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Earth Science Conservation Review

Summary Full report
Lifeboat House, Cushendall - small island south ofAntrim
Site number:311File Number:D22
ESCC:EF
Locality Type:Coastal section Status: ESCR
Grid Reference: D24382676 Centroid
Google maps: 55.0725,-6.05403
County: AntrimCouncil area:Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council
Period:Devonian
Stages:Upper Devonian
Lithostrat:Red Arch Formation
Site Description
image: 0311a.jpg Small
Small 'island' 200m S of Lifeboat House, Cushendall, Co.Antrim, showing Unconformity A of Simon (1984) separating conglomerates of Units 1 and 2 (top) of Red Arch Formation; Wilson (1953) thought this separated Upper Palaeozoic from Lower Mesozoic rocks.
Description:
Unconformity A of Simon (1984), separating conglomerates of Units 1 and 2 of the Red Arch Formation, is clearly exposed on small islands and promentories on the eastern side of the coastal outcrop of the Unit 1 conglomerates and can be traced southwards to the fault marking their southern extent. Beneath the unconformity are fine to medium- conglomerates and pebbly sandstones that were deposited in a braided stream environment whilst the succeeding beds of Unit 2 consist of about 20m of very coarse, clast-supported conglomerates which occur in very thick sheets and are only known from the southern part of the Unit 1 outcrop.
image: 0311b.jpg Close up of Unconformity A of Simon (1984).
Close up of Unconformity A of Simon (1984).
The angular difference between bedding in Units 1 and 2 at Unconformity A is between 15-20 deg.
Notes:
For general information and reference list on the Red Arch Formation see Key Site 1148 - Red Arch Formation; Cushendall to Red Arch, Glenariff.

For general information and reference list on the Devonian System in N. Ireland see Key Site 1147 - The Devonian System in N. Ireland - Introduction.
Keywords
Rocks:Conglomerate, Sand, Sandstone
Relations:Unconformity
Paleoenv:braided stream
Map(s): See the 1:50,000 O.S. Sheet 5 (Ballycastle).
Record type: Environment Serv. GIS, ESCR report    
Entered by: Doughty, P.J.
 Enlander, I., Dempster, M. & Doughty, P., 2026. Lifeboat House, Cushendall - small island south of, County Antrim, site details. [In] Earth Science Conservation Review.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/site.php?item=311. Accessed on 2026-11-06.

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