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Earth Science Conservation Review
| Tempo Valley Delta Complex - Lough Eyes | Tyrone |
| Site number: | 515 | ||
| ESCC: | IS | ||
| Locality Type: | Inland exposure | Status: | TBC |
| Grid Reference: | H340450,H303411 End(s) of linear site, Not Entered | ||
| Google maps: | 54.35302,-7.47707 | ||
| County: | Tyrone | Council area: | Fermanagh & Omagh District Council |
| Period: | Quaternary | ||
| Site Description | |
|---|---|
| Description: | |
This area, 6km long and up to 2km wide, extends from Drumderg to just north of Lisbellaw (H303411). This area is characterised by sand and gravel-dominated ridges which have been dissected by meltwater erosion in channels 50-75m wide. Ridges are up to 1.3km long and 300m wide, flat-topped or slightly undulatory and are isolated in morphology. Ridges are generally oriented northeast-southwest and are partly superimposed on the uplands to the west. Meltwater channels run parallel to ridge axes. Lough Eyes occupies a depression in one such meltwater channel, and reaches a maximum of 9.0m in depth. There are no exposures in the ridge system. These ridges are interpreted to be ice-marginal moraines deposited during eastward ice retreat into the lowlands of the Tempo and Clogher valleys (cf. McCabe, 1969). This interpretation is contrary to that of Charlesworth (1924; see Key Site 485 - Tempo, interpretation section for discussion). The wide but well constrained morainic zone, and large morainic ridges, infer a high debris flux to the margin. Meltwater channel orientation relative to moraine ridge morphology may imply that the ridges are not strictly primary features. However, channel orientation can best be interpreted as resulting from meltwater flowing downvalley (northeast to southwest), constrained between the deglaciated uplands to the west and the ice margin to the east (cf. McCabe, 1969). | |
| Notes: | |
For site specific information on other sites within the Tempo Valley Delta Complex see the following sites: Key Site 513 - Tempo Valley Delta Complex - Glengesh and Tattinweer Key Site 514 - Tempo Valley Delta Complex - Tempo and Pubble Key Site 516 - Tempo Valley Delta Complex - Upland areas of the Fintona Hills For overview information and references on the Tempo Valley Delta Complex see the following site: Key Site 485 - Tempo Valley Delta 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 | |
|---|---|
| Rocks: | Gravel, Sand |
| Relations: | Ice retreat |
| Geomorph: | moraine |
| Record type: | ESCR report | ||
| Entered by: | E M Porter | ||
| Enlander, I., Dempster, M. & Doughty, P., 2026. Tempo Valley Delta Complex - Lough Eyes, County Tyrone, site details. [In] Earth Science Conservation Review. https://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/site.php?item=515. Accessed on 2026-11-07. |
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