Earth Science Conservation Review
| Hill's Port, The Gobbins, Island Magee - Mineralogy | Antrim |
| Site Type: | Coastal section, Roadside section |
| Site Status: | ASSI |
| Grid Reference: | J485971 |
| Google maps: | 54.80019,-5.69078 |
| Rocks | |
|---|---|
| Rock Age: | Tertiary |
| Rock Name: | Antrim Lava Group, Lower Basalt Formation |
| Rock Type: | Amydaloidal Basalt, Olivine Basalt |
| Interest | |
| Minerals: | Analcime, Analcite, Calcite, Chabazite, Gobbinsite, Natrolite, Zeolites, Heulandite, Levyne, Cowlesite, Mesolite, Gonnardite, Travertine |
| Other interest: | amygdales |
Summary of site:
Zeolites are a group of hydrated aluminosilicate minerals that commonly occur in basic volcanic rocks, particularly basaltic lavas. They are found in amygdales, mineral-filled bubbles trapped in the cooling lava and in fissures. They occur in zones that indicate their depth of burial, a phenomenon first recognised and described in Northern Ireland. The coastal cliffs around Hill's Port, and further north at the Gobbins, contain a variety of zeolites including gobbinsite (a new zeolite mineral, discovered here in the late twentieth century).
The Antrim basalts are famous for the quantity and diversity of zeolites they contain.
The only threat to these coastal cliffs is from marine erosion which is just as likely to reveal more zeolites as it is to destroy them.
The Antrim basalts are famous for the quantity and diversity of zeolites they contain.
The only threat to these coastal cliffs is from marine erosion which is just as likely to reveal more zeolites as it is to destroy them.
| Enlander, I., Dempster, M. & Doughty, P., 2024. Hill's Port, The Gobbins, Island Magee - Mineralogy, County Antrim, site summary. [In] Earth Science Conservation Review. https://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/summary.php?item=527. Accessed on 2024-12-26 |
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