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Earth Science Conservation Review

Summary Full report
Glasmullen Townland streamAntrim
Site number:314File Number:D22
ESCC:EO
Locality Type:Stream section Status: ASSI
Grid Reference: D22052242 Centroid
Google maps: 55.03447,-6.09186
County: AntrimCouncil area:Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council
Period:Devonian
Stages:Upper Devonian
Lithostrat:Red Arch Formation
Site Description
image: 0314a.jpg Stream section at Glasmullen, south-west of Waterfoot, Co.Antrim, showing contact between medium-grained sandstones (below) and laminated mudstones at the top of Unit 5 of the Red Arch Formation.
Stream section at Glasmullen, south-west of Waterfoot, Co.Antrim, showing contact between medium-grained sandstones (below) and laminated mudstones at the top of Unit 5 of the Red Arch Formation.
Description:
The highest beds of Unit 5 of the Red Arch Formation are exposed in a stream section on the west side of Glenariff on the north flank of the abandoned chalk quarry in Glasmullen Townland, 4.3km southwest of the Red Arch. The lowest beds are white to pale-fawn, medium-grained, cross-stratified sandstones with thin beds of brown-red mudstone. Lying above the sandstones and succeeding them abruptly and conformably are thick red-brown laminated mudstones and pedogenic mudstones with carbonate nodules. Laminae of green mudstone occur throughout the 3-4m of mudstone exposed and near their base is one section about 12cm thick composed entirely of banded dark and light green mudstone.
image: 0314b.jpg Detail of interbedded dark and light green and chocolate brown mudstones at the top of Unit 5 of the Red Arch Formation.
Detail of interbedded dark and light green and chocolate brown mudstones at the top of Unit 5 of the Red Arch Formation.
No miospores were recovered from these mudstones.
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:Mudstone, Sand, Sandstone
Structures:cross-bedding
Map(s): See the 1:50,000 O.S. Sheet 9 (Ballymena, Larne).
Record type: Environment Serv. GIS, ESCR report    
Entered by: Doughty, P.J.
 Enlander, I., Dempster, M. & Doughty, P., 2026. Glasmullen Townland stream, County Antrim, site details. [In] Earth Science Conservation Review.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/site.php?item=314. Accessed on 2026-11-06.

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