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Earth Science Conservation Review
| Bellevue Quarry - site of local interest | Antrim |
| Site number: | 704 | ||
| Locality Type: | Quarry (disused) | Status: | local interest |
| Grid Reference: | J327810 Centroid | ||
| Google maps: | 54.66009,-5.94362 | ||
| County: | Antrim | Council area: | Belfast City Council |
| Period: | Tertiary | ||
| Stages: | Palaeogene | ||
| Lithostrat: | Antrim Lava Group, Lower Basalt Formation | ||
| Site Description | |
|---|---|
| Highlights: | |
This site is a disused quarry behind the car park at the entrance to the Belfast Zoological Gardens. It exposes a section through the so-called ‘Clay-with-Flints’ horizon which was originally interpreted as a ‘terra rozza’ type soil deposit developed on top of the Ulster White Limestone in pre-basalt times. The exposure is now interpreted as being a volcanic ash deposit. The section at Bellevue is one of the best exposures of this horizon in the area and provides evidence to support the re-interpretation of its origin. | |
| Description: | |
The Antrim Lava Group (Palaeogene) is subdivided into the Lower Basalt Formation, the Interbasaltic Formation and the Upper Basalt Formation. The base of the Lower Basalt Formation is formed, in many places, by a 1.0-1.5m thick unit of structureless brick-red, blue or grey clay with scattered and locally reddened flints. The ‘clay-with-flint’ horizon, which often forms an infilling to surface hollows in the underlying Ulster White Limestone Formation had previously been interpreted as representing a ‘terra rozza’ type soil deposit that developed by deep weathering of the top of the Ulster White Limestone prior to the eruption of flood basalts. The old quarries at Bellevue are one of the best localities to see this horizon in the Greater Belfast area. The section comprises of: TOP LAYER: 30-40cm Deep brown-red flint-rich clay matrix, clast-supported clay. BASAL LAYER: 60-70cm Salmon-brown clay-supported layer with discrete small-to-large grey flints up to 25cm across concentrated near the base. | |
| Importance: | |
The site is of scientific value as it provides one of the best exposures in the Greater Belfast area of the ‘Clay-with-Flints’ horizon and is interpreted as being of volcanic origin. | |
| Interpretation: | |
Examination of the Basal Layer reveals that it contains scattered lapilli. As such this layer is interpreted as representing a basal flint regolith infused by the downward percolation of volcanic ash (now weathered to clay). The top layer is lapilli-rich and is interpreted as being derived after water droplets passed through a volcanic ash cloud that had been moved by wind from above a volcano. The deep brown-red staining of the flints in this layer may be a feature caused by heating from ash or an ignimbritic source. | |
| Keywords | |
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| Rocks: | Clay |
| Access | |
|---|---|
| Approach: | The section lies behind the car park to the entrance of Belfast Zoological Gardens. |
| Record type: | SLNCI Report | ||
| Entered by: | E M Porter | ||
| Last updated: | 09/10/03 | ||
| Enlander, I., Dempster, M. & Doughty, P., 2026. Bellevue Quarry - site of local interest, County Antrim, site details. [In] Earth Science Conservation Review. https://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/site.php?item=704. Accessed on 2026-11-04. |
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