Earth Science Conservation Review

Slieve Gullion Ring - Crooked RoadArmagh
Gulley off Crooked Road, W of Lislea Church, Co. Armagh; central zone of Porphyritic Granophyre, with its xenoliths of earlier granophyre, exposed in crags at centre of photo; crags beyond expose outer zone of ring-dyke and wall rock of Newry Granodiorite
Summary Full report
Site Type: Crag, Crags
Site Status: ASSI
Council area: Newry, Mourne & Down District Council
Grid Reference: J00152405
Bing maps: 54.15574,-6.46777
Google maps: 54.15574,-6.46777
Rocks
Rock Age: Tertiary, Devonian (Devonian Undifferentiated, Palaeogene)
Rock Name: Lislea Granophyre, Newry Granodiorite, Slieve Gullion Complex
Rock Type: Granodiorite, Granophyre
Interest
Other interest: ring-dyke, xenoliths, Intrusion
Summary of site:
To place this site in context, the Slieve Gullion Ring – Overview, site 1118, should be read.
The prominent, crag-lined gully running north from a bend in the road, cuts completely through the ring dyke, exposing both the inner and outer contacts of the porphyritic granophyre with Newry granodiorite host rock. Contacts within the granophyre show that it underwent many pulses of intrusion and near its centre, large, alien blocks of well rounded, fine-grained granitic rock up to a metre across can identified. The origin of these blocks has been much debated, some geologists believing them to be altered Newry granodiorite.
At the head of the gully where the outer contact is seen there is a zone of intensive crushing affecting both the granophyre and the Newry granodiorite of the ring wall.
This is one of suite of sites selected to illustrate the nature of the Slieve Gullion Ring complex. All are of international importance and should be scheduled and managed to preserve their interest.

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