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Earth Science Conservation Review
| Murrins Complex - Laght Hill Retreat Moraines | Tyrone |
| Site number: | 511 | ||
| ESCC: | IS | ||
| Locality Type: | Inland exposure | Status: | TBC |
| Grid Reference: | H590773 End(s) of linear site | ||
| Google maps: | 54.64086,-7.08618 | ||
| County: | Tyrone | Council area: | Fermanagh & Omagh District Council |
| Period: | Quaternary | ||
| Site Description | |
|---|---|
| Description: | |
This area extends east to west from Mountfield to Loughmacrory Hill (5.5km long, 1.5-2.0km wide) and includes the bedrock hills of Mulnafye and Laght Hill. The area is characterised by an undulating topography of small, aligned ridges which slope onto the bedrock uplands. Ridges are up to 500m long, 5-10m high and 30-40m wide and spaced about 50m apart. Ridge morphology resembles a series of circular mounds separated by low and broad swales. Morphology and geometry is similar to the 'hummocky moraine' described from Scotland by Benn (1992) which may be related to both active and stagnant-ice processes. Ridge landscapes occur generally below 200m a.s.l., thus are constrained between bedrock hills. They are broadly arcuate in morphology, aligned northeast-southwest across the valleys and are associated with other features such as kettleholes and meltwater channels. Dissected ridges support evidence elsewhere for regional south to north meltwater activity. Ridges are interpreted to represent phases of active ice retreat as individual lobes pulled southwest into the central Omagh Basin (cf. Charlesworth, 1924, p.262). Small sections show these ridges are composed of poorly-sorted matrix-supported (80%) diamict (cf. Benn, 1992) with sandstone cobbles of southern provenance. No large exposures are recorded. | |
| Notes: | |
For site specific information on other sites within the Murrins Complex see the following sites: Key Site 508 - Murrins Complex - Glensawisk Burn Delta Key Site 509 - Murrins Complex - Cashel Outwash Key Site 510 - Murrins Complex - Lough Fingrean Frontal Moraines Key Site 512 - Murrins Complex - Coolesker/Beragh Eskers For overview information and references on the Murrins Complex see the following site: Key Site 479 - Murrins Complex - Overview For general information and references on the sand and gravel landscapes of N. Ireland, and for directions to other regional sand and gravel sites, see the following site: Key Site 439 - Introduction to the Sand and Gravel Landscapes of N. Ireland | |
| Keywords | |
|---|---|
| Relations: | Ice retreat |
| Geomorph: | kettle-hole, meltwater channel, recessional moraine |
| Record type: | ESCR report | ||
| Entered by: | E M Porter | ||
| Enlander, I., Dempster, M. & Doughty, P., 2026. Murrins Complex - Laght Hill Retreat Moraines, County Tyrone, site details. [In] Earth Science Conservation Review. https://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/site.php?item=511. Accessed on 2026-11-06. |
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