Antrim Lava Group, Palaeogene extrusive

igneous rocks, Northern Ireland

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Mitchell, W I (ed.). 2004. The geology of Northern Ireland-our natural foundation.
Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, Belfast.

M R Cooper

Antrim Lava Group

Location of the present day limits of lava

fields and sub-volcanic complexes in the
North Atlantic Igneous Province (6).
(P947861)
Distribution of the Antrim Lava Group in
Northern Ireland. (P947862)

Geological map of the Kinbane Head area of

north Co. Antrim (13). (P947863)
Carrickarade rope bridge and cliffs of
volcanic agglomerate. Carrickarade [D 062
449], 7 km northwest of Ballycastle, Co.
Antrim. (P948024)

Thin lava flows of the Lower Basalt

Formation (Antrim Lava Group). Black Head
[J 488 935], 2 km northeast of Whitehead,
Co. Antrim. (P948025)
The Lower Basalt Formation showing the
top of a lower flow (reddened) and base of
the succeeding flow with numerous pipe
vesicles. Black Head [J 488 935], 2 km
northeast of Whitehead, Co. Antrim.
(Hammer 36 cm long). (P948026)
Stratigraphy and chronology of Palaeocene
extrusive and intrusive igneous rocks in
Northern Ireland. (P948097)

Lava flow of the Lower Basalt Formation

with vesicle cylinders. Black Head [J 488
935], 2 km northeast of Whitehead, Co.
Antrim. (Umbrella 40 cm long). (P948027)
Photomicrograph 1 Olivine basalt containing
phenocrysts of plagioclase feldspar and
olivine in a very fine-grained matrix of
olivine, augite, opaque ore minerals and
flow aligned microlites of plagioclase. Lower
Basalt Formation at the Giant’s Causeway,
Co. Antrim. (P948083)

The Giant’s Harp and the Chimney Tops at

the Giant’s Causeway [C 951 448]. Two
flows of tholeiitic basalt lava (Causeway
Tholeiite Member) overlie the reddish brown
Interbasaltic Formation. The lower part of
the cliff is formed of five flows of the Lower
Basalt Formation, Co. Antrim. (P948028)

Part of the Grand Causeway showing the

irregular polygonal form of the columns.
Giant’s Causeway, Co. Antrim. (P948029)
Location map of the Tardree Rhyolite
Complex (A) and details of the Sandy Braes
vent (B) (7), (20). (P947864)

The Antrim Lava Group consists mainly of basaltic rocks that cover much of Co. Antrim and parts of
Co. Londonderry and north Co. Armagh (P947861). Its outcrop extends only a short distance
offshore beyond the east coast of Co. Antrim into the North Channel and into the Malin Sea north of
the outcrop on Rathlin Island. The former extent of the Antrim Lava Group onshore is not known.
However, based on comparisons with the island of Mull, where it is estimated that 1000 m of basalt
lava was eroded [1], if a similar thickness had been removed in Northern Ireland, then it is probable
that the lavas extended far beyond their present outcrop. Supporting evidence for an erosive event
of similar magnitude is found in the presence of basalt outliers on Slieve Gallion [H 813 896] and
Knocklayd [D 115 364]. The outliers in Co. Armagh, between the southern margin of the Antrim
Plateau and Slieve Gullion are an indication of the minimum southerly extent of the basalt lava field
(P947861) and (P947862).

The earliest evidence of explosive volcanism at the base of the Antrim Lava Group is vent
agglomerates, ash cones and layers of pyroclastic tuff in north Co. Antrim. Chalky and basaltic tuff,
some 60 m thick, occur at the base and in lower levels of the Lower Basalt Formation, and extend for
at least 7 km from the source between Ballintoy and Ballycastle (P947862) [2]. At Kinbane [D 088
439], chalky tuff overlain by basaltic tuff is exposed in the cliffs southwest of the headland
(P947863). Although the volcanic vent that produced these pyroclastic deposits is now concealed,
the chalk outcrop at Kinbane is riddled with subsidiary vents filled by shattered chalk, basaltic
agglomerate and doleritic intrusions [2][3]. At Carrickarade [D 062 448], the footpath and rope bridge
provide excellent views of an agglomerate-filled vent (P948024). At White Rocks [C 886 407] east of
Portrush, vents exposed on the foreshore are also filled with chalk boulders and basalt agglomerate.

Within the Antrim Lava Group there are very few examples of sedimentary deposits intervening
between the basalt lava flows. However, in the area east of Cookstown, the Coagh Conglomerate
Member [4] represents a fluvial deposit that is located near the base of the Lower Basalt Formation
(P947862). The conglomerate crops out in a stream [H 898 789] 800 m ENE of Coagh Bridge and is
underlain by about 5m of basalt lava. It comprises about 6 m of clast-supported conglomerate
composed of well-rounded pebbles and cobbles of basalt in a dark greyish green clay matrix with
multicoloured chips and rounded granules of red clay. Very rare clasts of flow-banded porphyritic
rhyolite are recorded in the conglomerate [5].
The early phase of localised explosive volcanism was followed by the widespread eruption of basalt
lava flows of the Lower Basalt Formation. Lava reached the surface from vents and along NNW-
aligned fissures and has a maximum thickness of 531m [6] in the Langford Lodge borehole (P947862).
Flows are exposed in numerous cliff sections both at the coast and inland, particularly in quarries. In
Co. Antrim they are exposed at Cave Hill [J 325 799], Black Head [J 488 934] north of Whitehead
(P948025), the Gobbins [J 485 976] on Island Magee and in Glenariff Forest Park [D 217 206].

Lava flows of the Lower Basalt and Upper Basalt formations are usually not more than 10 m thick
and can be divided into three parts. Flow bases commonly exhibit concentrations of vesicles
(P948026) that were originally gas bubbles which develop into vesicle cylinders with a pipe-like form
that extends upwards through a flow (P948027). Central portions of flows are often massive with
irregular columnar jointing. Flow tops are frequently vesicular but are most commonly weathered to
purplish red lithomarge (palaeosol) and may be capped by a layer of bright red, weathered volcanic
dust. Vesicles are referred to as amygdales when they are filled with zeolite minerals precipitated
from hot groundwater.

Petrographical and geochemical studies demonstrate that basalt lava from both the lower and upper
formations consists of fine-grained, olivine basalt (olivine tholeiites) composed of plagioclase
feldspar, olivine, augite and opaque minerals [7], [8]. Plagioclase, as the dominant phase, is either
randomly orientated or more rarely will show a flow alignment and fluxion around olivine
phenocrysts ( (P948083) ).

Tholeiitic andesite lava flows (formerly referred to as mugearite) with an outcrop length of up to
8 km occur towards the centre and top of the Lower Basalt Formation near Antrim and
Templepatrick [9], [10], [11] and at Larne [12] in south and southeast Co. Antrim. They are fine-grained
and flow banded with a flaggy to massive aspect in exposures in the Stoneyford River at The Y
Bridge [J 201 723] and in streams at Woodbrook Cottage [J 229 850] near Templepatrick (P947862) .

The Interbasaltic Formation normally consists of 10–15 m of orange-red lateritic palaeosol, but also
in parts may still retain relict igneous and mineral textures in the purplish red, deeply weathered
basalt and is referred to as lithomarge. Alteration has resulted in an iron-rich laterite composed
mainly of the secondary clay mineral kaolinite and containing at least 30% iron as Fe2O3 and 5%
titanium as TiO2. Bauxite or aluminous laterite is more restricted in distribution than the ferruginous
laterite and was produced by the weathering of silicic volcanic rocks and ash. The dominant clay
mineral is gibbsite and the aluminium content as Al2O3 is at least 50%.

In north Co. Antrim, the period of time in which the Interbasaltic Formation was formed was
associated with the eruption of the mainly quartz-tholeiites of the Causeway Tholeiite Member
(P948097). As the first flow crossed the land surface it filled several valleys known to have existed in
lavas at the top of the Lower Basalt Formation. Trapped there, the ponded lava cooled slowly
forming the famous columns of the Giants Causeway (P948028) and (P948029), now a World
Heritage Site. Individual flows of this member may be divided into a lower colonnade, entablature
and an upper colonnade [13], as seen at the Giant’s Organ. In addition to the effects of contraction
and cooling of the lava other factors may have contributed to the formation of the columnar jointing.
The first prerequisite seems to have been that lava flow had virtually ceased. Curvilinear jointing at
the Giant’s Harp would seem to indicate however, that residual movement did occur during
crystallisation. Textural homogeneity may also have been essential and is born out by the
petrography of the tholeiites which are all composed of very fine-grained augite, plagioclase
feldspar, glass and opaques with rare phenocrysts of feldspar and olivine [14]. There is also a close
relationship between the occurrence of a colonnade and entablature and the presence of rocks
associated with water including river and lake sediments, pillow lavas and hyaloclastite breccias. It
seems likely that water displaced by lava flows of the Causeway Tholeiite Member in the valleys
flooded the upper surface of the flow, modifying the cooling regime and encouraging the formation
of multi-tiered columnar flows. Flooding of the top cooling surface by rain probably also aided the
formation of the upper colonnade. Spectacular cliffs at Port Noffer on the Giant’s Causeway expose
the Lower Basalt Formation, Interbasaltic Formation and lowest two flows of the Causeway Tholeiite
Member.

In north Co. Antrim, extrusion of the Causeway Tholeiite Member led to the formation of two
separate interbasaltic horizons (P948097). The lower horizon, the Port na Spaniagh Member, is
represented by the red laterite at the Giant’s Causeway which consists of 15 m of completely
weathered basalt of the Lower Basalt Formation with residual masses of relatively unweathered
basalt known as Giant’s Eyes. At Craigahulliar quarry [C 883 389] the member includes lacustrine
mudstone and siltstone with well-preserved deciduous leaf impressions, and a 6m bed of lignite that
was worked for fuel. Below the sediments is a pahoehoe lava surface with small domes and collapsed
blisters indicating sub-aerial cooling and subsequent flooding [15]. The upper bed, the Ballylagan
Member, which rarely exceeds 1 m in thickness, is the weathered top of the Causeway Tholeiite
Member and is developed only intermittently between Craigahulliar quarry [16] and Ballycastle.

In central Co. Antrim, silicic igneous activity during interbasaltic times produced the rhyolite lavas
and pyroclastic rocks of the Tardree Rhyolite Complex (P947864), the volcanic vent at Sandy Braes
[J 206 960] and 430 m of rhyolite penetrated in a borehole at Templepatrick [17]. Outliers of the
Upper Basalt Formation in central Co. Antrim are underlain by siliceous bauxite of the Interbasaltic
Formation that formed by weathering of the acidic volcanic rocks produced by the Tardree volcano.

Small, isolated acidic intrusions, that are probably contemporaneous with the Tardree Rhyolite
Complex, intrude the Lower Basalt Formation at Shane’s Hill, and the Silurian greywacke at
Ballygowan [J 190 570] between Dromore and Hillsborough in Co. Down (P947862). The Shane’s Hill
intrusion [J 065 532], east of Portadown, has a roughly rectangular outline and consists of xenolithic
and xenocrystic rhyodacite and latite, most probably of volcanic origin [18]. Petrographic analysis
reveals a complex intrusive history that commenced with minute fractures in cooled plutonic rocks
of diorite, monzonite and granite composition being invaded by magma of basaltic or intermediate
composition that quenched to a brown glass. Subsequent intrusion by the later rhyodacite/latite
magma entrained and partially remelted fragments of the plutonic rocks and erupted at the surface
having penetrated the overlying basalt lavas. Outcrops consist mainly of pale grey to white
rhyodacite. However, this dominant colour is secondary and is the result of hydrothermal alteration
of the original dark grey lithology, which is now restricted to small, sharp-edged patches in
exposures. Xenocrysts consist mainly of rounded quartz, orthoclase (with residual spots of
plagioclase due to alteration), plagioclase and acicular pyroxene (primarily augite) or amphibole.

The maximum thickness recorded for the Upper Basalt Formation is 346m in the Ballymacilroy
borehole [J 057 976] [19] although the largest part of the outcrop occurs north of the Tow Valley Fault
and on the eastern side of the Antrim Plateau (P947862). Its present distribution indicates that the
new lava flows overstepped the Lower Basalt Formation onto Dalradian, Carboniferous and
Mesozoic rocks beyond the western edge of the Antrim Plateau. These flows also originated from
NNW-orientated fissures and vents and at first encountered a vegetated and wet land surface of
lateritised basalt that gave rise to flow-ploughing into pre-existing soil deposits [20]. The Upper Basalt
Formation is divided into a lower aphyric group and an upper olivine-phyric, flow-banded group that
are separated by a layer of grey bauxite which is 9 m thick at Agnew’s Hill [D 327 015] [21]. Although
texturally and chemically distinct, it is nevertheless believed that olivine fractionation was the main
differentiation process in both groups. At the top of the formation the flow-banded, olivine-phyric
lava probably indicates a source in close proximity to the outcrop. North of the Tow Valley Fault, the
association of thin layers of pahoehoe lava, spatter ramparts and of scoriaceous and oxidised vent
material indicates close proximity to active fissures. In the formation outcrop south of the Carnlough
Fault (P947862) there is an association between the upper, flow-banded, lavas and flow-banded
dolerite plugs at Craigcluggan [D 293 080] and Skeagh [D 303 060]. The outcrop between Garron
Point and Broughshane is related to the dolerite plug at Trosk [D 263 196].

Geochemical trends for major and minor elements in the Lower Basalt and Upper Basalt formations
show that there is a progression towards mantle depletion in the latter formation, particularly in
east and south Co. Antrim where there is a thick Lower Basalt Formation [22]. However, in the Antrim
Plateau northwest of the Tow Valley Fault, the Lower Basalt Formation is either very thin or possibly
absent in some places, such as at Binevenagh [C 692 302]. Geochemical trends in the Upper Basalt
Formation in that area more closely resemble those for the Lower Basalt Formation in south and
east Co. Antrim. This reflects the melting of a less depleted mantle source northwest of the Tow
Valley Fault with lava of the Upper Basalt Formation often being the first products derived from that
new mantle source.

References

1. ↑ Walker, G P L. 1971. The distribution of amygdale minerals in Mull and Morven (western
Scotland). In: Murty, T V V G G R K, and Roa, S S (eds.). Studies in Earth Sciences, W. D. West
commemorative volume, 181–94.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wilson, H E, and Manning, P I. 1978 Geology of the Causeway Coast. Memoir of the
Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, Sheet 7. HMSO, Belfast.
3. ↑ Emeleus, C H, and Preston, J. 1969. Field excursion guide to the Tertiary Volcanic rocks of
Ireland. Belfast.
4. ↑ Cameron, I B, and Old, R A. 1997. Geology of the country around Cookstown. 1:50 000
Geological Sheet 27 (Cookstown). Geological Survey of Northern Ireland. Technical Report
GSNI/97/7.
5. ↑ Patterson, E M. 1955. The Tertiary lava succession in the western part of the Antrim
plateau. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 57B, 155–78.
6. ↑ Manning, P I, Robbie, J A, and Wilson, H E. 1960. Geology of Belfast and the Lagan Valley.
Memoir of the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland. HMSO, Belfast.
7. ↑ Lyle, P. 1980. A petrological and geochemical study of the Tertiary basaltic rocks of
northeast Ireland. Journal of Earth Sciences, Royal Dublin Society, 2, 137–52.
8. ↑ Lyle, P. 1985. The geochemistry and petrology of Tertiary basalts from the Binevenagh area,
County Londonderry. Irish Journal of Earth Sciences, 7, 59–64.
9. ↑ Lyle, P, and Thompson, S J. 1983. The classification and chemistry of the Tertiary
intermediate lavas of Northeast Ireland. Scottish Journal of Geology, 19, 17–27.
10. ↑ Thompson, S J. 1997. Geology of the country around Antrim. 1:50 000 Geological Sheet 28
(Antrim). Geological Survey of Northern Ireland. Technical Report GSNI/97/6.
11. ↑ Geological Survey of Northern Ireland 1994. Antrim, Northern Ireland Sheet 28. Solid and
Drift Geology. 1:50 000. (Keyworth, Nottingham: British Geological Survey).
12. ↑ Geological Survey of Northern Ireland 1994. Larne, Northern Ireland Sheet 21. Solid and
Drift Geology. 1:50 000. (Keyworth, Nottingham: British Geological Survey).
13. ↑ Lyle, P, and Preston, J. 1997/8. The influence of eruptive conditions on joint development in
the Causeway Tholeiite Member of the Tertiary Antrim Lava Group, Northern Ireland. Irish
Journal of Earth Sciences, 16, 19–32.
14. ↑ Lyle, P, and Preston, J. 1993. Geochemistry and volcanology of the Tertiary basalts of the
Giant’s Causeway area, Northern Ireland. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 150,
109–20.
 15. ↑ Lyle, P. A geological excursion guide to the Causeway Coast. W & G Baird Ltd. Second
printing, 1998.
16. ↑ Geological Survey of Northern Ireland 1998. Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland Sheet 7.
Solid Geology. 1:50 000. (Keyworth, Nottingham: British Geological Survey).
17. ↑ Old, R A. 1975. The age and field relationships of the Tardree Tertiary Rhyolite Complex,
County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Bulletin of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, 51, 21–40.
18. ↑ Geological Survey of Northern Ireland 1997. Northern Ireland. Solid Geology (second
edition). 1:250 000. (Keyworth, Nottingham: British Geological Survey).
19. ↑ Thompson, S J. 1979. Preliminary report on the Ballymacilroy No. 1 borehole, Ahoghill, Co.
Antrim. Open File Report No. 63, Geological Survey of Northern Ireland. Belfast.
20. ↑ Wilson, H E. 1965. Lava ploughing in the Tertiary Basalts of County Antrim. Geological
Magazine, 10, 538–40.
21. ↑ Lyle, P, and Patton, D J S. 1989. The petrography and geochemistry of the Upper Basalt
Formation of the Antrim Lava Group in northeast Ireland. Irish Journal of Earth Sciences, 10,
33–41.
22. ↑ Lyle, P. 1988. The geochemistry, petrology and volcanology of the Tertiary lava succession
of the Binevenagh-Benbraddagh area of County Londonderry. Irish Journal of Earth Sciences,
9, 141–52.

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