Forest Glen Cottages

HW M M T T d & Wa r d Bd y 54

37 5

35 1 1

HW M M T T d & Wa r d Bd y

PO Glenarm F B

Barbican F W 56 19 35

Castle 17 15

58 60 Lodge F B 13 11 45 4 45 3 ESS

CAS T LE ST R EET 1 Un d 16 3 Legaan Rocks

1 PH

8 8 64

The Old 6 2 29 HP

Sch House 18 2

to w hic h 1 27

VEN NEL S T Iss u es

M Ts flo w BM 1 22 8 10 5 3

7. 86 Cut Rock

MA R K S T R E ET 2 2

7 7 Crockandillish

Tw r

11 9 9 19 6. 4

PH 11 20

13 13

24 Iss 10

CR 28 T CB

19 9 9 Sin ks 15 T O W N P A R K S

12 Pp

19 1 2 23 16 18 8. 2 Sks Tw r 21

2 ALTMORE S TREE T

CB 28

27 1

32 White Burrow

34 3 3

Pre s b Un d

Ch 36

CW 14

11 .0 5 5 16

Iss u es

7 7 38

Town 9 24

5 13 Lodge 15

19 .2

6 40

B M

24 .0 3

S P R I N G H I L L

Gl e n a r m Ri v e r

Iss u es

20 37 .2

BM 4 2 .8 0 GP

Un d

12 D I C K E Y S T O W N R O A D

A l t m o r e R i v e r 14

De f 51 .5 CR

Glenarm Estate CS

BR A E

T T OW N 0 125 250 500 Meters Location Map Minnis North/Drumnagreagh: Lies just north of Ballygally towards Glenarm. Just below the disused Drumnagreagh Hotel there is a small lay-by on the coastal side of the road and from here students can walk a few hundred metres north to view the extensive MUDFLOWS on the slopes opposite. Care should be taken since there is no pavement but there is an area opposite the MUDFLOWS on the coastal side where it is safe to stand. Engineering work is generally in progress to reduce the ongoing effects of the MUDFLOWS. These flows form in the unstable Lias CLAY which becomes mobile during wet weather and carries rocks from the slopes above 3 towards the coast frequently blocking the road. It is an example of the process of SOLIFLUCTION, where soil or CLAY particles become saturated and begin to flow during wet weather. Roads Service uses heavy plant machinery to move the slump material and dump it over the coast wall. Retaining wall composed of large concrete blocks are placed on the landward side of the road in an attempt to hold back the flows. Fossils can frequently be found in the slumped material, dumped on the coast side (mostly Gryphea, a form of extinct bivalve). Students should not attempt to climb or approach the active MUDFLOWS on the opposite side of the road. From White Bay Northwards just south of Glenarm the Coast Road has been reconstructed and moved seawards. There is a large car park and picnic area on the seaward side of the road. Evidence of large rockfalls and LANDSLIDES can be seen. Here the overlying weight of the limestone, BASALT and the weak nature of 4 the CLAYS beneath have resulted in large sections of cliff failure. These failures block the road and pose a constant danger before the road was moved seawards using the collapsed rocks as a foundation. The collapsed material has also been used as RIP- RAP to protect from the power of the waves. At Glenarm Head the jointed nature of the CHALK is evident and this facilitated weathering processes and instability. Glenarm: There is a large car park with toilets at the edge of the town. From here the beach and the town can be accessed easily. The storm beach contains some good fossils in the beach boulders. 5 Walk into the village towards the castle entrance where there are good examples of local building stone being used in the Old School House and on the castle entrance and portcullis. These are mostly red sandstone and BASALT. Students should consider what properties make these rocks good for construction. Garron Point: Just to the south of Garron Point are low BASALT cottages once belonging to the coastguard. Beside these cottages there is a large car park and flat grassy area. Garron Point provides another example of slope instability in the form of large rotational SLUMP BLOCKS. The jointed CHALK and BASALT above the Lias CLAY allows water to permeate through until it reaches the impermeable CLAY below. Alternate swelling and contraction of the CLAY minerals creates instability. During the last glaciation ice sheets supported the cliff front but as the ice melted 6 the unsupported cliffs slumped and rotated along curved or LISTRIC fault planes. At least three large SLUMP BLOCKS can be seen in profile looking northwards. The block nearest the coast dips most steeply (about 30°W/landwards) and each section towards the cliff has a less pronounced dip. The beds in the cliff are horizontal. Students can sketch a section of the headland showing the SLUMP BLOCKS and add approximate angles of dip for each at the top surface of the CHALK. NB: There is an information board at the car park entrance which has some useful diagrams explaining this process. This can be used as a guide for student sketches. T O W E R 100 G A R R O N R O A D Cushendall Foaran R O A D River Pipeline ± Iss

Pumping Station

Shing le

4.3

30 LWMMT

Sloping Masonry

5.8 Shingle GarronGarron Point Point

Playing Fields

5.8

slump blocks 6 Shing le le Shing

Playing Fields

4.9

Sloping Masonry Masonry Sloping

Playing Field Re sr

(covd) 4.9 Garronpoint Cave Reservoir (covd) Dunmaul

Promontory Fort Shingle

S h i n g l e

TCB 93 Coastguard Cottages

4.6 91

85 Flat Rock

Path

Ca r PPark LWMMT Shingle

Flat Rock Path

Flat Rock

Ch apel

(Private)

4.6

Flat Rock 25

St Mac Nissi's LWMMT Glenarm Grammar School HW MMT

T O W E R R OA D

G A R R O N R O A D

025 50 100 Meters Location Map Cushendall Teacher’s Sheet

Visit Time: 1½ -2 hours 25

Und 22 19 FW CW ±

8 5 7 16 6

S T R E E T

1 Riverside

11 Court

9 9

10 4 3 3 Und

S H O R E 8 5 9a

HIGH STREET 19

13 11

3 3 20 4

HIGH STREET 9

18 2 ESS

16 3

12 1 1

BM 7.57

4 4

2 2 2 2 TCB 11 Curfew Tower Cushendall 11 PH Tower 7 BRIDGE STREET PH

2 2

6 6 5 4 4

7 4

2 2 CR 6 6 9

8 8 Fairways Def 11 10

15 2

12 Hotel

2 2 6 1

17 BM 14 PH 8 14 19 S T R E E T 10 29 9.18 Tlts 11.3

PH PO

3 3 31 1 25 16.8

25 20

M I L L

5 5

20a 17

11 1 2

20b 3 22

7 5 Car Park 2 24 Police 11.2 Sta 7a 7b

9 Liby

13 26 Knockmoy Fold 7.3 1

3 6 6

Layde BM 8.80 5a 8 8 Church 5

7 (C of I) Layde Parish Church Bus 1 Depot 9 B A L L Y E M O N R O A D 15 11 CR

16.0

14 10

0 25 50 100 Meters Location Map

4 Car

10 11.6 St Mary's Park

Shingle Primary School G O R T A C L E E R O A D 3

CR 1

14 5 16 Pier 11 P 23 22

B E LL I S K P AR K H & LWMMT

4 4 Toilets Flat Rock 6 6 2

Health Centre 2

1 1 8 8 2 2

Car Flat 10 Park Rock ±

7 12 Slipway 10

43 LWMMT

6 Fs Car 2

8 57 9 Park

45 H & LWMMT 59 Flat Lifeboat

BELLISK DRIVE 18 Rock

18 House 7 7 10

61 8.5 16

63 15 Club

22 House P

1 32 14 Lifeboat Station 11

Shingle Flat 47 2

Rock

13 45 70

44 15 38 46

49 79

60 67 Mooring Posts 81

21 Gortaclee

39 Shingle Terrace 5 57 Mooring Posts

25 Slipway 6 Def CS BM 7.33

33 CR

Flat Rock 82 Boat House

5 84

31 Und

9 CS 1 1

10 BELLISK LWMMT GORTACLEE COURT

Issues or Flat

64 Rock 63a 63a

63 WATERFORD

Def

M I D D L E P A R K R O A D 65

66 6.7 Sks 67 E L L A N A B O U G H

CS 69

Flat Rock 3 LWMMT

CULBIDAGH COURT 4 4

Def

C O AS CT O ADR O

Caravan

Shingle HWMMT Park

5.5 77

Flat Rock

Shingle

LWMMT

Flat Rock

4.6

CF Flat Rock

Flat Rock BB

Shingle

CB Flat Rock

Flat Rock

Shingle

4.3 Flat Rock C A R N A N E E

4.3

Flat Rock

Shingle

Und 81

Flat Rock

CR LWMMT

Shingle

Flat CF 5.5 Rock FW

Flat Rock Shingle

HWMMT

Flat Rock

Issues Cave

Flat Cave 3Rock 7.9 Red Bay Castle (ruins of)

Red Arch

M I D D L E P A R K R O A D Cave

Sloping Masonry

Bol Sand Sks

PSand 6.7 H & LWMMT

Shingle

Flat Bols 100 100 Flat Rock

Rock Landing Place

R O A D Bol

4.6 HWMMT

Coal Sand Yard

Bol Flat Beacon (White Light Flashing) Rock Bols Bol

C O A S T

LWMMT Redbay Pier Flat Rock 5 At River Mouth 4 (not shown on map) Flat Rock 0 50 100 200 Meters Location Map POSSIBLE POINTS TO NOTE STOPS Parking is available at several places e.g. south of Cushendall at the lifeboat station, Access on the pier at Red Arch (not coaches) or near the bridge at Waterfoot village. When approaching Cushendall from the north or leaving the town towards Cushendun, two buildings of note are constructed using the local RED SANDSTONE 1 – the curfew tower at the crossroads in town and layde Parish Church on the Cushendun Road. These provide good examples of the versatile use of some SANDSTONES for building purposes. On the south side of Cushendall there is a large car park at the lifeboat station and slipway. To the right of the slipway CONGLOMERATES are exposed on the wave cut platform. These have a range of rounded and subrounded clasts of various dimensions held together by a sandy matrix and strong silica cement. The red colour results from iron oxidation and suggests a desert environment; however the coarse clasts must have been transported and deposited by a high energy flow 2 of water probably during flash floods. These represent outwash material which often form alluvial fans at the mouth of desert canyons. Students should note the composition of the clasts and matrix, measuring and recording dimensions for a number of the clasts. The clasts are composed of older eroded rocks with a range of compositions but they are generally resistant rocks such as QUARTZITE or GRANITE. Note the use of rip-rap and gabions at this location to reduce coastal erosion beside the slipway. Travel or walk towards Red Arch. Smaller vehicles can park at the corner of the pier beyond the coal yard. Walk back along the pavement on the outside of the arch towards Cushendall. Here the stratified (layered beds) of SANDSTONE or BRECCIA can be seen with CONGLOMERATE on the wave cut platform at sea level. The finer beds of sand may be wind deposited but pebbles and larger rocks would have been 3 deposited by flowing water. The pebbles in these beds of BRECCIA and occasional larger elongated rocks often show graded bedding with the coarsest pebbles at the base fining upwards. These elongated pebbles tend to be aligned or orientated in the direction of the current which deposited them (palaeocurrent) and this is known as an imbricate structure. Breccia is similar to CONGLOMERATE but the clasts are much more angular. Walking back towards the coal yard the cliffs opposite display CROSS BEDDED DESERT SANDSTONES. These are aeolian SANDSTONES deposited entirely by wind in a desert environment. The Cross Beds sloping in various directions are formed by changing wind direction and are similar to the arrangement of beds in a coastal sand dune today. To get a close look, cross the road and climb over the grass bank on the 4 landward side. The cliffs are visible through the undergrowth of bushes and trees. Walking further south along the road there are a number of caves at the base of the cliff. Some of the entrances have been bricked up. One of these was used as a school in the 18th Century. The caves are now above sea level and the entrances at road level represent a raised beach. Dykes are exposed on the wave cut platform south of the Coal Yard and towards the river mouth, but are only visible at low tide. Dykes are igneous intrusions of magma 5 which are much younger than the surrounding beds on either side. They are more resistant to coastal erosion and wave action than the RED SANDSTONE BEDS and stand well above the wave cut platform. Cushendun Teacher’s Sheet Visit Time: 1 hour

6.1

5 7

1 1 ± R O A D D A O R

BM 6.12

SHANES PARK B A Y Sand 20 17 Pump

Maud

1 1

10 Cottages S a n d 8 8

LWMMT

6 6 4 4 HWMMT Sand 7

THE SQUARE TCB Slipway

PO LWMMT Flat Rock 6 6 Flat Rock 5

M A I N S T R E E T

3 Sand & Shingle

5.8

1 1 2 2 1

4 4 Slipway Und

HWMMT

Sand 39 Shingle 2 2

Co & LGD

27 Sand Sand 42

BAY APARTMENTS

PH 38

Td & Ward Bdy

40 40

32 Flat Rock

5 25

Slipway 24

1a P 21 Cushendun 20

1 1 Toilets Quay Sand ESS

Und 14

FB Flat Rock 1 10 Shingle Td & Ward Bdy FB A D S h i n g l e

RIVERVIEW CRESCENT STRANDVIEW 8 PARK

R O 6 6 Hotel 2 Td & Ward Bdy

C A V E Cushendun Caves

S h i n g l e

LWMMT

1 1 14 3 3

12 Flat Rock Shingle 3 HWMMT

Glendun River 10

5 5 7 7

Sand Tel Ex

10 9 9 4

Tunnel

HWMMT

Sand R O A D

LWMMT Bdy

S h i n g l e 19

Ward 16

Und

A R R Y

S h i n g l e Td & LWMMT

A C

Und Cave Sand HWMMT HP to which House

Und MTs flow 30

K N O C K N

Def

Flat Rock

Sks CF Issues

Flat Rock Flat Rock

025 50 100 Meters

Location Map

POSSIBLE POINTS TO NOTE STOPS Parking is available in the large car park in front of the new apartments overlooking Access the harbour. The main site at the caves can be accessed even at high tide. The rocks on the floor of the arch at the coast are slippery and the cave floor is wet Hazards and often flooded but passable. The area below and behind the apartments and the area beyond the gates in the main arch are private property. From the car park look north across the Glendun River to the beach, several methods to protect the coastal dunes and the beach from erosion can be seen. The beach is subject to longshore drift where a coastal current carries sand southwards towards the river. In places groynes have been built to slow this process and vertical 1 sleepers have been placed along the sand dunes to reduce erosion. Where the beach meets the river, there is a small harbour and this would infill with sand if a projection of loose boulders (rip-rap) were not in place. Note that the bridge over the river is constructed with local RED SANDSTONE and some bedding structures can be seen in the SANDSTONE blocks. Proceed from the car park around the apartments keeping to the coast road/ path. Behind the apartments to the left of the road is a raised beach and a large arch in the CONGLOMERATE cliffs. The exit from the arch is gated and is private property. 2 A raised beach is the result of uplift of the land (isostatic recovery) released from the weight of overlying ice sheets following a glaciation. Land levels currently rise faster than the sea level in this part of Ireland. The caves and arches were once formed by erosional processes at sea level but are now well above normal tide levels. Stop at the first cave to the right of the road. Explain the formation of caves and note that there is generally at least one fault line running from the roof of the cave. This provided an area of weakness in the cliff where abrasion and hydraulic action could form the cave. The other caves in the area display similar features.

Study the CONGLOMERATES closely looking at the following features:- • Grain size – large well rounded clasts of various size (students could measure length and breadth of a given number to show range and average size). • Matrix - The clasts are held in a sandy matrix which is well cemented – it is difficult to remove clasts though some have fallen out leaving hollows in the cliff. • Composition - Most of the clasts are composed of QUARTZITE or METAQUARTZITE (a hard, metamorphic rock which was originally a SANDSTONE). The QUARTZITE clasts are much older than the CONGLOMERATE. The sandy 3 matrix is red in colour indicating a hot desert environment and the presence of iron minerals. Looking a the cliff above the two large arches ahead, several large blocks of RED SANDSTONE can be seen enclosed in the CONGLOMERATE. These represent sections of much earlier SANDSTONE cliffs, eroded and incorporated in the CONGLOMERATE.

Origin/formation: Students should be asked where such conditions might exist today i.e. where great accumulations of rounded boulders and sand may form. If they look to the left of the road the present beach with a mix of rounded clasts with sand infilling the spaces and the occasional large section of rock surrounded by the loose rocks. CONGLOMERATE forms in these conditions or in deserts where gullies are sometimes occupied by flash floods forming alluvial fans or outwash material. Walk through the large arch to the left which brings you out on the present storm beach. Looking towards the roof of the cave a large fault is evident. Two other faults can be seen in the high cliff to the right. The fault line is marked by a red powdered 4 layer known as BRECCIA. This was produced by the pulverising and crushing of rocks as the fault moved. Return to car park. Ballycastle Teacher’s Sheet Visit Time: 2 Hours ±

Flat

Rock

LWMMT Flat Rock Flat

North Star Dyke Caskinbarrow Rock Flat HWMMT Sand Rock

HWMMTFlat Rock Sand Flat Rock Colliery Bay

Sand and Shingle Flat Rock

Flat 2 R E R O A D Flat C A R R I C K M O Rock LWMMT Shingle Flat Rock F l a t R o c k Shingle Rock 2 40

Flat Rock Flat

Rock Sand and Shingle

LWMMT

Level

(dis)

Flat Rock

Und 3 Flat Rock

Sand and Shingle

37 4

Def

T O R N A R O A N

CB Tornaroan

Flat 40 Rock 36 LWMMT Flat

38 Rock Flat Flat Rock Flat Rock Rock Flat LWMMT

Rock

HWMMT HWMMT

LWMMT Flat Flat Flat Rock Flat Sks Rock Rock HWMMT Sewage Def HWMMT Rock Works Sand and Tank Flat Rock Shingle

Sand & Flat Rock Shingle

H & LWMMT Caravan Def Flat Rock Pipeline Park LWMMT Port Watty 32 ROAD LWMMT Flat MORE I CK CB Tlts CA R R Rock Park Flat Rock BM 14.56 21.8 10.1 H & LWMMT Flat Rock

HWMMT Und Caravan Flat Rock LWMMT LWMMT

Flat Rock Flat Rock LWMMT Sand and

Shingle Iss 33.2 H & LWMMT MMT W L Flat Rock 7.0 FB CR H & Flat 9.5 HWMMT Rock 42

9.9 Caravan Def Flat Rock LWMMT Park Flat Tlts Rock Corrymeela HWMMT 8.5 1 BM 10.17 Tornabodagh 38.2 24 22 34 CF

CB 32

BM 8.54

BB CF

8.7

16 T O R N A B O D A G H CB

43.0 15

C A R R I C K M O R E R O A D 7.4 CB

Sinks

11 26 9 9

Issues 17

19 21

58.6 CR

24 23 D R U M A R O A N

CB 24a BM 61.36 R O A D CF

22a

72.0 B R O U G H A N L E A CF

0 125 250 500 Meters

Location Map

POSSIBLE POINTS TO NOTE STOPS From Ballycastle cross the river at the Golf Club and take the first road left toward Access the coast. Large coaches must park at the beachside car park and can proceed no and further along this road. Note Bonamargy Friary at the road junction is worth a visit. Information The rocks in the ruins of the walls and in the gravestones display good examples of various building stones and how weathering has affected these in different ways. Walk from the coach park or drive in smaller vehicles to the small caravan park to the right of the road. The cliff behind the caravan park displays a good sequence of Carboniferous COAL measures. Explain how COAL seams form and that the thin seams are of poor quality COAL, interbedded with MARINE SANDSTONES and SHALES. This sequence of rocks is repeated many times (a cyclothem) but the layers 1 of rock vary in thickness. The COAL was extracted by adit (near horizontal) shafts sunk back into the cliffs and dipping landwards. Mining ceased in the 1960’s due to the poor quality of the COAL and problems of extraction caused by faulting and flooding. Waste tips can be seen further around the coast at the turning area and the remains of piers where boats were loaded with COAL for Belfast and Dublin. Other COAL seam exposures can be seen as you drive eastwards. Proceed to the end of the road along the coast and park at the turning area. Walk back around 200m where there is a gap in the SANDSTONE wall which allows access to a narrow set of stone steps down to the North Star Dyke. The steps are narrow, steep and slippery and there is no handrail, so it is safer to view the dyke from the roadside above. A small number of students could access the dyke 2 to take measurements of thickness, height etc. Students can sketch the dyke and add dimensions. The dyke is composed of DOLERITE and represents an igneous intrusion cutting up through older SANDSTONES on the wave cut platform. Note that the SANDSTONE platform is higher on the west side of the dyke indicating vertical displacement along a fault line. The DOLERITE dyke was intruded through this fault. Opposite the gap in the SANDSTONE wall is an abandoned adit shaft which now has a gate across it. This provided access to the COAL seams below and allowed water to drain out. Ask students to think about problems of COAL mining in such an 3 area and why COAL mining eventually stopped. Note the SANDSTONE blocks used to construct the wall and to line the shaft. What makes SANDSTONE a good building stone? Return to the car park at the end of the road. Note the waste tips of scree on the slopes looking east towards Fair Head. The cliffs at Fair Head represent a huge DOLERITE sill, gently dipping landwards. Magma would have been intruded between 4 layers of existing Carboniferous rocks and the sill represents the highest cliffs in Northern Ireland with large scree slopes at the base. Return to car park. Ballintoy Teacher’s Sheet Visit Time: 1-1½ hours

Islandforglass Flat

Rock

LWMMT ± Flat Rock H & L Ballintoy WMMT Flat Rock Port

Flat Rock 10

LWMMT Portcampley

Flat Rock Dundonald Flat Rock Flat H & L Rock Flat Rock

WMMT WMMT

H & L MMT Flat Rock Slipway H & LW H & LWMMT Shingle

Shingle Ballintoy Flat Rock Harbour

58 Sand

Flat Quay Bendoo

Rock 49

Slipway Sand & 45 Shingle

Portnalug P 47 Kiln Flat Rock Posts (dis) 3 Tlts Flat Rock 1

Shingle 39

2 37 Car Park Flat Rock 6 4

Shingle 62 Cave Cave

33 35 5 Cave

Stackandoo

1 31

Shingle

Coastguard

LWMMT Cottages Sinks

Shingle

Flat Flat Rock Rock 9 Shingle

HWM MT Shingle

NORTH 7 PATH ANTRIM CLIFF (National Trust) 8 0 35 70 140 Meters Location Map

POSSIBLE POINTS TO NOTE STOPS The main road to the harbour has tight hairpin bends (not suitable for large Access coaches). There is adequate parking with public toilets and a café (seasonal) beside the harbour. The main hazards/risks at this site include large waves (if stormy) but all sites can be easily visited away from the wave zone. Students should be kept away from the pier Hazards and the harbour wall. The area above the lime kiln is accessible, but there is a steep drop beyond the walls so students should not sit or stand on these. The geology consists of: LIMESTONE cliffs with younger BASALT above and intrusive igneous dykes. A major Geology fault runs from east to west from White Park Bay through the harbour parallel to the coast. The BASALT forming the rock outcrops on the shore has been down faulted and is 1 not at the same level as the LIMESTONE. This fault line is obvious from the viewpoint above Whitepark Bay and the top of the lime kilns. The lime kiln is primarily constructed from LIMESTONE with a BASALT surround to the covered entrance. Most kilns in this area are built using BASALT which is more resistant and can withstand the heat of the kiln when fired. 2 At this location explain the purpose and significance of the kiln which is to reduce LIMESTONE to a material called quicklime that was used for a variety of purposes including cement, mortar, fertiliser, pesticides and for bleaching linen. This kiln is an industrial scale kiln and was built close to the source of LIMESTONE and the harbour for transport. Climb above the kiln using the roadway to the left. In the area of cliff at the top of the road, a DOLERITE dyke can be seen intruded through the LIMESTONE, note that the adjacent LIMESTONE has been baked, forming MARBLE. This is a baked margin, formed by thermal metamorphism. Several smaller dykes are present on both sides 3 of this. From the top of the kiln you have a view of the harbour. Note the measures taken to protect the harbour and car park from coastal erosion – sea walls, gabions (wire mesh nets filled with loose rocks) and rip-rap (large rocks piled up or placed to reduce the force of the waves). Return to the car park and area to the right of the kiln. This represents a raised beach – which is now above the present sea level and the large cave is no longer reached by the waves which once formed it. Ask pupils to suggest how the raised beach formed – either sea level has fallen (unlikely since glacial melt water and 4 thermal expansion is causing a rise in sea level), or the land level is rising faster than sea level, a process known as isostacy, or isostatic recovery. During glaciation, the weight of the overlying ice depressed the land, but as the ice sheets melted the land recovered or readjusted and it is still rising slightly faster than the present sea level. Explain processes of cave formation – hydraulic action, abrasion and solution 5 weathering of LIMESTONE. Note the presence of faults above the cave – the sea attacks such areas of weakness in LIMESTONE. Proceed west to the cottage at the corner of the lane overlooking the beach. Directly below this at beach level is a band of LATERITE with BASALT above it. LATERITE is weathered BASALT formed during periods of limited volcanic activity 6 between lava flows. It is red in colour from metallic minerals weathered from the BASALT and concentrated in the clay. The overlying BASALT flow baked this red clay to form the LATERITE band. Proceed west towards White Park Bay, the path along the raised beach is wet and marshy. This represents a springline where water filtering through the jointed 7 BASALT and permeable LIMESTONE reaches the impermeable LIAS CLAY below and is forced to come to the surface as a series of springs. In several places small streams flow across the raised beach on the marshy clay. To the left of the path below the cliffs is a large slumped block of LIMESTONE. This has broken away form the cliff and slid down onto the soft unstable clay below. Note 8 the angle of bedding (line of flints) dipping steeply on the slumped block compared to the beds in the cliff which are almost horizontal. To the right of the path are a number of sea stacks and an arch in the BASALT. These 9 are mostly above the present sea level, so must have formed below the level of the land. Describe the processes forming arches and stacks. (OPTIONAL) Return to the car park, and if time permits, walk back up the road to the first bend and proceed down the path to the beach and the rocks below (only do this if the tide is low). 10 On the flat LIMESTONE rocks ahead there is a good example of a blowhole where the back of a cave has collapsed following hydraulic wave action. On the fresh LIMESTONE surfaces, examples of fossil ammonites and belemnites may be seen, but not easily. Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Site Teacher’s Sheet Visit Time: 2 Hours

Bou lder

H & LWMMT

Flat Rock

LWMMT

Flat Rock Port na Spaniagh Spaniard Rock Flat Rock Flat Flat Pon d Flat Rock Rock Rock LWMMT Benanouran Pon d Spanish Cave Head

Shingle Pon d

Shingle HWMMT Flat Rock

Shingle

Und

Shingle ± Irish Harp Flat Rock

Flat Rock Chimney Tops

Port Reostan

N O R T H

Hawks Hollow H & LWMMT A N T R I M C L I F F P A T H

Flat Rock (National Trust)

Spanish Organ

H & LWMMT

Shingle

The Amphitheatre

Flat

H & LWMMT Sea Gull Rock Isle Flat Rock

Roveran Valley Head

Flat Rock

Shingle

Flat Rock

Spring

GIANT'S CAUSEWAY

(National Trust)

Flat Rock

HWMMT Flat Shingle Rock Flat

Rock

LWMMT LWMMT

The Organ Issues Flat Rock 7 CS Port Noffer The Lady's Fan

Key Stone H & LWMM T

The Crown

Flat Rock Grand LWMMT Causeway Flat Rock LW M MT GIANT'S CAUSEWAY Flat

Rock Flat Rock (National Trust) F l a t R o c k 6 HWMMT

Middle Causeway Flat HWMMT Rock

Wishing Chair Shingle The Flat Rock

Loom Pon d Little Causeway

Shingle S h i n g l e

Flat Rock Giant's Chair BB Spring Flat Rock

Port Ganny

PATH

ERD'S Pon ds

Giant's

The Highlandman's Well THE SHEPH Shingle Bonnet Flat Rock

Great Stookan

HWMMT HWMMT

Aird ( N T ) Snout A N T R I M C L I F F P A T H

N O R T H

Shingle Flat Rock

Und

Flat Rock

CW Shingle Flat Rock Shingle

Little Stookan

LWMMT

Windy Und Gap 5

Flat Rock

CB 4 A I R D Issues PATH

CLIFF

Trust) NORTH ANTRIM Flat Rock (National Issues Weir's Snout

Portnaboe

HWMM

Flat Rock T

Flat Rock

Flat Rock Shingle

LWMMT Flat 71.0 12 Rock

73.5

CB The Flat Rock 8 Aird Flat Rock and Flat Rock 75.8 90 Shingle 7 88 Shingle Slipway 84 86 Flat NORTH ANTRIM C LIFF PATH Shingle 82 Rock

5 5 80

Flat (National Tru st) 3 3

Rock 4 76 78 1 1

2 2

Portcoon 74.0

3 71.6 95 68.4 LW MMT

Seagull Aird 93 Isle 66.3

Well 8

64.1 C A U S E W A Y R O A D 87 70 91 Flat Giant's Causeway Rock Hall

Flat Rock 62.1 Holiday Cottages

1 1 3 3 1 59.7 The Clachan Aird Issues

Sks 14 60.3 77 4 15

Portcoon Cave 12 60.3 71 Flat Rock 5

64a

7 Shingle BM 58.07 Leckilroy 60 64 Tank 9 Iss Cove 11

1 69 56.5 Flat Rock Shingle 58

Flat Rock Flat Rock Flat Rock 58 HWMMT Picnic Area 54.0 CB Causeway Hotel

Causeway Head Issues

44 CAUSEWAY COAST PATH Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre CAUSEWAY COAST PATH (National Trust) Souterrain

(National Trust) 40 52 54

Museu m

Car Park 49.4

Car Park Iss

CS P CS Sew age Works Tank

TCB C A U S E W A Y R O A D

39.8 0 125 250 500 Meters Location Map

POSSIBLE POINTS TO NOTE STOPS This is a National Trust site with adequate parking and a large visitor centre. Fees for parking must be paid but entrance to the visitor centre is optional. Toilets are available both inside and outside the centre. Schools Access or groups can avail of an ‘Educational Group Membership’ which may be good value for larger groups especially if combined with Carrick-A-Rede which is also a National Trust site. The main hazards are cliff top paths above the Causeway. These can be avoided without compromising a visit to the main features. The wave zone at the coastal Hazards margin of the main Causeway presents a danger from freak waves and slippery surfaces and SHOULD BE AVOIDED. The high outer edge of the main Causeway has substantial drops and should be avoided especially on windy days. From the car park walk past the Causeway Hotel along the Runkerry Path and proceed several hundred meters to the picnic tables. From here there is a good 1 overview of the Causeway coast, the most obvious features are the sequence of LOWER BASALTS, the red INTERBASALTIC LATERITES and the Causeway or THOLEIITIC BASALTS with their distinctive columnar joints. Return to the centre and walk down the main roadway to the Causeway. Care should be taken of the shuttle busses which travel from the centre to the Causeway. Stay on the footpath where possible when walking or viewing sites. After 50m look 2 north along the coast where there is a near vertical wall of rock running parallel to the cliff. This is a DOLERITE dyke left upstanding as coastal erosion has removed the less resistant BASALT on either side. It is known as the Camel’s Hump due to its shape. To the right of the road is a red and much weathered exposure. This is the main INTERBASALTIC LATERITE layer which separates the older LOWER BASALTS below from the younger CAUSEWAY BASALTS above. It represents a long period of dormancy (non activity) between the two main cycles of volcanic activity. During 3 this dormancy weathering processes acting on the surface of the LOWER BASALTS resulted in a red clay, rich in metallic minerals such as haematite (iron ore) and bauxite (aluminium ore). This was later baked to form the hard LATERITE as the first of the Causeway BASALTs above extruded onto it. Just before the first bend in the road at Windy Gap there is a good example of spheroidal weathering (exfoliation) in the BASALTS to the right of the road. Large spherical blocks of BASALT (with a range of sizes) are surrounded by concentric layers 4 of crumbly/rotting weathered BASALT. Physical and chemical weathering along the vertical and horizontal cooling joints in the BASALT cause disintegration, leaving the spherical unaltered cores. It is often referred to as ‘onion skin weathering’ since it has the appearance of the layers of an onion. Proceed down hill to the wide sweep of the bay below. Above the road in this area the columnar character of the various layers can be seen high on the cliff section. 5 The jointed nature of the BASALT facilitates physical weathering resulting in the formation of scree slopes below. The main process responsible for this is freeze thaw action. At the main Causeway: • Note the regular columns are almost vertical here, but on the slopes to the right of the turning area they dip steeply into the cliffs. Cooling joints always extend vertically from the surface downwards, so this suggests that the BASALTS were extruded into a valley with steeply sloping sides. The CAUSEWAY BASALTS here are at sea level but are considerably higher up close to the visitors centre and also to the east beyond the Causeway where they can be seen half way up the cliffs. This suggests that the Causeway represents the bottom of a large valley sloping up to the east and west. • Note the regular joint pattern in the columns with vertical cooling joints arranged in a hexagonal pattern approximately 50-80cm in diameter. In section horizontal joints can be seen cutting across the columns. These cross joints can curve 6 upwards or downwards in each column leading to the formation of both convex and concave surfaces at the top of each column. These joints are the result of cooling and contraction of the lava. • The Giant’s Causeway is a World Heritage Site because it represents an outstanding site displaying the sequence of volcanic events that took place at the beginning of the Palaeogene period some 60 million years ago. Both the Giant’s Causeway and surrounding Causeway Coast give a complete 3D picture of the entire succession, which is unsurpassed globally. • Unlike the underlying lower BASALTS, the lava that formed the Causeway BASALTS did not flow over an extensive area, but was instead constrained within a large valley. This led to the slow cooling of the lava, which has resulted in the formation of vertical cooling joints, forming as the lava cooled and contracted. Proceed through the gap in the main Causeway where the jointing system can be viewed in section on the adjacent cliff to the left and at the Giant’s Organ in the cliff section in the distance. The main INTERBASALTIC LATERITE can be seen below the Organ and extends away in both directions marked by a cliffside path. The less resistant nature of the laterite leads to frequent landslides and rockfalls and beyond 7 the distant headland the coast path is closed. Near the top of the cliff profile several columns of BASALT have been left upstanding as single stacks, known as, ‘The Chimneys’. Note also that the LOWER BASALTS below the LATERITE layer display a series of less regular flows and an absence of columnar jointing. Return to car park.

Urban Geology Teacher’s Sheet Visit Time: 2 Hours

This study can be adapted to any town or city in Northern Ireland. It is devised to give an insight into the range of building stones used in the construction industry and how local and imported rocks are used in various types of construction. (Refer to the illustrated guidance notes). Northern Ireland has a great variety of rock types and many of these are used for construction of walls, buildings, monuments, roads and pavements. Typically local rocks are used depending on how suitable they are for the required construction. However, cheaper sources of rock are increasingly used and can be imported from as far away as China or India. Walls and small houses or farm buildings often use local stone. Public buildings and monuments tend to use a range of stone, sometimes imported considerable distances. Generally the more important the building, the more expensive the building stone. Town halls, banks, railway stations and memorials often use a range of expensive cut stone brought from other areas. Graveyards generally display a range of building stones and can

illustrate various stages of weathering. 25

MOYLE RD Bank

22 Posts

ROAD

18 18

19+20

Parochial 17 19 23+24 House Tank 6 16.4 (covd) ± BM 18.40

Hall 13 Car Park

17.2

13 STATION

12 7 7

5 5 ROAD

PH Tlt Shelter 8 14.1

6 PH

3a STATION STATION Bus Depot 15.3 2

A N N S T R E E T ANN STREET1 Post Office

CLARE STREET

13.4 3

10 Govt

Offices PH

4 13.5 Car Park

5 Monument 2 13.6 1 BM 84 2 14.23 THE DIAMOND Holy Trinity Church PH (C of I) 3 3

74 16.6 75 P 2

72 9 7 7

19.1 6 STATION STREET Hotel 7a 66

64 PH 63 Depot 60 PH

21.6 57

23.4 LB Depot

CR 24.9 PH P

ESS

Depot

0 25 50 100 Meters

Ballycastle Location Map

4.2 C U S H E N D A L L R O A D

Cushendall Road

4.7 6.5

9 9 7 7 8.5

P ±

4.2 C U S H E N D A L L R O A D

4.7 6.5

9 9 7 7 1 Bonamargy Friary 8.5

(ruins of)

Grave Yard

2 3 Ballycastle Golf Links

Bonamargy Friary

(ruins of)

Grave Yard

Ballycastle Golf Links

0 25 50 100 Meters 0 25 50 100 Meters Bonamargy Location Map

35 37

Liby TCB RIVERDALE LODGE P

43 ±

50 48

16 PH 8

47 5 49

4 9

PH 1 WOODVALE 41

58 56

44 11 53

455

45 46

47 1 1 61 40 3 1 62 Bank 37 War Memorial 2 Twr 35 36

64 Factory WOODVALE 25

49 28

6 6 5

10.6 31 63

8 8 The Diamond

Tlt

1 24 2 65

66 14 PO MAIN STREET

13 70 69

6 72 71

73 PH

10 8 8

9 9

78 3 76 11

7 7 Def

80 77 Hall

FW 79 81

0 12.5 25 50 Meters

Bushmills Location Map

Dunmull Cove

T Flat M

M Rock

W T H M M

W Flat Rock

HWMMT HWMMT L W M M T LWMMT Sand

HWMMT S a n d Flat Curran Strand 31.1 Curran Strand Rock H W M M T Rocks

8 White Und Und Sand Dunes Stradly Brocks The R O A D 3 7 Rock Cove 31.5 P 2 5 6 1 Caves 4 D U N L U C E

33.0

Picnic BM 35.11 Area Seawards

Sand Sand Dunes 36.9 Dunes

CS Iss

Def

38.4

Royal

Court Sinks 233 BB Hotel

Lay-by Picnic TCB BB B A Area L L Y B O G Y 231a

40.3 R O A D 45.8 231 Sand Dunes 0 25 50 100 Meters Location Map

POSSIBLE POINTS TO NOTE STOPS Access this location from the coast road below the Royal Court Hotel. There is Access adequate parking with public toilets but the car park is not suitable for large coaches. Generally all locations are accessible except at very high tide. Ideally the tide should Hazards be low, or ebbing. Consult tide tables prior to the visit. From the lower car park proceed east along the coast onto the beach. 1 The LIMESTONE cliffs with FLINT nodules and a number of large sea stacks are present within the next 100m. Examine the caves in the LIMESTONE and note that fault lines run from the top of 2 each cave. These are lines of weakness upon which erosional processes operate. Explain hydraulic action, abrasion and solution weathering. ULSTER WHITE LIMESTONE is relatively is relatively soft and chemically unstable 3 so is easily weathered and eroded. Explain the progression from a cave to an arch, stack and finally stump. A volcanic BASALT vent cuts up through the LIMESTONE – note the gap in the LIMESTONE cliffs and the BASALT outcrop on the beach. This is where BASALT erupted through the LIMESTONE to form the lava flows above it. Note that some 4 large blocks of BASALT are incorporated into the LIMESTONE cliff to the left. This suggests explosive volcanic activity. In the centre of the grassy slope is a block of LIMESTONE surrounded by BASALT. This is a xenolith – a piece of LIMESTONE torn away from the vent wall and incorporated into the BASALT. Note the contact between the BASALT and the LIMESTONE on the lower cliff, 5 LIMESTONE is baked here (although it can be difficult to see) to formMARBLE and represents thermal metamorphism. Study the storm beach material, which is the rocky area at the base of the cliff. Note that most of the rocks here are FLINTS. These are more resistant to erosion (abrasion and attrition) and remain after the LIMESTONE has broken 6 up or dissolved. If dilute HCl is available, test the LIMESTONE and the FLINT. The LIMESTONE will react (fizz) indicating the presence of calcite, but FLINT will not react as it is composed of silica. Proceed east to a series of large stacks of varying height – smaller towards sea level. Looking eastwards a large arch is visible in the LIMESTONE cliffs in the 7 distance. Use the arch to explain the process of stack formation. Note the general dip landwards of the LIMESTONE (about 10°). The FLINTS tend to be parallel to the bedding planes and were once sponges resting on the seabed. Looking east towards Dunluce Castle, which rests on BASALT cliffs, note that the LIMESTONE here has disappeared below the castle. This represents a major fault and the LIMESTONE is at this point, below sea level. 8 Return west towards the car park and the golf course. Note the planting of marram grass to stabilise the dunes and the construction of boardwalks to reduce pedestrian erosion. The golf course have also installed rip-rap in the form of large LIMESTONE blocks.

L W M M T

S a n d Curran Strand

H W M M T

Und Und 8 Stradly Brocks 3 Rock Cove 2 7 5 4 6 1 Caves

BM 35.11

Seawards 0 12.5 25 50 Meters Location Map Portrush Teacher’s Sheet 1 hr (can be combined with a visit White Rocks)

LW M M T

HWM Shelter Slipway MT

Wash Tub

BM Flat Rock Portscaddan 4.13 Toilets

Flat

Rock Shelter ±

LOWER LANSDOWNE ROAD 5.5

Flat Rock Car Park Shingle P 2 Boating Pond Sand Posts

Shelter Sand and

Shingle Flat Sand and Shingle Rock

1 to 4

RAMOR E AVENU E Landing Stage Fs Ramore Head Ramore House Coastguard Station Winch

LANSD OW NE

CRESC ENT Flat Flat 24 Playground Rock Rock 11 Portandoo Harbour

11 23

L O W E R Landing Stage

Path Playground 22

10 D Fn Ramore Hill

4.6 3 21 L A N S D O W N E

L A N S D O W N E Tennis Courts Flat

R AM OR E AV E NU E Pavilion Rock

L A N S D O W N E

9.4

D Fn 18 Tieve Tara Fs

F l a t R o c k 17 LWMMT HWMMT

Bennet House Flat Bowling Green Flat Rock Rock R O A D LW M M T

Bowling Green C R E S C E N T HWMMT 14 LB P a t h N a t u r e R e s e r v e York LWMMT House 4 HWM

L A Shelter Slipway 13 MT

Wash Tub N E Landsdowne Foreshore

Ou tfall BM Flat Rock Portscaddan 4.13 Tennis Courts Toilets

Flat 4.3 Rock 20d Shelter ±

9 LOWER LANSDOWNE ROAD 5.5 20c HWMMT 20b Flat Rock Car Park 26 3.4

Shingle

20a 5 to 3 BM 5.25

14 Shingle Tennis Courts Skerry Boating Pond Flat

Sand 37 LWMMT P R I N C E S S S T R E E T Bhan Posts Rock

2 2

Shelter Sand and 25 Shingle Flat Sand and Shingle Rock

1 to 4 a1 c 1 1b 1a RAMOR E AVENU E Landing Stage

B A TFs H R O A D HWMMT Flat R ock 13 Ramore H & LWMMT House Coastguard Station Winch

LANSD OW NE

CRESC ENT Flat

24 Flat 1 Playground Rock Rock 11 21 Portandoo Harbour

C A U S E W A Y V I E W L A N E 11 8 23

L O W E R Blue Landing Stage 11.1 Path Playground

ESS 7 22 17 Pool 10 D Fn

RAMORE STREET STREET RAMORE Ramore Hill 4

13 6 13 6

Posts 5 Portrush 4.6 21 Public Garden Countryside L A N S D O W N E

3 3 L A N S D O W N E Flat Rock Tennis Courts Flat

R AM OR E AV E NU E Centre

4 to 2 Pavilion Rock 1 Flat Rock 4 L A N S D O W N E 9 4.6 9.4 CAUSEWAY ESS

1 to 8 D Fn 18

Coastguard Cottages Tieve 1 Tara

Ramore VIEW MEWS

1 1 Fs

4 4 6

Court F l a t R o c k 17

CA U S E WA Y V I E W LWMMT 3 3

2 HWMMT LWMMT

Bennet House Flat 2b 2c 2d 1a 2a 1d 1c 1b Bowling Green Flat Rock Rock R O A D 1 LB 142 140 138 122 2 144 Bowling Green C R E S C E N T HWMMT

148 146 108 14 LB 152 150 P a t h 130 120 N a t u r e R e s e r v e 106 7.6 York LWMMT 100 House

Slo 102

TCBs 4 L A 5 5

pi 13

ng Flat Rock 9.0

Posts N E BATH TERRACE

81 M A I N S T R E E T 15

83 87 91

95 2a 99

Masonry 2

109 109 111 111

1 113

BM 89 93

8.75 97 Ou tfall

1 to 31 1 13 Tank Tennis Courts

56 ANTRIM GARDENS 12.2 73 11 BM 10.02 7.3 (covd) Water World 98 4.3 PH M T Royale 20d M Comfort Hotel 96 HW 9 Court 94

20c 92 HWMMT 20b Sand an d HWMMT

26 90 3 to 7 3.4

8 8 Shin gle 88 5 to 3

20a BM 5.25 1 BATH STREET 5 14 Shingle 54 Tennis Courts Skerry

Portrush Several Flat PH 37 LWMMT P R I N C E S S S T R E E T Bhan Rock

4.6 2 2 2 2 Salmon Fishery

Ppg Sta LWMMT B A T H T E R R A C E

25 ROAD 71 4 to 2

Tk a1 c 1 1b 1a

ESS 86 B A T H R O A D HWMMT Flat R ock

LB H & LWMMT The Counties 13 PH 67 3.7

5 69 Flat Rock

1 1 PH 63

BM 4.10 M A R K S T R E E T

21 6 65 78 to 82 1 to 25

C A U S E W A Y V I E W L A N E K E R R 59 Dock 8

7 H & LWMMT Beacon Blue 11.1 61 HARBOUR ESS 7

17 Pool 8

RAMORE STREET STREET RAMORE 4 12.8

49 14

13 6

6 6 17b

13 3t 7 5 to 53 Church of the Posts Amusement 5 Portrush 17c

Yacht 4.0 Holy Trinity Public Garden Countryside

Club S T R E E T Arcade 3 Flat Rock Centre 48 (C of I)

4 to 2 7t 1 5 to 47 1 Flat Rock 4 4.6 Bollard 9 64 to 7 0 Chy MARK 64 CAUSEWAY ASS 1 to 8 ESS

9-17 1 1 47 Coastguard Cottages 45

Ramore VIEW MEWS

Cinema 1 6 17a Foot Bridge STREET 4 LANE

Court

CA U S E WA Y V I E W 3 3 46 2 Harbour LWMMT Beacon 45

Office 2b 2c 2d Hall 1a 2a Und 1d 1c 1b BM 62 1-8

1 LB 44 138 122 2 P 144 142 140 15.65 108 152 150 148 146

HWMMT 130 120 CHURCH P Crane 1 - 1 6 43 106 7.6 102 100

Tlt Slo TCBs 18-20 4

2.7 pi 5 ng Flat Rock Blackrock Court 9.0

Bollard Posts BATH TERRACE Slipway

81 M A I N S T R E E T 15

83 87 91

Masonry 99

North Pier 79

109 109 111 111

1 113

BM 89 93 Landing Stage 97

MMT 8.75 CHU RCPASS H Bank 10 10a Sewage Pumping Station

LWMMT 1 to 31 1 13 Tank Tlt Quay 39 LWMMT 15.2

H & LW 52 56 ANTRIM GARDENS 12.2

11 Tlts 73 11 BM 10.02 7.3 Bank (covd) Water World 98 Portneen

HWMMT PH 6 2 - 1 M T West Bay Royale

Pontoon M Londonderry 60 Comfort Hotel 96 Shelter HW Apartments 12 Court 94 ESS (floating) Hotel Bollards PH ESS 92 Sand an d Tlts HWMMT

90 3 to 7 Seabank

4-28

37 TCBs 8

Sloping Masonry 37 58 Shin gle 12a

2 88 ATLANTIC AVE 1 BATH STREET 5

54 Portrush Several 1 1 39

PH 37 3 3

Fs 36 4.6 PH 33

FB LB 54to52 Seabank 2 Salmon Fishery

Lifeboat House Ppg Sta LWMMT B A T H T E R R A C E

ROAD 71 4 to 2 2 13 Tk FW ESS 86

MMT LB The Counties PH 67

FB 3.7 29 Flat Rock

5 69

LW 11 Flat Rock

15 Und FW PH 63

FW 34 PH

BM 4.10 4 M A R K S T R E E T 6 65 78 to 82 a 1 to 25

50 44 K E R R 59 34 Dock

7 H & LWMMT Beacon

Slipway 27 48a 61

HARBOUR 27

13 8 14 5.8 12.8 49 48

17b 40 7 5 to 53 Church of the

MARK STREET LANE Amusement 17c 23 25 25 23 46 Yacht 4.0 Holy Trinity Club ATLANTIC AVENUES T R E E T 44 Arcade

48 (C of I) 7t 1 5 to 47 42 34A 64 to 7 0

Bollard 40 Chy MARK 16

64 ASS Bollards 21 19 9-17

North Pier 47 Cinema 45

Foot Bridge STREET LANE 17a 38

46 Wr T Harbour Beacon 45 Office Hall

H & LWMMT Und 62 15 17 17 15 BM M A I N Amusement 1-8 44 15.65 29 HWMMT CHURCH P 28 to 3 8 Crane

Tlt 1 - 1 6 Arcade 43 13 18-20 Quay 2.7 28a Blackrock Court Bollard Slipway

North Pier 7 Slipway

Harbour 28 41 Landing Stage

MMT CHU RCPASS H Bank 10 10a Sewage Pumping Station

LWMMT Flat Rock Tlt Quay 39 Slipway LWMMT 15.2

H & LW 52 11 Tlts

Bank Portneen HWMMT 6 2 - 1 West Bay

27 Pontoon Londonderry 60 Shelter

5 to 9 to 5 Apartments 12 PostsESS (floating) M A R K S T R E E T Hotel Bollards S T R E E T 26 PH ESS Tlts

Sloping Masonry Seabank 4-28 37 TCBs Sloping Masonry 37 58

2 12a

26 ATLANTIC AVE

5 5

Harbour 1 39

2.7 37

3 3 Fs 36 PH 33 FB LB 54to52

Lifeboat House 3 3 Seabank 2 13 24 Sand FW HWMMT HWMMT MMT

FB 29 Flat Rock

1 1

LW MANSE AVENUE 11 Und FW 15 34 PH FW 4 Sand

a 3 50

Slipway 27 48a

27 13

5.8 14 Tlts 48 40 ESS

MARK STREET LANE Flat Rock 23 25 25 23 46 H & LWMMT 14 ATLANTIC AVENUE 44 Flat Rock 20 34A 42

40 16

North Pier Bollards 21 19 Rock Ryan BM 7.79 38 Bollard Wr T 10 H & LWMMT

15 17 17 15 M A I N Amusement Flat Rock 29 Sand 28 to 3 8 Arcade

Quay 8 to 4 13 Portrush 28a

Hall 7 Slipway 12 28 Bollard Presb Ch The Arcadia Flat Rock Slipway FW K E R R S T R E E T 27

Posts 9 to 5 2 M A R S T R E E T 26 Sloping Masonry

26 Harbour K S T R E E T 5 Bathing Place 2.7 15a 3 LWMMT 3 24

Sand HWMMT HWMMT

1 1 MANSE AVENUE

Sand 3 3 HW HWMMT LW MMT 8.6 12.8 Navigation Light Tlts ESS Flat Rock

MMT H & LWMMT 14

Flat Rock 20 (Flashing, red) Duncreggan 10 13 10 BM 7.79 HWMMT Rock Ryan Bollard 10

Navigation Light 5 Sand Flat Rock

TCB 8 to 4 Portrush Flat (Flashing, green) Obelisk Hall 12 Presb Ch The Arcadia Bollard Rock LWMMT South Pier FW K E R R S T R E E T CRAIG VARA

4 4 2

1 1 6 6

Bathing Place Clarke 15a LWMMT 5

3 3 Memorial

14 2 3 HW HWMMT Methodist Ch

LW MMT 8.6 12.8 Navigation Light 1 MMT 3a

(Flashing, red) Duncreggan Sand 3 3 Strandmore

13 10 HWMMT 7 to 6 1a

Navigation Light 5 13.1 Hall 5 TCB

5 5 Flat (Flashing, green) Obelisk M A R K Rock LWMMT

South Pier CRAIG VARAPROMENADE

4 4

7 7 1 1 1 6

Sundial 7 Clarke 5 5 HWMMT

3 3 Memorial

14 2 3

12 Methodist Ch

9 9 10.9 9 to 13 1 HWMMT 3a Sand 13.6 3 Strandmore

7 to 6 13.1 1a

Hall 5 5 5

Library M A R K

S T 15 PROMENADE C A U S E W A Y S T R EPH E T 7

Sundial 7 HWMMT

3t 7 1 to 13

7 7 7a 12 LWMMT

10.9 9 9 to 13 Curran Strand

T HWMMTOff R E E T

Fn 18 13.6

1 Library S T 15 Peninsula C A U S E W A Y S T R EPH E T

3t 7 1 to 13 7 7

LWMMT Hotel E E T Curran Strand T Off R E E T

M i l l Fn 18 21 19 Sand Town TCB's 1 Post P R O M Peninsula

Hall Hotel 27 M i l l 26

55 21

Town 19 Sand TCB's Post

P R O M PO

E G L I N T O N S T R E E T 18a 18a Hall 27

TCB's 26 55 Fs PO

E G L I N T O N S T R Bank 18a

E N A D E Amusement 27 Fs TCB's S t r a n d BM 13.18 Bank

E N A D E Amusement 27

S t r a n d

Arcade BM 13.18 32

C A S T L E E L T S C A KERR ST Arcade 32 C A S T L E E L T S C A KERR ST 0 62.5 125 250 Meters 0 62.5 125 250 Meters Location Map

POSSIBLE POINTS TO NOTE STOPS Parking is available at the harbour and the large car park at Ramore Head or Access Lansdowne Crescent. The main hazards are coastal paths at Ramore Head close to the cliffs and the wave Hazards zone at the harbour and foreshore at Lansdowne Crescent. The rocks here are very slippery when wet. Park at the harbour or Ramore Head if in a large coach and examine the coastal protection measures such as sea walls and rip-rap. Walk east along the east strand promenade and note the design of the sea wall 1 below. Explain how this structure reduces wave action. The slopes above the promenade are composed of BOULDER CLAY (glacial debris) and have been affected by landslides in the past. They are now protected by the sea wall. Return to the harbour and move to Ramore Head car park. Take the coastal path around the headland to the first large inlet of the sea. This is a narrow gulley 2 formed by the hydraulic action of waves along a fault line, which is a line of weakness through the hard DOLERITE rock on either side. Ramore Head is an igneous sill which dips below the bay and reappears as the Skerries Islands to the north-west. Walk past the large shelter house (toilets are available) until opposite the small harbour at Lansdowne Crescent, follow the concrete path down to the rocks below. To the right of the path a dark rock (DOLERITE) can be seen in contact with a light grey rock HORNFELS. This is the upper contact of the Portrush sill. It represents 3 thermal metamorphism from the heat of the sill and a baked margin in what was once LIAS CLAY above. The original clay would have been relatively soft and friable, but as HORNFELS, it is now hard and splintery. Slabs of HORNFELS can be seen resting above the DOLERITE on the foreshore, gently dipping seawards. Walk south west along the contact of the sill towards the Countryside Centre. The rocks may be slippery if wet, so care is essential. Close to the upper margin of the rocks with the grassy slopes above, fossils of ammonites can be seen in the rock surface. These were marine creatures which swam in Jurassic seas and were 4 preserved in the clays. They were later metamorphosed by the heat of the sill as the clays converted to HORNFELS. Fossils in metamorphic rocks are extremely rare but their presence at this location was instrumental in a famous historical debate amongst 18th century geologists about how rocks formed. For this reason, this site is now of international importance. Downhill Teacher’s Sheet 30 mins – 1 hr (This site can be combined with a visit to Portrush/White Rocks) ±

Spreads

Downhill Bridge Mussenden Temple

Spreads Sand Sloping Masonry

Sloping Masonry Dunes Sloping Masonry

MP 69 Slpg Mry FBs Toilets BM 8.01 TCB 4.9 H O P S

S R O A D 12 864 864 Car Park P B I 11.7 3 M U S S E N D E N

17.0 1 5e 7.0

856 856 R O 5a

5 5 LB A D 11 14 19.5

4 Hotel 15 2 16 CB

BM 29.35

Downhill 14.6

33.6

37.3

17.1

0 25 50 100 Meters Location Map

POSSIBLE POINTS TO NOTE STOPS There is a car park on the roadside opposite the apartments and adjacent to the Access railway line. Care must be taken when crossing the main road to access the Bishop’s Road Hazards opposite and when standing on the Bishops Road to examine sites. From the car park cross the main road and proceed 50m up the Bishop’s Road to the right of the apartments. The section of cliff here displays a series of BASALT lava flows. Some have thin bands of red LATERITE separating them. These formed during periods of limited activity between the basalt flows and are the result of weathering of the basalt surface and concentration of metallic minerals e.g. haematite (iron) and bauxite (aluminium). These minerals give the red colour. The thicker the laterite band, the longer the time 1 lapse between eruptions. Often laterite does not develop because the time lapse is short between flows and the weathering processes are very slow. Students can sketch the section through a flow showing the laterite at the top and base with MASSIVE BASALT (more resistant) in the centre of the flow and AMYGDALOIDAL BASALT (gas cavities infilled by white crystals) at the base and top of each flow (less resistant and crumbly). The massive basalts stand proud in each flow, so students can count how many flows are present in the vertical cliff section. Proceed further up the Bishop’s Road about 50m to the bend in the road. An intrusive DOLERITE DYKE can be observed cutting up through the BASALT layers 2 as it moves up towards the upper flows. Students can sketch the dyke and add dimensions. The edges of the dyke cool more rapidly than the core and have finer crystals. This is known as chilled margins. Do not approach the rock face. Walking back to car park note: BASALT is an important building stone in Northern Ireland. Note the wall along the 3 side of the road, the gable of the house below the wall, the chippings in the road surface and the ballast between the railway sleepers. At car park review the landscape: Slope stabilisation: rockfalls, scree and occasional large landslides are common on this coast, and pose a danger to houses close to the cliff, traffic on the road and the railway line. A number of measures have been used to reduce this threat e.g.: 4 • Wire and rope mesh bolted to the cliff to trap scree • Rock bolts drilled below the Mussenden Temple to secure loose layers of BASALT • Retaining walls and banks along the edge of the road and railway line to trap large boulders • Steel poles with wire mesh on the scree slopes above the road Mid Antrim Information Sheet

Location: MID ANTRIM COAST FROM LARNE TO GARRON POINT Education for employability: Relevance to spec: (Galboly ASSI, Little Deer Park ASSI, Minnis ASSI, Waterloo ASSI, • Tourism KS3: Geography (Rocks, coastal Antrim Coast & Glens AONB) • Coastal engineering processes) GR: [Garron Point-330180,423953] [Glenarm -331267,415413] KS4/5: Geology / Geography (Rocks, [Minnis North-334016,413475] [Waterloo Beds - 340513,404227] coastal processes, slumping*) Age group: KS3/4/5 Leaving Cert: (Rock cycle, tectonic cycle, landform development (i,ii, iii & iv), human interaction)

Rock types observed: Basalt, White Limestone (Chalk) Lias Clay, Site specific hazards: Teaching & Learning issues: Mudstone • Traffic • Consult tide table Geological structures: Faults • Tides • Consult weather forecast Coastal erosional features: Landslides, mudflows, slump blocks, • Loose rocks • Outdoor learning qualification storm beaches and wave cut platforms. • Cliffs • First aid kit Coastal protection and engineering strategies: Sea walls, rip rap, • Slippery rocks • Guidance for HCl gabions and wire mesh. • Wave zone • Appropriate teacher: student ratio • Cliff paths • Clear instructions to be given to www.deni.gov.uk/educational_ students visits_2009.pdf • Ensure students have appropriate clothing/footwear Sketches to be drawn: Equipment: Personnel to be contacted prior to • Fossils at various localities • Camera visit: • Slump blocks at Garron Point • Metre stick N/A • Dilute HCl • Hand lens Prior knowledge: Coastal erosion, engineering for coastal protection, fossils and fossil preservation, rock classification and depositional environment Keywords: Mudstone, basalt, clay, fossils (ammonites, belemnites, bivalves, echinoids*), gabions, Ichtyosaurs, Jurrassic, landslides, mudflows, rip-rap, slump blocks, solifluction, Triassic, white limestone/chalk * indicates terms exclusive to KS5 geology.

Format developed by the Western Education and Library Board’s Magilligan Field Centre Mudflows in Lias Clay Minnis North Greensand blocks around tunnel along Larne road Antrim coast road construction plaque

Landslide Slump Block Coastal Protection

Geological history*: The rocks in this part of the Antrim Coast represent almost 200 million years of earth history, from the Triassic through Jurassic and Cretaceous to Palaeogene and recent. In some areas the whole sequence can be seen as a vertical section through the cliffs but generally the earliest rocks are found at the Waterloo foreshore (just north of Larne) and become gradually younger northwards and up the cliff sequence. Lias clays (lower Jurassic) are exposed near Carnlough at Minnis North and the cliffs at Garron Point display the entire sequence from Jurassic clays at the base through Cretaceous White Limestone to Palaeogene basalts. Cushendall Information Sheet

Location: CUSHENDALL/RED ARCH (Glenballyeamon River ASSI, Education for employability: Relevance to spec: Antrim Coast & Glens AONB) • Tourism KS3: Geography (rocks, coastal erosion GR: 323688, 427655 Irish Grid • Coastal engineering and landforms, igneous intrusions*, Access: Near the lifeboat station and pier south of the town, or at the sedimentary structures*) Red Arch on the pier (no coaches) and at Waterfoot. KS4/5: Geography / Geology (as Age group: KS3/4/5 above, more detailed) Leaving Cert: (Rock cycle, landform development(i ,ii, iii & iv), human interaction) Rock types observed: Conglomerates, breccias, sandstones (red Site specific hazards: Teaching & Learning issues: beds), dolerite. • Loose rocks • Access arrangements Geological structures: Graded bedding, cross bedding, imbricate • Cliffs • First Aid Kit structures and dykes. • Wave zone • Instructions to students: clear and Coastal erosional features: Wave cut platform, raised beach and • Deep water/harbour concise caves. • Slippery rocks • Outdoor Learning Qualifications Coastal protection and engineering strategies: Gabions, rip-rap and • Traffic at Red Arch • Personal Protective Clothing and sea walls. Footwear • It is advisable to carry out a dynamic • Ratio of teacher/ staff to students risk assessment before embarking appropriate for the venue on a study visit. Educational visits • Sea state Best Practice (2009) • Tide Tables www.deni.gov.uk/educational_ • Weather forecast and trend – consult visits_2009.pdf beforehand Sketches to be drawn: Equipment: Personnel to be contacted prior to • Graded Bedding In The Sandstones • Cross Bedding • Camera visit: • Imbricate Structures • Intrusive Dykes • Metre stick N/A • Hand lens Prior knowledge: Sedimentary rocks and deposition, types of bedding in sedimentary rocks, igneous intrusions, coastal protection strategies. Keywords: Alluvial fans*, arch, breccia*, bedding, bedding planes, caves, cement, clasts, conglomerate*, cross bedding*, dykes, graded bedding*, gabions, granite, igneous, imbricate structure*, matrix, outwash material*, palaeocurrent, quartzite*, raised beach, rip-rap, sandstone, sedimentary rocks, wave cut platform. Format* indicates developed terms by the exclusiveWestern Education to KS5 and geology. Library Board’s Magilligan Field Centre Conglomerate Breccia Sandstone

Description of conglomerate Description of breccia Description of sandstone • Clastic rock • Coarse grained • Clastic rock • Very coarse grained • Large angular clasts • Medium grained • Rounded clasts • Red • Rounded grains • Dark red • Clasts held together in a sandstone matrix • Red/Pink • Clasts composed of metaquartzite and granite • Iron rich cement • Clasts held together in a sandstone matrix • No fossils • No reaction with HCl • No reaction with HCl • Mainly quartz • Cross bedding indicates palaeocurrent direction south to north Geological history*: The rocks around Cushendall and the Red Arch are composed of massive conglomerates and red sandstones that date back to the Devonian period (approximately 420 million years ago). They are younger than the early Devonian rocks found at Cushendun. The rocks found at both these locations are the result of desert conditions. The red colour suggests heat and oxidation of iron minerals such as haematite which stains the grains and clasts within the rocks. They were deposited within a desert environment with periodic flash floods resulting in the coarser breccias and conglomerates interbedded with finer sandstones and pebble beds. Pebbles are often aligned in the direction of the palaeocurrent (imbricate structure). There has been a long-standing debate regarding the age of rocks at this site, with previous work stating that these were formed during the much younger Triassic period. Current thinking is that these rocks are of Devonian age but due to a lack of dateable fossil material these results are relatively inconclusive. Cushendun Information Sheet

Location: CUSHENDUN (Red Bay mSAC, Antrim Coast & Glens AONB) Education for employability: Relevance to specification: GR: 324946, 432617 Irish Grid • Tourism KS3: Geography (rocks, coastal erosion Access: Car park in front of the apartments overlooking the bay • Coastal Protection and landforms) Age group: KS3/4/5 KS4/5: Geography / Geology (as above, more detailed) Leaving Cert: (Rock cycle, landform development(i ,iii & iv), human interaction) Rock types observed: Breccia, conglomerate and sandstone. Site specific hazards: Teaching & Learning issues: Geological structures: Raised beach and faults. • Loose rocks • Access arrangements Coastal erosional features: Arches, caves, cliffs, longshore drift and • Cliffs • First Aid Kit storm beaches. • Wave zone • Instructions to students: clear and Coastal protection and engineering strategies: Groynes, rip-rap and • Deep water/harbour concise sea wall. • Slippery rocks • Outdoor Learning Qualifications • Personal Protective Clothing and • It is advisable to carry out a dynamic Footwear risk assessment before embarking • Ratio of teacher/ staff to students on a study visit. Educational visits appropriate for the venue Best Practice (2009) • Sea state • Tide Tables www.deni.gov.uk/educational_ • Weather forecast and trend – consult visits_2009.pdf beforehand Sketches to be drawn: Equipment: Personnel to be contacted prior to • Fault controlled caves • Camera visit: • Conglomerate structure • Metre stick • Hand lens N/A • Dilute HCl Prior knowledge: Coastal erosion and protection. Sedimentary rocks and depositional processes. Keywords: Abrasion , alluvial fans*, arches, bedding structures, breccia*, caves, clasts, conglomerates*, crystalline*, deserts, faults, groynes, hydraulic action, matrix, metamorphic rock, outwash material*, quartzite (metaquartzite)*, raised beaches, rip-rap, sandstone, sedimentary rocks, storm beaches*. * indicates terms exclusive to KS5 geology. Format developed by the Western Education and Library Board’s Magilligan Field Centre Conglomerate Sandstone Quartzite

Description of conglomerate Description of sandstone (sedimentary rock): Description of quartzite (metamorphic rock): (sedimentary rock): • Clastic rock • Grey • Clastic rock • Medium grained • Crystalline • Very coarse grained • Rounded grains • Very hard • Rounded clasts • Red/Pink • Composed of 100% quartz • Dark red • Iron rich cement • No fossils • Clasts composed of metaquartzite • No fossils • No reaction with HCl • Clasts held together in a sandstone matrix • No reaction with HCl • Originally sandstone • No reaction with HCl • Mainly quartz Geological history*: The cliffs to the south of Cushendun Bay are composed of massive conglomerate and red sandstones which date back to the Devonian period (approximately 420 million years ago). These have a dark or red colour due to the presence of iron minerals which indicates hot desert conditions at the time of formation. The conglomerates are the product of high energy erosion and deposition. They were deposited by water during periodic desert flash floods. They are poorly sorted and generally have an absence of bedding. Coastal erosion has resulted in cliffs, caves and stacks. Ballycastle Information Sheet

Location: BALLYCASTLE/COLLIERY BAY (Ballycastle Coal Field ASSI, Education for employability: Relevance to spec: Antrim Coast & Glens AONB) • Tourism KS3: Geography (rocks, coastal erosion GR: 314824, 441928 Irish Grid • Mining and defences.) Access: Car park at the beach for large coaches and at Marconi • Building stones KS4/5: Geology / Geography (rock Cottage for smaller vehicles. formation and igneous intrusions) Age group: KS3/4/5 Leaving Cert: (Rock cycle, landform development (i & iv), human interaction) Rock types observed: Dolerite, sandstone, shale and coal. Site specific hazards: Teaching & Learning issues: Geological structures: Intrusive dyke and sedimentary coal • Loose rocks • Access arrangements sequence. • Slippery surfaces • First Aid Kit Coastal erosional features: Wave cut platform and landslides. • Wave zone • Instructions to students: clear and Coastal protection and engineering strategies: Sea wall. • Cliff paths concise • Outdoor Learning Qualifications • It is advisable to carry out a dynamic • Personal Protective Clothing and risk assessment before embarking Footwear on a study visit. Educational visits • Ratio of teacher/ staff to students Best Practice (2009) appropriate for the venue www.deni.gov.uk/educational_ • Sea state visits_2009.pdf • Tide Tables • Weather forecast and trend – consult beforehand Sketches to be drawn: Equipment: Personnel to be contacted prior to • North Star dyke • Camera visit: • Coal Measure sequence • Metre stick N/A • Fair Head sill • Hand lens Prior knowledge: Coal formation and mining processes, coastal erosion and igneous intrusions. Keywords: Adit mining*, coal measure sequence (cyclothem*), coal, dolerite, dyke*, fault line, igneous intrusion*, sandstone, shale, sill, wave cut platform. *terms exclusive to KS5 Geology

Format developed by the Western Education and Library Board’s Magilligan Field Centre Sandstone Coal Shale

Description of sandstone Description of coal Description of shale • Red/pink/grey in colour • Black • Grey • Medium grained • Vitreous lustre • Very fine grained • Porous • High carbon content • Finely layered • Occasional carbon fragments • Impermeable • Friable • No reaction with HCl • No evident fossils • Soft • Occasional pebble beds • No reaction with HCl • Clay minerals • Mainly quartz Geological history*: During the Carboniferous period (approximately 330 million years ago) this area was covered in swampy deltas and had a tropical climate with dense forests. Periodic subsidence and flooding by the sea covered the layers of vegetation, which after millions of years and deep burial have become coal. Coal seams are part of a sequence including deltaic sandstones and shales. The coal was mined during the last century by a system of adit shafts (horizontal shafts). During the later Palaeogene period (approximately 60 million years ago) intrusive dykes and a large sill were injected through the Carboniferous rocks e.g. North Star dyke and Fair Head sill. Ballintoy Information Sheet

Location: BALLINTOY HARBOUR (Causeway Coast AONB) Education for employability: Relevance to specification: GR: 303700, 445300 Irish Grid • Lime kiln KS3: Geography (rocks, coastal erosion Access: Car park with toilets & café. Site not suitable for large coaches. • Fishing and landforms) Age group: KS3/4/5 KS4/5: Geography / Geology (as above, more detailed) Leaving Cert: (Rock cycle, tectonic cycle, landform development (i,ii, iii & iv), human interaction) Rock types observed: Limestone, flint, basalt, marble and laterite. Site specific hazards: Teaching & Learning issues: Geological structures: Raised beaches, caves, intrusive dykes, faults • Loose rocks • Access arrangements and springlines. • Cliffs • First Aid Kit Coastal erosional features: Cliffs, caves, arches and slump blocks. • Wave zone • Instructions to students: clear and Coastal protection and engineering strategies: Rip-rap, sea walls • Deep water/harbour concise and gabions. • Slippery rocks • Outdoor Learning Qualifications • Personal Protective Clothing and • It is advisable to carry out a dynamic Footwear risk assessment before embarking • Ratio of teacher/ staff to students on a study visit. Educational visits appropriate for the venue Best Practice (2009) • Sea state • Tide Tables www.deni.gov.uk/educational_ • Weather forecast and trend – consult visits_2009.pdf beforehand Sketches to be drawn: Equipment: Personnel to be contacted prior to • Caves • Arches • Stacks And Stumps • Camera visit: • Raised Beaches • Faults • Flint Bands • Metre stick N/A, all private property is clearly • Bedding Planes • Dilute HCl marked • Hand lens Prior knowledge: KS3/4: Coastal erosional processes and landforms; rock types. KS5: Rock types (formation and classification), intrusive features, isostacy, coastal protection strategies. Keywords: Baked margin*, basalt, belemnites*, blowhole, caves, coastal erosion, coastal protection, dolerite, dyke*, flint,fault, fossils, friable, gabions, hydraulic wave action, igneous, intrusion, laterite*, limestone, metamorphic rocks, rip-rap, sea walls, sedimentary, slump blocks, solution weathering, springlines*, stacks, stumps, thermal metamorphism*. * indicates terms exclusive to KS5 geology.

Format developed by the Western Education and Library Board’s Magilligan Field Centre Limestone Flint Basalt and Laterite Dolerite

Description of limestone Description of flint (sedimentary): Description of basalt (igneous) and Description of dolerite (igneous): (sedimentary): • Grey laterite: • Dark green/black • Layered • No visible grains • Basalt – black, laterite -red • Medium sized crystals • White • Silica • Basalt hard, laterite friable • Hard • Fine grained • Glassy appearance • Basalt composed of olivine, • Minerals of olivine, augite, • Calcite • Forms linear beds or nodules augite and plagioclase (small plagioclase • Reacts with dilute HCl within limestone crystal size) • No fossils • Occasional belemnite fossils • No fossils • Laterite forms from deep • No reaction with HCl • Easily eroded (forms erosional • No reaction with HCl weathering of basalt features such as caves, arches, • Neither react with dilute HCl stacks and stumps) • Neither contain fossils Geological history*: Limestone was deposited in a warm, shallow, tropical sea during the Cretaceous (approximately 135 - 65 million years ago). This limestone consists of millions of calcareous microfossils (coccoliths). Flint represents sponges composed of silica that rested on the sea floor and were buried within the limestone. The igneous phase of activity, (approximately 60 million years ago), resulted in intrusive features such as the vent and dykes through the limestone (as seen within the cliff section) and the extrusive lava flows (now seen as basalt) above the limestone. In places the basalt has weathered to form laterite bands. Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Site Information Sheet Location: Giant’s Causeway (WHS, North Antrim Education for employability: Relevance to specification: SAC, Giant’s Causeway and Dunseverick ASSI, Skerries • Tourism KS3: Geography (Igneous rocks) & Causeway mSAC, Giant’s Causeway NNR, Causeway • Mineral exploitation KS4/5: Geology / Geography (Igneous rocks, columnar Coast AONB, Girona Historic Wreck Site) • Geological conservation jointing*) GR: 294400, 443900 Irish Grid Leaving Cert: (Rock cycle, tectonic cycle, landform Access: Main car park (fee for parking and if required, development (i,ii, iii & iv), human interaction) admission to the visitor ). Age group: KS3/4/5 Rock types observed: Basalt, laterite and dolerite. Site specific hazards: Teaching & Learning issues: Geological structures: Extrusive igneous rocks, • Loose rocks • Access arrangements intrusions and weathering processes. • Slippery surfaces • First Aid Kit Coastal erosional features: Wave cut platforms, • Wave zone • Instructions to students: clear and concise cliffs, bays, stacks and slope failures. • Cliff paths • Outdoor Learning Qualifications Coastal protection and engineering strategies: N/A • Personal Protective Clothing and Footwear • It is advisable to carry out a dynamic • Ratio of teacher/ staff to students appropriate for risk assessment before embarking the venue on a study visit. Educational visits • Sea state Best Practice (2009) • Tide Tables www.deni.gov.uk/educational_ • Weather forecast and trend – consult beforehand visits_2009.pdf Sketches to be drawn: Equipment: Personnel to be contacted prior to visit: • Lava flows • Camera • Book with the National Trust’s visitor centre for large • Laterite layers • Metre stick groups (educational membership available). • Spheroidal weathering • Hand lens TEL: +44 28 2073 1855 • Columnar jointing • It is possible to visit without admission to the centre but the parking fee is obligatory. Prior knowledge: Extrusive and intrusive igneous activity and features; physical and chemical weathering; plate tectonics. Keywords: Amygdaloidal basalt*, basalt, bays, cliffs, columnar jointing*, cooling joints*, crystalline, dolerite, dykes*, exfoliation, freeze thaw, headlands, laterite*, scree, spheroidal weathering (onion skin weathering), stacks, wave cut platforms, World Heritage Site. * indicates terms exclusive to KS5 geology.

Format developed by the Western Education and Library Board’s Magilligan Field Centre Basalt Laterite Columnar Basalt

Description of basalt Description of laterite Description of columnar basalt • Black • Red/Grey • Regular, vertical columns • Small crystal size • Friable • Polygonal • Composed of olivine, augite and plagioclase • Different rate of weathering than the • Extend vertically feldspar surrounding basalt leading to characteristic • Horizontal and vertical cooling joints • No fossils stepped profile • Composed of basalt • No reaction with HCl • Contains concentrated mineral ores including • Forms layers due to individual lava flows iron (haematite) and aluminium (bauxite) Geological history*: Basalt lavas were extruded over large areas of North East Ireland during the Palaeogene period (approximately 60 million years ago). Lava was extruded along fissures and this fluid lava covered extensive areas before it cooled and crystallised forming individual layers of basalt that represent individual lava flows. These lava flows built up to form a lava plateau known as the Antrim Plateau. During periods of limited volcanic activity the flow surfaces were weathered producing red clays, or laterites. Some of the thicker laterite layers are rich in metal ores and were mined economically in the past in various parts of County Antrim. Weathering and erosion resulted in the formation of deep valleys into which more lava flowed. Here it cooled and contracted to form the basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway. Urban Geology Information Sheet

Location: URBAN GEOLOGY – BUSHMILLS, BALLYCASTLE, Education for employability: Relevance to spec: BONAMARGY FRIARY • Tourism KS3: Geography (rock classification and GR: [Bushmills -294044, 440883] [Bonamargy -312684, 440866] • Construction weathering processes) [Ballycastle -312041, 441048] Irish Grid • building stone KS5: Geology (rocks as building stones) Access: Park near the Diamonds in Ballycastle and Bushmills and in Leaving Cert: (Rock cycle, geographical the small car park at Bonamargy Friary. investigation & skills) Age group: KS3/4/5 Rock types observed: Basalt, granite, marble, sandstone, shales and Site specific hazards: Teaching & Learning issues: slate. • Traffic – keep to pavements • Access arrangements Geological structures: Bedding and trace fossils (bioturbation). • Take care when crossing roads • First Aid Kit Coastal erosional features: N/A • Uneven surfaces in graveyard • Instructions to students: clear and Coastal protection and engineering strategies: N/A • Unstable walls and loose rocks concise • Outdoor Learning Qualifications • It is advisable to carry out a dynamic • Personal Protective Clothing and risk assessment before embarking Footwear on a study visit. Educational visits • Ratio of teacher/ staff to students Best Practice (2009) appropriate for the venue www.deni.gov.uk/educational_ • Weather forecast and trend – consult visits_2009.pdf beforehand Sketches to be drawn: Equipment: Personnel to be contacted prior to • Various memorials and buildings • Camera visit: • Metre stick N/A • Hand lens Prior knowledge: Classification of rock groups, weathering processes and the properties of building stones. Keywords: Basalt, bedding planes, chemical weathering, glacial till, granite, igneous, lithification*, marble, mechanical weathering, metamorphic, pitting, ripple marks*, sandstone, sedimentary, sedimentary structures*, shale, slate and trace fossils (bioturbation*). * indicates terms exclusive to KS5 geology.

Format developed by the Western Education and Library Board’s Magilligan Field Centre Sandstone Pillars , Holy Trinity, Interior, Bonamargy Pitting In Sandstone Blocks, The Diamond, Ballycastle The Diamond, Ballycastle Friary Bonamargy Friary

Basalt Clock Tower Cut Granite War Memorial Variety Of Building Stones, Marble Cross & Shale Gravestone, The Diamond, Bushmills The Diamond, Bushmills Bushmills Bonamargy Friary Whiterocks Information Sheet

Location: WHITEROCKS, PORTRUSH (Skerries & Causeway SAC, Education for employability: Relevance to specification: Whiterocks ASSI & Causeway Coast AONB) • Tourism KS3: Geography (rocks, coastal erosion GR: 288000, 441000 Irish Grid • Recreation and landforms) Access: Car park with toilets adjacent to the beach – not suitable for • Limestone Quarrying KS4/5: Geography / Geology (as large coaches above, more detailed) Age group: KS3/4/5 Leaving Cert: (Rock cycle, landform development(i ,ii & iii), human interaction) Rock types observed: Limestone, flint and basalt. Site specific hazards: Teaching & Learning issues: Geological structures: Intrusion of basalt through limestone beds, • Tides • Access arrangements joints, bedding planes and fault controlled caves. • Loose rocks • First Aid Kit Coastal erosional features: Sea caves, arches, stacks and stumps. • Cliffs • Instructions to students: clear and Coastal protection and engineering strategies: Marram grass, • Slippery rocks concise rip-rap and construction of boardwalk. • Wave zone • Outdoor Learning Qualifications • Cliff paths • Personal Protective Clothing and Footwear • It is advisable to carry out a dynamic • Ratio of teacher/ staff to students risk assessment before embarking appropriate for the venue on a study visit. Educational visits • Sea state Best Practice (2009) • Tide Tables www.deni.gov.uk/educational_ • Weather forecast and trend – consult visits_2009.pdf beforehand Sketches to be drawn: Equipment: Personnel to be contacted prior to • Caves • Arches, • Camera visit: • Stacks • Stumps • Metre stick N/A • Intrusion* • Dilute HCl • Hand lens Prior knowledge:KS3/4: Coastal erosion processes and landforms; rock types. KS5/leaving cert: Rock types, types of intrusions, baked and chilled margins. Keywords: Abrasion, arches, attrition, baked and chilled margins*, basalt, belemnites*, caves, coastal erosion, fault lines, flint, igneous rock, intrusions*, limestone, thermal metamorphism, sedimentary rock, stacks, stumps, xenoliths*. * indicates terms exclusive to KS5 geology.

Format developed by the Western Education and Library Board’s Magilligan Field Centre Limestone with Belemnite Flint Basalt

Description of limestone (sedimentary rock): Description of flint (sedimentary rock): Description of basalt (igneous rock): • Layered • Grey • Black • White • No grains visible • Small sized crystals • Fine grained • Silica • Composed of olivine, augite and plagioclase • Calcite • Glassy appearance feldspar • Reacts with dilute HCl • Forms linear beds or nodules within limestone • No fossils • Contains belemnite fossils • No fossils • No reaction with HCl • Easily eroded (forms erosional features such as • No reaction with HCl • Cuts up through the sedimentary rocks caves, arches, stacks) (limestone and flint beds) Geological history*: Limestone was deposited in a warm, shallow, tropical sea during the Cretacious Period (approximately 135 - 65 million years ago). This limestone consists of millions of calcareous microfossils (coccoliths). Flint represents sponges composed of silica that rested on the sea floor and were buried within the limestone. The igneous phase of activity approximately 60 million years ago during the Palaeogene resulted in intrusive features such as the vent and dykes which cut through the limestone (as seen within the cliff section) and the extrusive lava flows above the limestone. Coastal erosion of the limestone has formed cliffs, caves, arches and stacks. Portrush Information Sheet

Location: PORTRUSH (Skerries & Causeway SAC, Portrush NNR, Education for employability: Relevance to spec: Ramore Head & Skerries ASSI) • Tourism KS3: Geography (Rocks, coastal erosion, GR: 285000, 442000 Irish Grid • Coastal protection protection and landforms). Access: Large car parks and public toilets are available at Ramore KS4/5: Geography / Geology (as Head or Lansdowne Crescent. above, more detailed) Age group: KS3/4/5 Leaving Cert: (Rock cycle, landform development(i ,ii & iii), human interaction) Rock types observed: Basalt, dolerite, and hornfels. Site specific hazards: Teaching & Learning issues: Geological structures: Igneous intrusions (sill). • Loose rocks • Access arrangements Coastal erosional features: Fault gully, storm beach, sand dunes, • Slippery surfaces • First Aid Kit landslides and rockfalls. • Wave zone • Instructions to students: clear and Coastal protection and engineering strategies: Sea wall and rip-rap. • Cliff paths concise • Outdoor Learning Qualifications • It is advisable to carry out a dynamic • Personal Protective Clothing and risk assessment before embarking Footwear on a study visit. Educational visits • Ratio of teacher/ staff to students Best Practice (2009) appropriate for the venue www.deni.gov.uk/educational_ • Sea state visits_2009.pdf • Tide Tables • Weather forecast and trend – consult beforehand Sketches to be drawn: Equipment: Personnel to be contacted prior to • Contact of sill and metamorphic rocks. • Camera visit: • Ammonite fossils. • Metre stick N/A • Hand lens Prior knowledge: KS3: Igneous rocks KS4/5: Igneous intrusions, thermal metamorphism, fossil preservation, landslides. Keywords: Igneous rock, metamorphic rock, intrusion, sill*, basalt, dolerite*, hornfels*, faults, ammonites*, rip-rap, coastal erosion and protection, thermal metamorphism*, baked margins* and syncline*. * indicates terms exclusive to KS5 geology.

Format developed by the Western Education and Library Board’s Magilligan Field Centre Dolerite Basalt Ammonites in Hornfels

Description of dolerite (igneous) Description of basalt (igneous) Description of hornfels (metamorphic) • Dark green/black • Black • Grey • Medium sized crystals • Small sized crystals • Fine grained • Hard • Minerals of olivine, augite and plagioclase • Hard • Minerals of olivine, augite and plagioclase • No fossils • Dense • No fossils • No reaction with HCl • Dull • No reaction with HCl • Contains ammonites • No reaction with HCl • Originally mudrock Geological history*: Portrush is built on a large sill which forms a northward projection (rocky headland). The sill is intruded into Lias Clays which have been thermally metamorphosed to form hornfels. The sill is Palaeogene in age and is folded into a syncline exposed at Ramore Head on one side and The Skerries islands on the other. The Lias Clays are Jurassic in age (approximately 201- 145 million years ago) and contain ammonite fossils. Fossils in metamorphic rocks are extremely rare but their presence at this location was instrumental in a famous historical debate amongst 18th century geologists about how rocks formed. For this reason, this site is now of international importance. Downhill Information Sheet

Location: DOWNHILL (Magilligan ASSI, SAC, Binevenagh AONB) Education for employability: Relevance to spec: GR: 275000, 436000 Irish Grid • Building stones KS3: Geography (Rocks and their use) Access: Car park opposite the apartment blocks and beside the • Railway ballast KS4: Geography and Geology (Igneous railway line. • Coastal protection rocks, processes and building stones) Age group: KS4/5/Leaving Cert • Tourism Leaving Cert: (Rock cycle, landform development(i), geographical investigation & skills) Rock types observed: Basalt (amydaloidal and massive), dolerite and Site specific hazards and control Teaching & Learning issues: laterite. measures: • Access arrangements Geological structures: Lava flows, intrusions and dykes. • Cliffs • First Aid Kit Coastal erosional features: Cliffs & stacks at the railway tunnel. • Loose rocks • Instructions to students: clear and Coastal protection and engineering strategies: Meshing of cliffs/ • Traffic on roads concise rock bolts below Mussenden temple. • Outdoor Learning Qualifications • It is advisable to carry out a dynamic • Personal Protective Clothing and risk assessment before embarking Footwear on a study visit. Educational visits • Ratio of teacher/ staff to students Best Practice (2009) appropriate for the venue www.deni.gov.uk/educational_ • Sea state visits_2009.pdf • Tide Tables • Weather forecast and trend – consult beforehand Sketches to be drawn: Equipment: Personnel to be contacted prior to • Lava flows with variable basalt and laterite bands • Camera visit: • Intrusive dolerite dyke through older basalt flows • Metre stick N/A Prior knowledge: KS4/5: Extrusive and Intrusive igneous bodies. Coastal erosion and coastal protection strategies. Keywords: Amygdaloidal basalt*, basalt, dolerite, dyke*, extrusive, igneous rocks, intrusion, intrusive, laterite*, lava flows, railway ballast, rock bolts, stack, wire meshing. * indicates terms exclusive to KS5 geology.

Format developed by the Western Education and Library Board’s Magilligan Field Centre Massive Basalt Amygdaloidal Basalt Dolerite

Description of massive basalt (igneous): Description of amygdaloidal basalt (igneous): Description of dolerite (igneous): • Black • Black • Dark green/black • Small sized crystals • Small sized crystals • Medium sized crystals • Composed of olivine, augite and plagioclase • No fossils • Hard feldspar • No reaction with HCl • Minerals of olivine, augite, plagioclase • No fossils • Contains small ‘holes’ or vesicles that are often • No fossils • No reaction with HCl lined with crystals (amygdales) • No reaction with HCl • Cuts up through the sedimentary rocks (limestone and flint beds) Geological history*: Palaeogene basalt extruded approximately 60 million years ago, forming an extensive lava plateau with many layers covering much of County Antrim and East Londonderry. Laterite bands develop as a result of weathering of the basalt surface between lava flows – dolerite dykes cut up through the lower basalt lava flows to feed the upper lava flows. Mid Antrim Student Sheet Visit Time: 2-3 hours

General instructions to students: 1. Note the main RISKS at the site when you arrive. 2. Respect the geological code of conduct at all times, do not disturb wildlife, close gates, do not remove rocks/fossils or sand from the site. 3. Before leaving the minibus, check that you have suitable clothing and footwear and the equipment to record your field observations: 4 Pencils 4 Clipboard 4 Task sheet 4. Stay well away from the wave zone, work as a group and stay close to the teacher in charge at all times. Always be aware of traffic on this busy coast road – there are no footpaths at several sites. When looking for fossils on the storm beaches be aware of the wave zone and take care on the loose and slippery rocks. Stay well away from active mudflows at Minnis North. View these from the opposite side of the road. Note that there is a considerable drop to the shore below at this point. 5. Try and complete your observations in as much detail as possible. Listen to the teacher as he/she explains what you are looking at and ask questions if you are unsure about any aspects of the site.

Mid Antrim | Student Sheet | Page 1 Tasks to be completed: Completed Task Description (tick) (a) Examine the risks/hazards at this site and 1 (b) Describe how they might be reduced. q Waterloo foreshore: (a) Try to identify the main rocks that make up the storm beach and the rock exposed on the beach itself. 2 (b*) Look for fossils and fossil fragments in the storm beach material q and sketch as you find. Use the photos/drawings provided to identify these. * Indicates task for KS5 Geology only Sketch one of the tunnel entrances beneath the roadway. Label the greenish coloured blocks of Greensand around the arch and the white 3 limestone blocks in the wall. Note that the Greensand is more easily q weathered than the white limestone. At Black Arch measures have been taken to stabilise the rocks above 4 and beside the tunnel. Describe these measures and explain why they q are necessary. Minis North/Drumnagreagh: Examine the mudflows in the Lias Clay: (a) Explain why they occur at this site (b) What problems do mudflows cause for the Coast Road? 5 (c) Describe the engineering measures being taken to maintain the q road and reduce the effects of the mudflows? (d) Fossils may be present in the material on the coastal side of the road. Sketch and identify any that you find. Add a scale. Glenarm: Note the local building stones used in the old schoolhouse 6 and the castle entrance gate. Explain how these have been used and q what properties make them suitable as building stones. Glenarm Head: There are several large landslides. Rockfalls in the chalk and the basalt cliffs in the main lay-by. These presented a major hazard to the Coast Road in the past and a new road has been 7 moved seawards with considerable engineering achievement. Note q the measures taken to protect the new road and explain why the limestone in this area presents such a hazard. Garron Point: (a) Sketch the rotational slump blocks in the cliff face. Label the white limestone and basalt and ad approximate angles of 8 dip for each block. q (b) Explain why the rotational slump blocks occur.

Mid Antrim | Student Sheet | Page 2 Name Location Mid Antrim Coast

1a. List of risks/hazards to be aware of: 1b. Ways of reducing risks/hazards:

2a. Rock types on storm beach: 2b. Fossils identified:

3. Sketch the tunnel beneath the coast road. Label Greensand, white limestone and evidence of weathering:

Mid Antrim | Student Sheet | Page 3 4. Describe the methods used to stabilise the rocks at Black Arch:

Minnis North/Drumnagreagh 5a. Explain why mudflows occur at this location?

5b. Describe the problems caused by the mudflows:

5c. Describe the engineering measures taken to maintain the road and reduce the effects of the mudflows:

5d. Identify and sketch fossils found in the Lias Clay:

Mid Antrim | Student Sheet | Page 4 Glenarm 6. Note the local building stones used to construct the old school house and castle entrance gates. State three properties that make these suitable for construction: Identify three building stones:

List three properties of these building stones:

Glenarm Head 7. Note the measures taken to protect the new road and explain why the limestone in this area presents such a hazard?

Mid Antrim | Student Sheet | Page 5 Garron Point

8a. Sketch the rotational slump blocks in the cliff face. Label the white limestone and basalt and add approximate angles of dip for each block:

8b. Explain why the rotational slump blocks occur?

Mid Antrim | Student Sheet | Page 6 Cushendall Student Sheet Visit Time: 1½ -2 hours

General instructions to students: 1. Note the main RISKS at the site when you arrive. 2. Respect the geological code of conduct at all times, do not disturb wildlife, close gates, do not remove rocks/fossils or sand from the site. 3. Before leaving the minibus, check that you have suitable clothing and footwear and the equipment to record your field observations: 4 Pencils 4 Clipboard 4 Task sheet 4. Stay well away from the wave zone, work as a group and stay close to the teacher in charge at all times. Be aware of traffic and remain on the footpath except when crossing the road. The Red Arch is on a blind corner and is extremely dangerous. Stay close to, and listen to the teacher in charge at all times. Always have him/her in your sight. 5. Stay away from the harbour wall edge and wave zone on beach or rock. 6. Try and complete your observations in as much detail as possible. Listen to the teacher as he/she explains what you are looking at and ask questions if you are unsure about any aspects of the site.

Cushendall | Student Sheet | Page 1 Tasks to be completed: Completed Task Description (tick) (a) Examine the risks/hazards at this site and 1 (b) Describe how they might be reduced. q Examine the sandstone used in the construction of Layde Parish 2 Church and the old Curfew Tower. List the properties that make this q local sandstone a useful rock for construction. (a) Draw a labelled sketch of the conglomerate, label clasts and matrix and identify the composition of some of the clasts. Measure and add dimensions of several of the clasts to your sketch. 3 (b) Is the conglomerate a well-sorted or poorly sorted rock? q (c) In what type of environment would this type of conglomerate have been deposited? At Red Arch sketch and label a vertical section of the cliff (approx 1m). Add labels for: • fine sandstone • pebble beds • breccia 4 • graded beds q • imbricate structure

Add an arrow to indicate the palaeocurrent direction that deposited the pebbles. Draw 2 sketches: (a) graded bedding 5* (b) imbricate structures q Below each describe how they formed. (*task and terms exclusive to KS5 Geography Geology) The cliff displays cross beds in a desert sandstone. These are formed 6 as dunes and / or ripples migrate due to wind movement. Draw a q sketch of the cliff showing the cross beds. Dykes are exposed at low tide below the Coast Road. If they are accessible sketch and measure the width and height of the dykes and 7 add these dimensions to your drawing. Add labels for the dolerite q dykes and the surrounding red beds of sandstone or conglomerate.

Cushendall | Student Sheet | Page 2 Name Location Cushendall

1a. List of risks/hazards to be aware of: 1b. Ways of reducing risks/hazards:

2. What properties make the sandstone a useful rock for construction?

3a. Draw a labelled sketch of the conglomerate (label the clasts and matrix and identify the composition of some of the clasts, add a scale.):

3b. Circle the correct term that best describes the conglomerate: Well sorted Poorly sorted

3c. Describe the environment in which this type of conglomerate would have been deposited:

Cushendall | Student Sheet | Page 3 4. Sketch a vertical section of the cliff (1m) and add labels for: • Fine grain sandstone • Pebble beds • Breccia • Graded beds • Imbricate structures Add an arrow to indicate the palaeocurrent direction that deposited the pebbles.

Cushendall | Student Sheet | Page 4 5a. Draw a labelled sketch of graded bedding (add scale):

Formation of graded bedding:

5b. Draw a labelled sketch of imbricate structures (add scale and label palaeocurrent direction):

Formation of imbricate structures:

Cushendall | Student Sheet | Page 5 6. Draw a well labelled sketch of the cliff showing the cross beds (add scale and label palaeocurrent direction):

7. Sketch the dolerite dyke(s). Add dimensions for width and height. Label the basalt and surrounding rocks (include scale):

Cushendall | Student Sheet | Page 6 Cushendun Student Sheet Visit Time: 1 hour

Tasks to be completed: Completed Task Description (tick) (a) Examine the risks/hazards at this site and 1 (b) Describe how they might be reduced. q 2 Examine and describe samples of the conglomerate. q (a) Make a list of measures taken to reduce coastal erosion on the 3 beach, sand dunes and harbour. q (b) Explain how longshore drift causes coastal erosion. Draw a labelled sketch of the raised beach, cliffs and caves from the 4 road behind the apartments. q 5 Explain how a raised beach forms. q Draw a well labelled sketch of a cave showing the fault line and the 6 cliffs of conglomerate. q Sketch a small section of the conglomerate rock in the cliff – add labels 7 for clasts, matrix, cement and add scale/dimensions to a few of the q clasts. Describe the type of environment in which conglomerate forms or is 8 deposited. Use the present storm beach as an example. q (a) Sketch one of the faults on the cliff face noting several clasts and 9 red powdered breccia. q (b) Explain how Breccia forms.

Cushendun | Student Sheet | Page 1 Name Location Cushendun

1a. List of risks/hazards to be aware of: 1b. Ways of reducing risks/hazards:

2. Description of rocks: Rock 1: Descriptors/ ______rock

Colour:

Grain size: (Coarse/ medium/fine)

Texture: (Smooth/glassy, gritty, abrasive, fragmental)

Hardness: (Resistant/soft)

Reaction with acid:

Fossils:

Other observations

Cushendun | Student Sheet | Page 2 3a. List of measures taken to reduce coastal erosion on: Beach Sand dunes Harbour

3b. Explain how LONGSHORE DRIFT causes coastal erosion?

4. Draw a labelled sketch of the raised beach, cliffs and caves from the road behind the apartments:

Cushendun | Student Sheet | Page 3 5. Explain how a raised beach forms?

6. Draw a well labelled sketch of a cave showing the fault line and the clasts of the conglomerate.

Cushendun | Student Sheet | Page 4 7. Sketch a small section of the conglomerate rock in the cliff – add labels for CLASTS, MATRIX, CEMENT and add scale/dimensions to a few of the clasts:

8. Describe the type of environment in which conglomerate forms or is deposited. Use the present storm beach as an example:

Cushendun | Student Sheet | Page 5 9. (a) Sketch one of the faults on the cliff face noting several clasts and red powdered breccia:

9. (b) Explain how breccia forms:

Cushendun | Student Sheet | Page 6 Ballycastle Student Sheet Visit Time: 2 Hours

General instructions to students: 1. Note the main RISKS at the site when you arrive. 2. Respect the geological code of conduct at all times, do not disturb wildlife, close gates, do not remove rocks/fossils or sand from the site. 3. Before leaving the minibus, check that you have suitable clothing and footwear and the equipment to record your field observations: 4 Pencils 4 Clipboard 4 Task sheet 4. Stay well away from the wave zone, work as a group and stay close to the teacher in charge at all times. Stay close to, and listen to the teacher in charge at all times. Always have him/her in your sight. Extra care must be taken if using the stone steps down to the North Star Dyke. 5. Stay away from the base of the cliff and replace any stones that you examine where you find them. 6. Try and complete your observations in as much detail as possible. Listen to the teacher as he/she explains what you are looking at and ask questions if you are unsure about any aspects of the site.

Tasks to be completed: Completed Task Description (tick) (a) Examine the risks/hazards at this site and 1 (b) Describe how they might be reduced. q Sketch a section of the coal measures in the cliff section. Label each 2 layer of rock and give approximate thicknesses. q Describe the appearance of the sandstone/shale/coal using the 3 descriptors provided. q (a) List the main problems of mining coal in the area 4 (b) Explain why coal ming has ceased q Sketch the North Star Dyke showing the joint pattern. Label the 5 dolerite and sandstone and add measurements to your sketch. q Sketch a profile of Fair Head Sill – label the dolerite sill, the coal 6 measures below and the scree slopes. q

Ballycastle | Student Sheet | Page 1 Name Location Ballycastle / Colliery Bay

1a. List of risks/hazards to be aware of: 1b. Ways of reducing risks/hazards:

2. Sketch of coal measure sequence in cliff (Label rock layers and give the thickness of each):

Ballycastle | Student Sheet | Page 2 3. Description of rocks: Rock 1: Rock 2: Rock 3: Descriptors/ ______rock

Colour:

Grain size: (Coarse/ medium/fine)

Texture: (Smooth/glassy, gritty, abrasive, fragmental)

Hardness: (Resistant/soft)

Reaction with acid:

Fossils:

4a. List the main problems of mining coal in the area:

4b. Explain why coal mining has ceased?

Ballycastle | Student Sheet | Page 3 5. Draw a well-labelled sketch of the North Star Dyke (complete with scale and measurements):

6. Draw a well-labelled sketch of the Fair Head Sill (Label the dolerite sill, the coal measures below and the scree slopes):

Ballycastle | Student Sheet | Page 4 Ballintoy Student Sheet Visit Time: 1-1½ hours

General instructions to students: 1. Note the main RISKS at the site when you arrive. 2. Respect the geological code of conduct at all times, do not disturb wildlife, close gates, do not remove rocks/fossils or sand from the site. 3. Before leaving the minibus, check that you have suitable clothing and footwear and the equipment to record your field observations: 4 Pencils 4 Clipboard 4 Task sheet 4. Stay well away from the wave zone, work as a group and stay close to the teacher in charge at all times. 5. Stay away from the base of the cliff and replace any stones that you examine where you find them. 6. Try and complete your observations in as much detail as possible. Listen to the teacher as he/she explains what you are looking at and ask questions if you are unsure about any aspects of the site.

Tasks to be completed: Completed Task Description (tick) (a) Examine the risks/hazards at this site and 1 (b) Describe how they might be reduced. q Examine and describe samples of limestone, massive basalt and 2 amygdaloidal basalt, dolerite and laterite. Complete descriptions of q rocks in the spaces provided. Draw a labelled cross section of the headland looking towards the cave 3 at the car park. Label the cave, joints, faults, the raised beach you are q standing on and the present beach level. Sketch the dyke in the limestone above the lime kilns, include labels 4 and indicate the width of the baked margins. Measure the width of the q dyke and baked margins and insert these on the sketch. From the top of the kilns, look toward the harbour. Identify and 5 describe any coastal protection strategies used to reduce coastal q erosion and protect the harbour.

Ballintoy | Student Sheet | Page 1 Name Location Ballintoy

1a. List of risks/hazards to be aware of: 1b. Ways of reducing risks/hazards:

2. Description of rocks: Rock 1: Rock 2: Rock 3: Rock 4: Descriptors/ ______rock

Colour:

Grain size: (Coarse/ medium/fine)

Texture: (Smooth/glassy, gritty, abrasive, fragmental)

Hardness: (Resistant/soft)

Reaction with acid:

Fossils:

Ballintoy | Student Sheet | Page 2 3. Draw a labelled cross section of the headland, looking towards the cave, raised beach and present beach (label the cave, joints and include a scale):

4. Sketch of dyke and baked margins (labels and scale important):

Ballintoy | Student Sheet | Page 3 5. Coastal protection measures (list and describe):

Ballintoy | Student Sheet | Page 4 Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Site Teacher’s Sheet Visit Time: 2 Hours

General instructions to students: 1. Note the main RISKS at the site when you arrive. 2. Respect the geological code of conduct at all times, do not disturb wildlife, close gates, do not remove rocks/fossils or sand from the site. 3. Before leaving the minibus, check that you have suitable clothing and footwear and the equipment to record your field observations: 4 Pencils 4 Clipboard 4 Task sheet 4. Stay well away from the wave zone at the causeway and stay close to the teacher in charge at all times. Do not use the cliff top paths, especially during stormy weather and take extra care above the top edge of the main causeway. The rocks here are slippery when wet. Pay attention to any instructions or warnings issued by wardens on duty at the causeway. 5. Stay away from the base of any cliffs and replace any stones that you examine where you find them. 6. Try and complete your observations in as much detail as possible. Listen to the teacher as he/she explains what you are looking at and ask questions if you are unsure about any aspects of the site.

Tasks to be completed: Completed Task Description (tick) (a) Examine the risks/hazards at this site and 1 (b) Describe how they might be reduced. q (a) Examine and describe the laterite layer between the basalt 2 (b) Explain how the laterite layer formed q Draw a labelled sketch of the spheroidal weathering in the basalt. 3 (indicate cores, concentric layers and joint patterns) q Examine the scree slopes. Describe the shape and size of the scree 4 and explain how it formed. q Sketch several of the columns in the main causeway – include vertical 5 and horizontal joints. Measure the diameter of a few of the columns q and add this to your sketch. Describe the basalt exposed on the scree slopes and wall behind the 6 causeway. q Draw a labelled sketch of the cliff profile from the viewpoint behind the 7 main causeway. q

Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Site | Student Sheet | Page 1 Name Location Giant’s Causeway

1a. List of risks/hazards to be aware of: 1b. Ways of reducing risks/hazards:

2a. Description of rocks: Rock 1: Rock 2: Descriptors/ ______rock

Colour:

Grain size: (Coarse/ medium/fine)

Texture: (Smooth/glassy, gritty, abrasive, fragmental)

Hardness: (Resistant/soft)

Reaction with acid:

Fossils:

Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Site | Student Sheet | Page 2 2b. Explain the laterite formation:

3. Draw a well-labelled sketch of spheroidal weathering (indicate cores, concentric layers and joint patterns, add a scale):

4. Explain how the scree slopes form (indicate shape and size of scree)?

Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Site | Student Sheet | Page 3 5. Draw a labelled sketch of several of the basalt columns showing the joint pattern (include a scale):

6. Describe the basalt exposed on the scree slopes and wall behind the causeway:

Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Site | Student Sheet | Page 4 7. Draw a labelled sketch of the cliff profile to the east of the causeway. Include the following labels:

• Laterite band • Giant’s Organ • Chimneys • Lower basalts • Causeway basalts

Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Site | Student Sheet | Page 5 Urban Geology Student Sheet Visit Time: 2 Hours

General instructions to students: 1. Note that traffic is the main risk at all sites here. 2. Before leaving the minibus, check that you have suitable clothing and footwear and the equipment to record your field observations: 4 Pencils 4 Clipboard 4 Task sheet 3. Take care when crossing roads and stay on footpaths or pedestrian areas when looking at buildings. Do not obstruct the pavement for other users and avoid littering. 4. Stay close to the teacher and listen clearly to instructions. 5. Try and complete your observations in as much detail as possible. Listen to the teacher as he/she explains what you are looking at and ask questions if you are unsure about any aspects of the site. Tasks to be completed: Completed Task Description (tick) (a) Describe the range of rocks used for building stones at each locality. (b) Find examples of the following and list the properties that make 1 them useful for construction: q Basalt, granite, sandstone, shale, marble, slate. At Ballycastle make a sketch of the Memorial Drinking Fountain in the 2 square and label the 3 types of rocks used in its construction. q Some of the paving slabs in front of the church have ripple marks 3 and worm tracks. How were these formed and how have they been q preserved? At Bonamargy Friary list all the types of rocks used as gravestones. Note which are most resistant to weathering and those less resistant – 4 look at dates on graves and how well the lettering has been preserved q over time. Some sandstone blocks in the outer wall of the Friary are weathered. 5 Describe two types of weathering which have affected some of the q sandstone blocks on the friary wall. (a) Explain why sandstone is used around the edges or mullions of the windows 6 (b) Explain why marble is used for plaques, lettering and for finer q details At Bushmills sketch the Clock Tower and label the three rock types used 7 in the construction (note that bricks are manufactured but formed q from clay and/shale). Sketch one of the other three buildings around the square – the old 8 Courthouse, Lily’s Café, or the Craft and Art Shop. (Identify and label on q the sketch the rock types used in the construction) 9 Make a final list of all the properties required for a good building stone. q

Urban Geology | Student Sheet | Page 1 Bushmills/Bonamargy/ Name Location Ballycastle

1a. Describe at least one rock used for building stones at each locality.

Rock 1 ______Rock 2 ______

Rock 3 ______Rock 4 ______

1b. Find examples of the following and list the properties that make them useful for construction: Basalt, granite, sandstone, shale, marble, slate.

Basalt Granite

Sandstone Shale

Marble Slate

Urban Geology | Student Sheet | Page 2 2. Sketch Ballycastle Memorial in the Diamond. Identify and label 3 rocks that have been used on the memorial on your sketch:

3. How were each of the structures on the paving slabs formed? a. Ripple marks:

b. Worm tracks:

4. List the main types of rocks used in gravestones in Bonamargy Friary: i ii iii iv v vi

Which rock is most resistant to weathering? Which rock is least resistant to weathering?

5. Describe two types of weathering which have affected some of the sandstone blocks on the Friary walls:

Urban Geology | Student Sheet | Page 3 6a. Explain why sandstone is used for the finer cut stone and mullions around the windows?

6b. Why is marble used for plaques, lettering and finer detail?

7. Sketch the Bushmills Clock Tower and label the three rock types:

Urban Geology | Student Sheet | Page 4 8. Sketch one other building in the square with labels identifying the building stones used in construction:

Name of building: ______

9. List the properties required for a good building stone:

Urban Geology | Student Sheet | Page 5 Whiterocks Student Sheet Visit Time: 1-1 ½ Hours

General instructions to students: 1. Note the main RISKS at the site when you arrive. 2. Respect the geological code of conduct at all times, do not disturb wildlife, close gates, do not remove rocks/fossils or sand from the site. 3. Before leaving the minibus, check that you have suitable clothing and footwear and the equipment to record your field observations: 4 Pencils 4 Clipboard 4 Task sheet 4. Stay well away from the wave zone, work as a group and stay close to the teacher in charge at all times. 5. Stay away from the base of the cliff and replace any stones that you examine where you find them. 6. Try and complete your observations in as much detail as possible. Listen to the teacher as he/she explains what you are looking at and ask questions if you are unsure about any aspects of the site. 7. Tasks to be completed:

Tasks to be completed: Completed Task Description (tick) (a) Examine the risks/hazards at this site and 1 (b) Describe how they might be reduced. q Examine and describe samples of LIMESTONE, FLINT, and BASALT. 2 Complete descriptions in the table provided. q (a) Sketch a cave and stack in the limestone and label the fault line(s), 3 flint, joints, and storm beach rocks. q (b) Explain how the stack forms. 4 List the evidence for coastal erosion. q 5 Identify and describe any measures taken to reduce coastal erosion. q

Whiterocks | Student Sheet | Page 1 Name Location Whiterocks

1a. List of risks/hazards to be aware of: 1b. Ways of reducing risks/hazards:

2. Description of rocks: Rock 1: Rock 2: Rock 3: Descriptors/ ______rock

Colour:

Grain size: (Coarse/ medium/fine)

Texture: (Smooth/glassy, gritty, abrasive, fragmental)

Hardness: (Resistant/soft)

Reaction with acid:

Fossils:

Whiterocks | Student Sheet | Page 2 3a. Sketch of cave and stack (labels and vertical and horizontal scale essential):

3b. Explain the formation of a stack:

4. Evidence of coastal erosion?

5. Identify and describe measures taken to reduce coastal erosion:

Whiterocks | Student Sheet | Page 3 Portrush Student Sheet 1 hr (can combine with visit to White Rocks)

General instructions to students: 1. Note the main RISKS at the site when you arrive. 2. Respect the geological code of conduct at all times, do not disturb wildlife, close gates, do not remove rocks/fossils or sand from the site. 3. Before leaving the minibus, check that you have suitable clothing and footwear and the equipment to record your field observations: 4 Pencils 4 Clipboard 4 Task sheet 4. Stay well away from the wave zone, work as a group and stay close to the teacher in charge at all times. Stay close to, and listen to the teacher in charge at all times. Always have him/her in your sight. 5. Stay away from the harbour wall edge and wave zone on beach or rocks. The rocks at the Lansdowne Crescent are very slippery when wet. 6. Replace any stones that you examine where you find them. 7. Try and complete your observations in as much detail as possible. Listen to the teacher as he/she explains what you are looking at and ask questions if you are unsure about any aspects of the site.

Tasks to be completed: Completed Task Description (tick) (a) Examine the risks/hazards at this site and 1 (b) Describe how they might be reduced. q Examine and describe samples of dolerite and hornfels. Complete 2 descriptions in table provided. q (a) Sketch the gully in the fault at Ramore Head. 3 (b) Explain the formation of this gully. q Sketch the contact between the dolerite and the hornfels. Measure 4 and label the baked margin on your sketch. q (a) Draw a well labelled sketch of the ammonites in the hornfels. 5 (b) Explain why these ammonites are geologically significant. q Identify and describe the measures taken to try and reduce coastal 6 erosion at the harbour and the East Strand. q

Portrush | Student Sheet | Page 1 Name Location Portrush

1a. List of risks/hazards to be aware of: 1b. Ways of reducing risks/hazards:

2. Description of rocks: Rock 1: Rock 2: Descriptors/ ______rock

Colour:

Grain size: (Coarse/ medium/fine)

Texture: (Smooth/glassy, gritty, abrasive, fragmental)

Hardness: (Resistant/soft)

Reaction with acid:

Fossils:

Portrush | Student Sheet | Page 2 3a. Draw a well labelled sketch of the gully at Ramore Head:

3b. Explain the formation of the gully at Ramore Head:

4. Draw a well-labelled sketch of the contact between the dolerite and the hornfels at Lansdowne Crescent (Measure and label the baked margin):

Portrush | Student Sheet | Page 3 5a. Draw a well labelled sketch of ammonite fossils with scale:

5b. Explain why this site is of world wide importance to geologists?

6. Identify and describe the measures taken to try and reduce coastal erosion at the harbour and at the East Strand:

Portrush | Student Sheet | Page 4 Downhill Student Sheet 30 mins – 1 hr (can be combined with Portrush/White Rocks)

General instructions to students: 1. Note the main RISKS at the site when you arrive. 2. Respect the geological code of conduct at all times, do not disturb wildlife, close gates, do not remove rocks/fossils or sand from the site. 3. Before leaving the minibus, check that you have suitable clothing and footwear and the equipment to record your field observations: 4 Pencils 4 Clipboard 4 Task sheet 4. Extreme care should be taken when crossing the main road and when standing at the side of Bishop’s Road. Stay close to, and listen to the teacher in charge at all times. Always have him/her in your sight. 5. Stay away from the base of the cliff and replace any stones that you examine where you find them. 6. Try and complete your observations in as much detail as possible. Listen to the teacher as he/she explains what you are looking at and ask questions if you are unsure about any aspects of the site.

Tasks to be completed:

Completed Task Description (tick) (a) Examine the risks/hazards at this site and 1 (b) Describe how they might be reduced. q Examine and describe samples of massive basalt and amygdaloidal 2 basalt and laterite. Complete descriptions in spaces provided. q Draw a vertical section of one lava flow adding dimensions/thickness 3 of layers (approx). Note the massive and amygdaloidal basalt and the q laterite. Sketch a cross section through the dolerite dyke adding dimensions 4 and labelling the joints and chilled margins. q Describe the measures taken to stabilise slopes and reduce hazards. 5 Assess how effective each of these are. q

Downhill | Student Sheet | Page 1 Name Location Downhill

1a. List of risks/hazards to be aware of: 1b. Ways of reducing risks/hazards:

2. Description of rocks: Rock 1: Rock 2: Rock 3: Descriptors/ ______rock

Colour:

Grain / Crystal Size: (Coarse/ medium/fine)

Texture: (Smooth/glassy, gritty, abrasive, fragmental)

Hardness: (Resistant/soft)

Reaction with acid:

Fossils:

Downhill | Student Sheet | Page 2 3. Draw a labelled cross section through basalt lava flow:

4. Draw a labelled cross section through the dolerite dyke:

5. List and describe measures taken to reduce the hazard of slope stability and assess the effectiveness of each:

Downhill | Student Sheet | Page 3 Authors: William Lynn and Nicole Sloane (Foyle and Londonderry College) With support from: Kirstin Lemon (Geological Survey of Northern Ireland), Dermot Black, Michael Cross and Liz Wallace (Western Education and Library Board’s Magilligan Field Centre), Karen Parks (Methodist College Belfast) and Andrew Bratton, Tierna Mullan and Nikki Maguire (Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust) Teacher Information Sheet format developed by: the Western Education and Library Board’s Magilligan Field Centre, a Curriculum Advisory Support Service