Earth Science Conservation Review

Summary Full report
Tamney - site of local interestLondonderry
Site Type: Quarry (disused)
Site Status: ASSI
Council area: Limavady Borough Council
Grid Reference: C633032
Google maps: 54.87296,-7.01395
Rocks
Rock Age: Precambrian
Rock Name: Dungiven Formation
Rock Type: Limestone, Meta-limestone, Pelitic rock, Schist, Marble
Interest
Minerals: Calcite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Pyrite
Other interest: hydrothermal vein, stratiform mineralization

Description:

The locality is a small disused limestone quarry approximately 25m in length and 5m in height, which is accessed via a farm lane from the Altinure Road between Feeny and Park c.1.5km west of Fincairn crossroads. The quarry contains a steeply dipping bed of meta-limestone c.4m in thickness, which is sandwiched by pelite, within the Dungiven Limestone Formation. Sulphide mineralization at this locality was reported by Arthurs (1976). During a site visit (1997), mineralization comprising mainly pyrite with minor chalcopyrite was observed to occur as (i) stratiform concentrations up to 10cm thick forming at least one bed within the meta-limestone, and (ii) calcite veins 2-5mm in thickness which are prominent along joints within the meta-limestone. In the latter, pyrite occurs as 5-15mm flattened cubic crystals. Coarse calcite also forms a lensoid vein at the tectonised junction between marble and friable mica schist at the eastern side of the quarry. Galena was also reported at the locality (Arthurs, 1976), but none was observed during the field visit.

 Enlander, I., Dempster, M. & Doughty, P., 2024. Tamney - site of local interest, County Londonderry, site summary. [In] Earth Science Conservation Review.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/summary.php?item=753. Accessed on 2024-12-26

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