The Distribution of Irish Rocks
The geological map of Ireland displays a wide variety of rock types which have originated at different periods of geological time. The oldest rocks are metamorphic gneisses which are to be found on Inishtrahull, several miles off Malin Head in Co. Donegal, and elsewhere in the north-west. They originally formed as igneous rocks 1750-1780 million years ago.
Geological map of Ireland
This map shows an indepth view of Ireland's geology.
Copyright Geological Survey of Ireland 2006.Geological map of Ireland
This map shows an indepth view of Ireland's geology.
Copyright Geological Survey of Ireland 2006.Other very old metamorphic rocks also occur, notably in west Galway and Co. Donegal, and in the Kilmore Quay and Rosslare Harbour areas of south Wexford. Included in the metamorphic category are the slates that have given rise to the great slate quarry at Valentia Island, Co. Kerry, and the quartzites that are found, among other places, in Counties Donegal and Wicklow. Because of their distinctive shattering during weathering, quartzites have produced some of Ireland's most prominent peaks, most notably Errigal
Errigal Mouontain, Donegal
Errigal is the highest mountain in the Derryveagh Mountains area and the 76th highest in Ireland.
Courtesy of Simon Stewart
Sugar Loaf
The quartzite peak of the Great Sugar Loaf, Co. Wiclow
courtesy of the Geological Survey of Ireland
Extrusive igneous rocks are extensive in the north-east where the basaltic lavas have given rise to the Antrim-Derry plateau. Intrusive igneous rocks are represented by granites of several ages, in Counties Donegal, Armagh, Down, Wicklow and Galway. In Co. Wicklow the granites formed into a large dome structure known as a batholith. Remnants of the rocks which once overlaid the granite are evident in metamorphic schists at high altitudes and in a small band that borders the granite at lower levels. Now the granite has weathered into rounded hills. Some of these hills, for example Three Rock Mountain, Co. Dublin, Djouce, Co. Wicklow, Bloody Foreland, Co. Donegal, are surmounted by tors - distinctive blocks of rock that have weathered less rapidly than their surrounds.
Sugar Loaf
The quartzite peak of the Great Sugar Loaf, Co. Wiclow
courtesy of the Geological Survey of IrelandSugar Loaf - courtesy of the Geological Survey of Ireland
Three Rock Mountain
Three Rock Mountain is roughly 450 metres high and located in the Dublin Mountains.
Three Rock Mountain -
Carnsore Point
This is an aerial photograph of Carnsore Point, just south of Rosslare, Co. Wexford.
Aerial Photgraph courtesy of Ordnance Survey IrelandCarnsore Point - Aerial Photgraph courtesy of Ordnance Survey Ireland
Errigal Mountain
Photograph of Errigal Mountain in Donegal.
Copyright Simon StuartErrigal Mountain - Copyright Simon Stuart
Antrim Plateau
This photograph of the Antrim Plateau was taken from Cairncastle.
Courtesy of Seamus Kane.Antrim Plateau - Courtesy of Seamus Kane.
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