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Earth Science Conservation Review

Summary Full report
Red Arch, Waterfoot coastal exposuresAntrim
Site number:313File Number:D22
ESCC:EC
Locality Type:Coastal section Status: ESCR
Grid Reference: D244262 Centroid
Google maps: 55.06799,-6.05269
County: AntrimCouncil area:Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council
Period:Devonian
Stages:Upper Devonian
Lithostrat:Red Arch Formation
Site Description
image: 0313a.jpg Coastal exposures just north of Red Arch, Waterfoot, Co.Antrim, showing matrix-supported conglomerates and sandstones at the base of Unit 5 of the Red Arch Formation.
Coastal exposures just north of Red Arch, Waterfoot, Co.Antrim, showing matrix-supported conglomerates and sandstones at the base of Unit 5 of the Red Arch Formation.
Description:
Overlying Unconformity B of Simon (1984), which separates rocks of Units 4 and 5 of the Red Arch Formation , are salmon-pink, matrix-supported conglomerates and sandstones that resemble closely the rocks of Unit 3.
image: 0313b.jpg Cross-stratifed and imbricate pebbly sandstones and conglomerates of Unit 5 of the Red Arch Formation.
Cross-stratifed and imbricate pebbly sandstones and conglomerates of Unit 5 of the Red Arch Formation.
Throughout Unit 5 there is an upward decrease in the conglomerate content, and parallel laminations and cross-stratification are characteristic of the medium-grained pink-red sandstones that occur in precipitous streams draining the west side of Glenariff.
image: 0313c.jpg Roadside cliff, 30m north of Red Arch, showing cross-stratification in typical lithologies of the Red Arch Formation.
Roadside cliff, 30m north of Red Arch, showing cross-stratification in typical lithologies of the Red Arch Formation.
Some of these cross-stratified beds are 1m thick and may possibly be aeolian dunes.
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
Structures:cross-bedding
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. Red Arch, Waterfoot coastal exposures, County Antrim, site details. [In] Earth Science Conservation Review.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/site.php?item=313. Accessed on 2026-11-08.

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