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Earth Science Conservation Review
| Derrynoyd Townland, near Draperstown | Londonderry |
| Site number: | 546 | ||
| ESCC: | ID | ||
| Locality Type: | Mine (disused), Spoil heaps | Status: | local interest |
| Grid Reference: | H756955 Centroid | ||
| Google maps: | 54.8021,-6.82441 | ||
| County: | Londonderry | Council area: | Mid Ulster District Council |
| Period: | Devonian | ||
| Site Description | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Highlights: | |
Former barite trial and spoil heap. | |
| Introduction: | |
Derrynoyd is one of a number of occurrences of barite mineralization within the Devonian sandstones of southern Tyrone and Fermanagh. | |
| Description: | |
This locality comprises an infilled shaft, sunk in the 1950s (?) to a depth of 80 feet, and adjoining ramp-shaped spoil heap which reaches a height of 3m and breadth of c.10m at its furthest end from the shaft. The spoil heap is covered with grass and mature trees (beech and larch) planted by the Forestry Commission, and pieces of spoil containing barite can only be found with some difficulty. The shaft has been fenced off and is infilled with mud and recent domestic rubbish, which is polluting the water is a small stream flowing alongside the spoil heap. The locality is reached by crossing pasture fields from a farm, both owned by Mr Hugh Kelly. According to Mr Kelly the spoil heap would be within his property, but this is disputed by the Forestry Commission. | |
| Conclusions: | |
The scarcity of spoil material and absence of bedrock exposure, combined with the relatively low interest in this type of mineralization, necessitate that a low priority be attached to conservation of this site. | |
| Keywords | |
|---|---|
| Minerals: | Barytes |
| Rocks: | Sandstone |
| Access | |
|---|---|
| Approach: | The locality is reached by crossing pasture fields from a farm. |
| Management: | |
Former mine trial (flooded) and spoil heap (overgrown): improve access? | |
| Uses | |
| Uses: | Woodland. |
| Record type: | ESCR report | Recorded by: | R. Nawaz and N.R. Moles |
| Entered by: | E M Porter | ||
| Last updated: | 07 MAY 68 | ||
| Enlander, I., Dempster, M. & Doughty, P., 2026. Derrynoyd Townland, near Draperstown, County Londonderry, site details. [In] Earth Science Conservation Review. https://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/site.php?item=546. Accessed on 2026-11-06. |
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