Earth Science Conservation Review

Summary Full report
Coalpit Bay - Lower PalaeozoicDown
Site Type: Coastal Section, Foreshore
Site Status: ASSI
Council area: North Down and Ards Borough Council
Grid Reference: J594788
Google maps: 54.63262,-5.53146
Rocks
Rock Age: Ordovician, Silurian (Caradoc, Ashgill, Llandovery)
Rock Type: Turbidite, Greywacke, Shale, Bentonite
Interest
Fossil Groups: Graptolite

Summary of site:

The Outer Ards coast is composed of Lower Palaeozoic sedimentary rocks of deep marine facies, strongly folded, faulted and weakly metamorphosed. The area is part of the Scottish Southern Uplands / Irish Down - Longford Terrane, one of a series of terranes assembled through the closure of the Iapetus Ocean at the end ofthe Silurian period, 395 Million years ago (Ma). A terrane is a geological unit, discrete in terms of structure and age, and distinct from adjoining areas.

 Enlander, I., Dempster, M. & Doughty, P., 2024. Coalpit Bay - Lower Palaeozoic, County Down, site summary. [In] Earth Science Conservation Review.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/summary.php?item=1350. Accessed on 2024-12-26

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