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Earth Science Conservation Review

Summary Full report
Magherameena Quarry, BelleekFermanagh
Site number:224File Number:G95
ESCC:ED
Locality Type:Quarry (disused) Status: ASSI
Grid Reference: G980597 Centroid
Google maps: 54.4862,-8.03083
County: FermanaghCouncil area:Fermanagh & Omagh District Council
Period:Carboniferous
Stages:Arundian, Chadian, Visean
Lithostrat:Ballyshannon Limestone Formation, Magherameena Limestone Member, Tyrone Group
Site Description
image: 0224a.jpg Magherameena Quarry, Belleek, Co. Fermanagh; SW corner of quarry shows massive turbid micrites (left) of Waulsortian mudmound (Magherameena Limestone Member stratotype) allochthonous into thinly-bedded, crumpled, dark-grey limestones and shales (right).
Magherameena Quarry, Belleek, Co. Fermanagh; SW corner of quarry shows massive turbid micrites (left) of Waulsortian mudmound (Magherameena Limestone Member stratotype) allochthonous into thinly-bedded, crumpled, dark-grey limestones and shales (right).
Highlights:
Waulsortian limestones are superbly exposed in Magherameena Quarry in the form of a lenticular mound interbedded in a sequence of bedded limestones and silty shales.

Description:
Magherameena Quarry is located 4km east of Belleek on the south side of the A47 Kesh Road and is the stratotype for the eponymous limestone member. Some 10-12m of massive to unbedded micrites in the shape of a lenticular mound are exposed in the quarry, with one extremity being located in the southwest corner. Lying stratigraphically beneath the mound and occupying much of the west wall of the quarry are interbedded limestones and silty shales dipping at about 18 deg. to the south. The limestones are dark blue-grey crinoidal, medium-grained packstones which contain abundant bryozoa but only occasional brachiopods and solitary corals including Cravenia cf. lamellata are found. The microbiota comprises a low diversity assemblage of foraminifera including Earlandia sp., Endothyra sp., Priscella sp., Tetrataxis sp. and Eotextularia diversa, which indicates a mid-Tournaisian to Arundian age, and algae including Girvanella sp., Sphaerinvia piai and a kamaeniid.

The margin of this Waulsortian mound is exposed in the southwest corner of the quarry and its relationship to the bedded limestones and shales is clearly allochthonous. The latter bedded strata, adjacent to the edge of the mound, are crumpled and sheared and a breccia, consisting of angular and contorted lumps of limestone in a deformed mudstone matrix, coats the western margin and narrowing edge of the mound limestones. Beds overlying the top of the mound
image: 0224b.jpg South face of quarry showing interbedded limestones and fossiliferous shales overlying top of Waulsortian mudmound.
South face of quarry showing interbedded limestones and fossiliferous shales overlying top of Waulsortian mudmound.
also consist of interbedded thick crinoidal limestones and fossiliferous shaley mudstones whose dip varies tremendously and which are clearly not in a normal stratigraphical relationship with the unbedded mound limestones. The microbiota of these limestones also comprises a low diversity assemblage of foraminifera and algae with no age diagnostic forms.

The Waulsortian limestones
image: 0224c.jpg North side of quarry exposes solely unbedded, very fossiliferous micrites of the Waulsortian mudmound.
North side of quarry exposes solely unbedded, very fossiliferous micrites of the Waulsortian mudmound.
consist of virtually unbedded, pale to medium grey wackestones (micrites) showing a turbid relationship between grey and fawn-grey varieties. Former cavities in the rock mass are now infilled with successive layers of microcrystalline calcite and a core of calcite spar. Large fronds of fenestellid bryozoa form a partial framework in the limestone and are frequently coated by these carbonate layers. Brachiopods are abundant throughout the limestone but they are all representative of a reef facies assemblage and are not diagnostic of age. To date no ammonoids, corals or trilobites have been found in this Waulsortian mound and consequently its precise age is not known.
Interpretation:
A discussion relating to the history of the concept of the Waulsortian and its distribution in Ireland is included in Key Site 177 (Subarea-1). This also applies to the Waulsortian mound at Magherameena Quarry.

Conclusions:
a) This is the most northerly occurrence of the Waulsortian in Ireland, Great Britain and in western Europe.

b) Magherameena Quarry is located about 80km north of the limit formerly imposed on the development of this facies in Ireland and is located over 30km NW of the only other Waulsortian locality in N. Ireland at Bellanaleck, Co. Fermanagh.

c) No fossils diagnostic of age have been recovered from Magherameena Quarry. A miospore assemblage obtained from the basal Carboniferous beds in this area contain Lycospora pusilla and are thus of earliest Vis‚an age.
Notes:


For information on other sites in Subarea-3 see;

Key Site 1176 - Subarea-3; Kesh-Omagh.
Keywords
Rocks:Crinoidal limestone, Limestone
Fossil Groups:Brachiopod, Coral, Crinoid, Foraminifera, Polyzoan
Fossil List:Earlandia sp. , Endothyra sp. , Priscella sp.
Relations:Marine sediments
Access
Approach:4km east of Belleek on the south side of the A47 Kesh Road.
Map(s): See 1:50,000 O.S. Sheet 17 (Lower Lough Erne).
Record type: ESCR report    
Entered by: Doughty, P.J.
 Enlander, I., Dempster, M. & Doughty, P., 2026. Magherameena Quarry, Belleek, County Fermanagh, site details. [In] Earth Science Conservation Review.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/site.php?item=224. Accessed on 2026-11-06.

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