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Earth Science Conservation Review
| Western Mournes Complex - Kilbroney River Valley Moraines | Down |
| Site number: | 455 | ||
| ESCC: | IS | ||
| Locality Type: | Inland exposure | Status: | TBC |
| Grid Reference: | J234273,J178181 End(s) of linear site, Not Entered | ||
| Google maps: | 54.18031,-6.10997 | ||
| County: | Down | Council area: | Newry, Mourne & Down District Council |
| Period: | Quaternary | ||
| Stages: | Late Midlandian | ||
| Site Description | |
|---|---|
| Description: | |
The most distal moraines in the Kilbroney River valley are two low relief (<2m high) round-crested lateral ridge remnants which trend northeastward. They degrade rapidly seaward east of Rostrevor and are truncated at around 6m a.s.l., a height similar to that of a postglacial shoreline notch on the Mourne Plain. The southern part of Rostrevor is sited on a massive, composite arcuate frontal moraine ridge. The ridge is 600m wide with a steeply stepped distal slope <32m high. Frontal moraine ridges in the northern part of Rostrevor are also broad, have irregular outlines and are dissected by occasional meltwater channels. Channels are <30m wide, are dry and are cut perpendicular to ridge axes. Frontal moraines are transverse arcs across the valley. They can be traced upwards into lateral moraine ridges and benches along the valley slopes. The eastern side of the Kilbroney River valley is characterised for 4km north of Rostrevor by flights of well-marked lateral moraine ridges and benches. These features trend northeast to southwest along the lower valley sides and decline southward towards the frontal arcs. A restricted exposure (J201217) in the proximal side of a lateral moraine consists of vaguely laminated gravely diamict containing a cobble line and a sand lens. Cross-valley frontal moraines in the north of the valley are mainly low-relief steps, narrow spreads and round crested ridges, and are arcuate to straight. The Glen River and Shanky's River valleys are crossed by poorly marked breaks of slope and subdued ridges. | |
| Notes: | |
For site specific information on other sites within the Western Mournes Complex see the following sites: Key Site 456 - Ghann River Moraines Key Site 457 - Moygannon River Valley Moraines Key Site 458 - Western Lowlands Drumlins and Moraines For overview information and references on the Western Mournes Complex see the following site: Key Site 450 - Western Mournes Complex - Overview For overview and site specific information on other sand and gravel sites within the Mourne Mountains area see the following sites: Key Site 440 - Mourne Plain Complex - Overview Key Site 447 - Attical Complex, Mourne Mountains - Overview Key Site 448 - Bloody Bridge River Valley Complex, Mourne Mountains - Overview Key Site 449 - Northeast Mournes Complex - Overview Key Site 451 - Annalong Valley For general information and references on the sand and gravel landscapes of N. Ireland, and directions to sites other than those within the Mourne Mountains area, see the following site: Key Site 439 - Introduction to the Sand and Gravel Landscapes of N. Ireland | |
| Keywords | |
|---|---|
| Geomorph: | cross-valley moraine, recessional moraine |
| Record type: | ESCR report | ||
| Entered by: | E M Porter | ||
| Last updated: | 4 Aug 2004 | ||
| Enlander, I., Dempster, M. & Doughty, P., 2026. Western Mournes Complex - Kilbroney River Valley Moraines, County Down, site details. [In] Earth Science Conservation Review. https://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/site.php?item=455. Accessed on 2026-11-07. |
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