Earth Science Conservation Review

Summary Full report

Black Mountain Quarry, Belfast

Site number:	551
ESCC:	EA
Locality Type:	Quarry (working)	Status:	local interest
Grid Reference:	J280723 Centroid
County:	Antrim	Council area:	Belfast City Council
Period:	Tertiary
Lithostrat:	Antrim Lava Group, Lower Basalt Formation

Site Description
Black Mountain Quarry, Belfast, Co.Antrim, May 1997.
Highlights:
Tertiary basalt with zeolite minerals.
Introduction:
This is an active, deeply excavated quarry in the Lower Basalt Formation, quarried for roadstone etc. by White Mountain Quarries Ltd.
Description:
Purple vesicular basalt contains analcime, natrolite, mesolite, chabazite and calcite. Black Mountain Quarry, Belfast, Co.Antrim, May 1997: phacolite (variety of chabazite). In one loose block, excellent twinned crystals of phacolite (variety of chabazite) were found. Black basalt contains apophyllite and gyrolite.
Notes:
No Notes

Keywords
Minerals:	Analcime, Calcite, Chabazite, Gyrolite, Natrolite, Zeolites, Mesolite, Apophyllite, Phacolite
Rocks:	Basalt
Products:	Roadstone
Structures:	vesicles

Access
Management:	Monitor regularly and collect fresh specimens as material becomes available. The site is inappropriate for public access due to high cliff faces, which render the quarry hazardous.
Uses
Uses:	Active, deep quarry.

References

Rec Type	ESCR report	Recorder:	R. Nawaz and N.R. Moles
Enterer:	E M Porter
Updates:	07 MAY 68 / 14 Jul 2006 / 16 Sep 2003 / 27 JAN 01 / 13 JAN 01

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