{"id":5727,"date":"2020-10-20T11:17:20","date_gmt":"2020-10-20T11:17:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/?page_id=5727"},"modified":"2023-02-23T12:34:33","modified_gmt":"2023-02-23T12:34:33","slug":"geological-story-of-the-geopark-region","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/fr\/the-geological-story\/geological-story-of-the-geopark-region\/","title":{"rendered":"Geological story of the Geopark region"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><section class=\"vc_section\"><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1597317250453 row-contains-padding-top row-contains-padding-bottom liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586dd776e\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 liquid-column-69e0586dd7abd\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\"><div data-custom-animations=\"true\" data-ca-options='{\"triggerHandler\":\"inview\",\"animationTarget\":\".wpb_column\",\"duration\":700,\"delay\":100,\"easing\":\"easeOutQuint\",\"direction\":\"forward\",\"initValues\":[],\"animations\":[]}' class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_inner vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1600773241033 liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586dd7c79 vc_column-gap-35 vc_row-o-equal-height vc_row-o-content-middle vc_row-flex\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586dd7ebd\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"  ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h2>THE GEOLOGY OF OUR GEOPARK REGION<\/h2>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586dd8151\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"  ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center  liquid_vc_single_image-69e0586de82e3\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Geology-map-with-shade-and-info-centre-original-compressed-1-1024x724.jpg\" target=\"_self\" class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"551\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg xmlns%3D&#039;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#039; viewBox%3D&#039;0 0 1024 724&#039;%2F&gt;\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-large ld-lazyload\" alt=\"\" title=\"Geology-map-with-shade-and-info-centre-original-compressed-1\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Geology-map-with-shade-and-info-centre-original-compressed-1-1024x724.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Geology-map-with-shade-and-info-centre-original-compressed-1-1024x724.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Geology-map-with-shade-and-info-centre-original-compressed-1-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Geology-map-with-shade-and-info-centre-original-compressed-1-scaled-18x12.jpg 18w\" data-aspect=\"1.414364640884\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_inner vc_row-fluid liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586de8580\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 liquid-column-69e0586de87a8\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"  ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\"><style>.ld_spacer_69e0586de882c{height:100px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"ld-empty-space ld_spacer_69e0586de882c\"><span class=\"liquid_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><style>.ld_custom_menu_69e0586de891e > li > a{font-weight:700;}.ld_custom_menu_69e0586de891e li:not(:last-child):after{content:'\u2014';}.ld_custom_menu_69e0586de891e li + li{margin-left:5px;}.ld_custom_menu_69e0586de891e{background:rgb(0, 152, 160);}.ld_custom_menu_69e0586de891e > li > a,.ld_custom_menu_69e0586de891e ul > li > a{color:rgb(255, 255, 255);}.ld_custom_menu_69e0586de891e > li > a:hover, .ld_custom_menu_69e0586de891e ul > li > a:hover, .ld_custom_menu_69e0586de891e li.is-active > a, .ld_custom_menu_69e0586de891e li.current-menu-item > a{color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.81);}<\/style><div id=\"ld_custom_menu_69e0586de891e\" class=\"lqd-custom-menu lqd-sticky-menu text-center ld_custom_menu_69e0586de891e\" data-pin=\"true\" data-pin-options='{ \"offset\": \"[data-sticky-header] .mainbar-wrap.is-stuck, #wpadminbar\", \"duration\": \"docHeight\"  }' data-move-element='{ \"target\": \".vc_row\" }'>\n\t<ul class=\"reset-ul inline-nav\" id=\"ld_custom_menu_69e0586de891e\">\n\t<li><a href=\"#BIRTH_OCEAN\" target=\"_self\" data-localscroll=\"true\" data-localscroll-options=\"{ &quot;offsetElements&quot;: &quot;[data-sticky-header] .mainbar-wrap, #wpadminbar, parent&quot; }\">BIRTH OF AN OCEAN<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#END_OCEAN\" target=\"_self\" data-localscroll=\"true\" data-localscroll-options=\"{ &quot;offsetElements&quot;: &quot;[data-sticky-header] .mainbar-wrap, #wpadminbar, parent&quot; }\">END OF AN OCEAN<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#TROPICS\" target=\"_self\" data-localscroll=\"true\" data-localscroll-options=\"{ &quot;offsetElements&quot;: &quot;[data-sticky-header] .mainbar-wrap, #wpadminbar, parent&quot; }\">IN THE TROPICS<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#HIATUS\" target=\"_self\" data-localscroll=\"true\" data-localscroll-options=\"{ &quot;offsetElements&quot;: &quot;[data-sticky-header] .mainbar-wrap, #wpadminbar, parent&quot; }\">LAST 300 MILLION YEARS<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#UNDER_THE_ICE\" target=\"_self\" data-localscroll=\"true\" data-localscroll-options=\"{ &quot;offsetElements&quot;: &quot;[data-sticky-header] .mainbar-wrap, #wpadminbar, parent&quot; }\">UNDER THE ICE<\/a><\/li>\t<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><\/section><section id=\"BIRTH_OCEAN\" class=\"vc_section vc_custom_1603191827153\"><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602019536803 liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586de8d15\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 liquid-column-69e0586de8f5a\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #00656a;\"><strong>700-540 Million Years Ago<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The Birth of an Ocean \u2013 Neoproterozoic Era<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586de91c7\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586de9425\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\" translation-block\">Our geological story starts <strong>700 million years<\/strong> ago in the Neoproterozoic Era, the final part of the Precambrian. At this time, there was one supercontinent in the Southern Hemisphere that we now call Rhodinia. The only parts of Ireland that were part of this continent were the island of Inishtrahull off of Co Donegal, part of the Mullet Peninsula in Co Mayo and the area south of Bray, including the Sugarloaf, in Co Wicklow.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586de96be\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center  liquid_vc_single_image-69e0586e05b6e\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"717\" height=\"371\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg xmlns%3D&#039;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#039; viewBox%3D&#039;0 0 717 371&#039;%2F&gt;\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full ld-lazyload\" alt=\"\" title=\"World Palaeogeo Ordovician\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 717px) 100vw, 717px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/World-Palaeogeo-Ordovician.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/World-Palaeogeo-Ordovician.jpg 717w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/World-Palaeogeo-Ordovician-300x155.jpg 300w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/World-Palaeogeo-Ordovician-16x8.jpg 16w\" data-aspect=\"1.9326145552561\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586e05dcd\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586e060fe\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center  liquid_vc_single_image-69e0586e158c9\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"960\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg xmlns%3D&#039;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#039; viewBox%3D&#039;0 0 1280 960&#039;%2F&gt;\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full ld-lazyload\" alt=\"\" title=\"Lake_Marble_Formation\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Lake_Marble_Formation.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Lake_Marble_Formation.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Lake_Marble_Formation-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Lake_Marble_Formation-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Lake_Marble_Formation-16x12.jpg 16w\" data-aspect=\"1.3333333333333\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586e15b5a\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>The supercontinent Rhodinia started to rift apart (i.e. fissures slowly opened up and divided the continent) and a new ocean called the Iapetus started to open around 590 million years ago. As the two continental blocks continued to move apart, magma erupted to form a new ocean floor and sediments such as mud, sand, and gravel were deposited and limestone formed.<\/p>\n<p>We see rocks of this age in Ireland in both the southeast in Co Wicklow and Co Wexford and in the northwest in Connemara, north Co Mayo, Co Sligo, Co Tyrone, Co Donegal and Co Antrim. The rocks to the southeast are associated with a vast continent we call Gondwana and the rocks to the northwest are associated with a continent we call Laurentia.<\/p>\n<p class=\" translation-block\">Laurentia includes parts of Scotland (find out more on the North West Highland UNESCO Global Geopark <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwhgeopark.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website<\/a>), Greenland, and Eastern Canada (find out more on the Cabox aspiring geopark <a href=\"https:\/\/caboxgeopark.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website<\/a>) whereas Gondwana includes parts of southern Britain, the eastern edge of North America and the whole of Africa, South America and Antartica.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<style>.ld_spacer_69e0586e15da6{height:32px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"ld-empty-space ld_spacer_69e0586e15da6\"><span class=\"liquid_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586e15f8e\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 liquid-column-69e0586e16184\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>In the Joyce Country &amp; Western Lakes geopark region, we see evidence of rocks of this age from Corr na M\u00f3na westwards and from Cur Hill in the Maam valley to south of Maam Cross. Our internationally famous rock, Connemara Marble, started off as limestone at the centre of the new ocean floor. The soft Lakes Marble Formation of the Maam valley was once limestone and sand found in the shallow waters of the young Iapetus Ocean, and the tops of the Maamturks and the Twelve Bens were once sand from the continent deposited on this ocean floor.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><\/section><section id=\"END_OCEAN\" class=\"vc_section vc_custom_1603191951210\"><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602019536803 liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586e164ea\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 liquid-column-69e0586e1670a\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #00656a;\"><strong>490-360 Million Years Ago<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The End of an Ocean \u2013 Ordovician to Devonian Periods<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602035061065 row-contains-padding-top row-contains-padding-bottom liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586e16933\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586e16b07\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h5>Volcanic island arc and subduction<\/h5>\n<p class=\" translation-block\">Around 100 million years after its creation at the start of the <strong>Ordovician period (490 to 440 million years ago)<\/strong>, the <strong>Iapetus Ocean<\/strong> started to close. The <strong>subduction<\/strong> of oceanic crust was responsible for the formation of a <strong>volcanic island arc<\/strong>. The subducted oceanic crust melted under very high temperatures and produced an influx of magma to the surface responsible for the formation of volcanoes. An analogue to this process is the modern volcanic islands of east Asia which are formed due to subduction zones in the Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586e16d46\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center  liquid_vc_single_image-69e0586e2718f\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"353\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg xmlns%3D&#039;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#039; viewBox%3D&#039;0 0 1024 464&#039;%2F&gt;\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-large ld-lazyload\" alt=\"\" title=\"Nafooey arc diagram\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Nafooey-arc-diagram-1024x464.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Nafooey-arc-diagram-1024x464.png 1024w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Nafooey-arc-diagram-300x136.png 300w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Nafooey-arc-diagram-16x7.png 16w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Nafooey-arc-diagram.png 1584w\" data-aspect=\"2.2068965517241\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center  liquid_vc_single_image-69e0586e2797a\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602035113849 row-contains-padding-top row-contains-padding-bottom liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586e27b7f\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586e27d98\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center  liquid_vc_single_image-69e0586e38585\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg xmlns%3D&#039;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#039; viewBox%3D&#039;0 0 1024 681&#039;%2F&gt;\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-large ld-lazyload\" alt=\"\" title=\"Pillow Basalt, Finny\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Pillow-Basalt-Finny-1024x681.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Pillow-Basalt-Finny-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Pillow-Basalt-Finny-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Pillow-Basalt-Finny-scaled-16x12.jpg 16w\" data-aspect=\"1.503671071953\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586e3880a\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\" translation-block\">Basaltic lava, with temperatures up to 1200\u00b0C, oozed onto the seabed and was cooled quickly by the sea water. We refer to this as <em>pillow lava<\/em>, because when seen in cross-section, the individual lava flows look like stacked pillows. This can be seen on the roadside in Finny, close to Lough Nafooey. Individual pillows are visible, as are vesicles or gas bubbles. Further north in Tourmakeady and slightly younger in age, there is evidence of another volcanic arc, this time made of lava that contains more material from a continental crust like silica minerals, evidenced by the presence of <em>tuff<\/em>, a rock made of volcanic ash.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602035133722 row-contains-padding-top row-contains-padding-bottom liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586e38aab\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586e38ccc\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h5>Collision and intrusion of the magmatic arc<\/h5>\n<p class=\" translation-block\">With the continuous closure of the Iapetus Ocean through subduction, the two ancient continents of Laurentia and Gondwana, and the volcanic island arc in between them, got closer and finally <strong>collided<\/strong>. This took place <strong>475 to 460 million years ago<\/strong> and resulted in an enormous amount of deformation to the rocks that had previously been deposited over 200 million years earlier in the Neoproterozoic Era. These originally sedimentary rocks were <strong>metamorphosed<\/strong> (i.e. transformed) under those extreme heat and pressure conditions at depth and became metamorphic rocks such as <em>schist<\/em>, <em>marble<\/em> and <em>quartzite<\/em>. These metamorphic rocks are seen throughout north Connemara, e.g. the Maumturk Mountains and the area between Maam and Corr na M\u00f3na. Quartzite is made of a very high percentage of the mineral quartz, which is one of the more abundant but harder minerals found on Earth. This property gives quartzite a particularly strong resistance to erosion and the shape of the modern peaks of the 12 Bens or the Maumturks visible either side of Lough Inagh is a clear demonstration of this.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586e38f49\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center  liquid_vc_single_image-69e0586e48396\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"521\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg xmlns%3D&#039;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#039; viewBox%3D&#039;0 0 1024 684&#039;%2F&gt;\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-large ld-lazyload\" alt=\"oyce Country &amp; Wester Lakes Geopark, Ireland\" title=\"Maumturks quartzite peaks\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Maumturks-quartzite-peaks-1024x684.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Maumturks-quartzite-peaks-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Maumturks-quartzite-peaks-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Maumturks-quartzite-peaks-scaled-16x12.jpg 16w\" data-aspect=\"1.4970760233918\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602035144336 row-contains-padding-top row-contains-padding-bottom liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586e485c9\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586e48828\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center  liquid_vc_single_image-69e0586e597cf\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"1007\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg xmlns%3D&#039;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#039; viewBox%3D&#039;0 0 793 1024&#039;%2F&gt;\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-large ld-lazyload\" alt=\"\" title=\"schist outcrop corr na m\u00f3na\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/schist-outcrop-corr-na-mona-e1602034190153-793x1024.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/schist-outcrop-corr-na-mona-e1602034190153-793x1024.jpg 793w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/schist-outcrop-corr-na-mona-e1602034190153-232x300.jpg 232w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/schist-outcrop-corr-na-mona-e1602034190153-768x992.jpg 768w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/schist-outcrop-corr-na-mona-e1602034190153-1190x1536.jpg 1190w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/schist-outcrop-corr-na-mona-e1602034190153-1024x1322.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/schist-outcrop-corr-na-mona-e1602034190153-9x12.jpg 9w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/schist-outcrop-corr-na-mona-e1602034190153.jpg 1340w\" data-aspect=\"0.7744140625\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586e59a46\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\" translation-block\">The townland of Cloghbrack got its name from the white speckles of quartz found in the local <em>schist, <\/em>as it means \u201cthe speckled stone\u201d in the Irish language. The world-famous green <em>Connemara Marble<\/em> is found to the south of the geopark region where it has been quarried for over 200 years. Further examples of other types of <em>marble<\/em> can be seen at Cur hill or <a href=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/attractions\/geosites\/geosite-corr-na-mona-marble-outcrop\/\" target=\"_self\">Corr na M\u00f3na <\/a>where their folded internal structure testifies to the enormous forces that created them. These metamorphic rocks are grouped under the term Dalradian, a rock group which extends to Co Donegal and Scotland and whose rocks have the same origin as those found in our geopark region.<\/p>\n<p class=\" translation-block\">The <strong>collision<\/strong> process also contemporaneously gave rise to much wider scale deformation. The bedrock was folded into a large mountain range called the <strong>Caledonides<\/strong> (from the Latin word for Scotland), which could have been as high as the Himalayas today. Geologists named the formation of this mountain range, which extends through Scotland and Ireland as the <strong>Grampian Orogeny<\/strong>. This large-scale deformation occurred sequentially as the bedrock was folded once, then a second time and so on. Some of these folds are still clearly visible in the landscape and are seen by the wonderful viewpoints of the 12 Bens from the Inagh valley or of the Maumturks from the Maam valley. The complete documentation of this orogeny is one of the reasons why the Joyce Country and Western Lakes geopark region has geology of international significance; it is arguably the best international example of the complete Grampian-Taconic Orogeny.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602035162883 row-contains-padding-top row-contains-padding-bottom liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586e59d19\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586e59f1b\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\" translation-block\">The collision of the continental plates was accompanied by melting of rock at depth and of magma intrusion into the existing bedrock in chambers called <strong>plutons<\/strong>. These igneous intrusions occurred in the continental crust forming what is called a <strong>magmatic arc<\/strong>. Here, magma cools over very long time and because of this, larger mineral crystals form. These minerals are big enough to be seen with the naked eye. These igneous intrusions were also subjected to metamorphism, same as the rocks they were intruded into. This is case for the <em>metagabbro<\/em> and<em> orthogneiss <\/em>found south of Recess at Lettershinna Hill and south of Maam Cross at Glentrasna road.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586e5a180\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center  liquid_vc_single_image-69e0586e68e83\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg xmlns%3D&#039;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#039; viewBox%3D&#039;0 0 1024 682&#039;%2F&gt;\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-large ld-lazyload\" alt=\"\" title=\"Cur Hill anticline fold\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Cur-Hill-anticline-fold-1-1024x682.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Cur-Hill-anticline-fold-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Cur-Hill-anticline-fold-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Cur-Hill-anticline-fold-1-16x12.jpg 16w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Cur-Hill-anticline-fold-1.jpg 2000w\" data-aspect=\"1.5014662756598\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602035179613 row-contains-padding-top row-contains-padding-bottom liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586e690a8\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 liquid-column-69e0586e69313\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h5>Intrusion of the Oughterard granite<\/h5>\n<p class=\" translation-block\">Towards the end of the collision process around 462 million years ago, the final part of the magmatic intrusion into the magmatic arc mentioned above formed the <em>granite<\/em> around Oughterard. As with the earlier part of the magmatic arc intrusion, the precise dating of the intrusions due to the radioactive elements present in the minerals, has been extremely useful to geologists. Indeed, the intrusion of the Oughterard granite has helped date the Dalradian rocks it intruded into, as it intruded in between specific folding events.<\/p>\n<h5>Docking of Connemara<\/h5>\n<p class=\" translation-block\">An aspect of the geological history of the Joyce Country &amp; Western Lakes geopark region that is particularly interesting is the fact that the entire region that comprises the Connemara Dalradian rock and its magmatic arc has moved in its entirety in relation to south Co Mayo. As discussed previously, these rocks are comparable to those found in north Co Mayo or Co Donegal. Our understanding of these rocks requires for their formation to have occurred when it was part of the Laurentian landmass located north west of what is now south Co Mayo. The whole block was detached from the rest of Laurentia around 468 million years ago and was subsequently <strong>thrusted<\/strong> (i.e. pushed laterally above other rocks) around 464 million years ago to finally dock itself in its modern position. This movement has been called the Mannin Thrust, as remnants of the underlying rock over which Connemara was thrusted outcrop in the area of Mannin Bay, south of Clifden.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602035197045 row-contains-padding-top row-contains-padding-bottom liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586e6959a\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586e69771\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center  liquid_vc_single_image-69e0586e79c73\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg xmlns%3D&#039;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#039; viewBox%3D&#039;0 0 1024 683&#039;%2F&gt;\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-large ld-lazyload\" alt=\"\" title=\"MT formation (conglomerate with change of clast size)\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/MT-formation-conglomerate-with-change-of-clast-size-1024x683.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/MT-formation-conglomerate-with-change-of-clast-size-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/MT-formation-conglomerate-with-change-of-clast-size-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/MT-formation-conglomerate-with-change-of-clast-size-scaled-16x12.jpg 16w\" data-aspect=\"1.4992679355783\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586e79f1a\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h5>Ordovician sedimentation in Co Mayo<\/h5>\n<p class=\" translation-block\">The development of the volcanic island arc, its collision with the Laurentian continent and the formation of the Caledonian mountain range exposed a significant amount of bedrock which underwent weathering; a process which is still very much ongoing today. A large array of eroded sediments were deposited in south Co Mayo from Clew Bay to Killary and from the coast to the Partry Mountains. The eroded sediments included sand or gravels that were then deposited into river beds, estuaries, coastal and deeper waters. After deposition, the sediments beds were overlain by further sediments and the overlying pressure cemented together the sediments to form consolidated rocks. The resulting rocks formed from sand and gravel beds are called <em>sandstone<\/em> and <em>conglomerate<\/em> respectively. <em>Sandstones<\/em> and <em>conglomerates<\/em> make up the south Co Mayo mountains of Sheefry and Mweelrea, the Partry mountain range and Maumtrasna as visible at <a href=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/attractions\/the-deircs\/173\/\" target=\"_self\">the Deircs<\/a> and around <a href=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/attractions\/maumtrasna-mountain-building-lough-nafooey-viewpoint\/175\/\" target=\"_self\">Lough Nafooey<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602035259501 row-contains-padding-top row-contains-padding-bottom liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586e7a1b2\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 liquid-column-69e0586e7a3cb\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\" translation-block\">Some of these rocks carry interesting <strong>fossil<\/strong> collections and assemblages. Fossils are important in telling us the history of life on Earth but also, they allow the relative dating of rocks by comparison with others elsewhere. In fact, a rare outcrop of <em>shale<\/em> (a specific type of <em>mudstone<\/em>) deposited in between two lava flows in Finny contains fossils that has allowed the dating of the volcanic arc described above. The <strong>palaeontological<\/strong> information (the types of fossils identified in which rock layer) gave geologists the first clues of the relationship of the rocks in north western Ireland with other rocks of the Laurentia continent in Scotland and North America.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5>Silurian unconformity<\/h5>\n<p class=\" translation-block\">After their formation, the Ordovician sedimentary rocks of south Co Mayo were also folded by the on-going tectonic collision which folded the rocks in Connemara. This fold is evident in the angle formed by the various layers of sediments still visible in the bedrock either side of Maumtrasna; the angle of these beds is not the same when you look at the mountain from the east or from the west. We are not currently sure when exactly this folding process ended but we know it happened before the formation of the next sedimentary rocks in our geological history, in a time period called the <strong>Silurian (440 to 420 million years ago)<\/strong>. We know this as Silurian rocks in direct contact with Ordovician rock appear deposited at a perpendicular angle to each other; this means the older rock beds were moved by &nbsp;the folding event described above before the sediments of the younger rock were deposited above it. When geologist find evidence like this in the field, they name it an <strong>unconformity <\/strong>and a general definition of the term is a gap in the sedimentary record. In other words, an unconformity means that there is evidence of erosion of the older rocks before the deposition of the younger ones. The best place to see this in our geopark region is between the summits of Bunnacunneen and Ben Beg.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602035253215 row-contains-padding-top row-contains-padding-bottom liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586e7a602\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586e7a7f6\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\" translation-block\">The Silurian rocks come from sediments that were deposited in coastal to shallow sea conditions. The sea-level locally was getting higher and the sea inundated previously exposed sediments, a process geologists call \u2018<strong>marine transgression\u2019<\/strong>. The Silurian sedimentary rock succession that outcrops along the Finny to Kilbride road shows this change in sea-level. S<em>andstone <\/em>appears first corresponding to coastal areas with high energy environments, where wave and tidal processes dominate. Then it is followed by <em>shelly sandstone<\/em> indicating shallow marine conditions where molluscs lived. As the sea got deeper, the conditions changed to lower energy environments and was characterised with the deposition of finer sediments like silt and mud, eventually becoming <em>siltstone<\/em> and <em>mudstone<\/em>. The fossil assemblages preserved in the local rocks from the Silurian Period are evidence of the rich biodiversity that existed around at the time. This was the subject of recent coverage by national media following the discovery of a new species of starfish from that era called <em>Crepidosoma doylei<\/em> in T\u00f3in na L\u00ed south of Leenane which was named after its discoverer Dr Eamon Doyle, the current geologist for the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586e7aa47\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center  liquid_vc_single_image-69e0586e8ac02\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"630\" height=\"392\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg xmlns%3D&#039;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#039; viewBox%3D&#039;0 0 630 392&#039;%2F&gt;\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full ld-lazyload\" alt=\"\" title=\"Crepidosoma doyleii - starfish fossil\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Crepidosoma-doyleii-starfish-fossil.jpeg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Crepidosoma-doyleii-starfish-fossil.jpeg 630w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Crepidosoma-doyleii-starfish-fossil-300x187.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Crepidosoma-doyleii-starfish-fossil-16x10.jpeg 16w\" data-aspect=\"1.6071428571429\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602035241086 row-contains-padding-top liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586e8ae33\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586e8b046\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center  liquid_vc_single_image-69e0586e9a9a3\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"759\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg xmlns%3D&#039;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#039; viewBox%3D&#039;0 0 1024 997&#039;%2F&gt;\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-large ld-lazyload\" alt=\"\" title=\"image from International Space Station\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/cropISS-1024x997.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/cropISS-1024x997.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/cropISS-300x292.jpg 300w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/cropISS-12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/cropISS.jpg 1500w\" data-aspect=\"1.0270812437312\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586e9ac44\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h5>Devonian Galway granite<\/h5>\n<p class=\" translation-block\">As the Iapetus Ocean finally closed at the end of the Silurian, the two parts of Ireland that originally formed in different continents became joined as one. During a time period called the <strong>Devonian<\/strong> <strong>(420 to 360 million years ago)<\/strong>, a large amount of melting occurred locally which resulted in a vast intrusion of magma (dated at about 400 million years ago) that cooled beneath the surface and formed the <em>Galway Granite<\/em>, which is found all over southern Connemara. It is visible in contact with the older magmatic arc rocks of Connemara at Glentrasna road, south of Maam Cross.<\/p>\n<p class=\" translation-block\">The mountain building process that started in the Ordovician around 460 million years ago created a considerable mountain range. However over the course of 100 million years, erosional forces wore the mountain range down, as evidenced today by the plateau of <a href=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/attractions\/maumtrasna-mountain-building-lough-nafooey-viewpoint\/175\/\" target=\"_self\">Maumtrasna<\/a>. In fact, the metamorphic rocks of Connemara and the Dalradian rocks only represent the roots of this mountain range that has since disappeared.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><\/section><section id=\"TROPICS\" class=\"vc_section vc_custom_1603192015333\"><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602019536803 liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586e9b038\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 liquid-column-69e0586e9b274\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #00656a;\"><strong>355-300 Million Years Ago<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Connacht in the Tropics \u2013 Carboniferous period<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602035061065 row-contains-padding-top row-contains-padding-bottom liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586e9b49c\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-3\/5 liquid-column-69e0586e9b67f\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>After this intense period of geological activity, the Irish landmass moved northwards during the Carboniferous Period, and from about 355 million years ago, was located at the Equator. Warm, coastal and shallow tropical water conditions, similar to the modern Great Barrier Reef both in terms of temperature and biodiversity, existed over most of Ireland. Geologically, this is recognised by the deposition of limestone. Limestone is composed of the skeletal and shelly remains of shallow marine organisms and microbes accumulated into a mud called micrite. The hard parts of these organisms, such as their shells, were in large part fossilised (i.e. buried and turned into minerals) and are still visible today in the limestone. When looking at the fossil assemblage, one can recognise corals (colonial or solitary), crinoids (from the same family as starfish), brachiopods (recognisable from their two asymmetric shells) and gastropods (snails).<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\" translation-block\"><em>Limestone<\/em> bedrock is widespread in Ireland, especially over the Irish Midlands. It makes up over 50% of the bedrock of the island of Ireland. In our geopark region, <em>limestone<\/em> bedrock appears to the east; entirely encompassing <a href=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/attractions\/moore-hall-and-lough-carra\/172\/\" target=\"_self\">Lough Carra<\/a> and most of the shores and lake beds of <a href=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/attractions\/clonbur-woods-limestone-pavement-on-lough-mask\/178\/\" target=\"_self\">Lough Mask<\/a> and Lough Corrib. Due to its abundance, Irish Carboniferous <em>limestone<\/em> is one of the main construction materials for field walls and houses and its distinctive dark blue colour is recognisable in buildings across the whole country, including the historical town of Ballinrobe.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-1\/5 liquid-column-69e0586e9b941\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center  liquid_vc_single_image-69e0586eac0e0\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<a data-rel=\"prettyPhoto[rel-5727-1301749345]\" href=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Deep-limestone-pavement-Drimggeen-768x1024.jpg\" target=\"_self\" class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey prettyphoto\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"2000\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg xmlns%3D&#039;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#039; viewBox%3D&#039;0 0 1500 2000&#039;%2F&gt;\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full ld-lazyload\" alt=\"\" title=\"Deep limestone pavement, Drimggeen\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Deep-limestone-pavement-Drimggeen.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Deep-limestone-pavement-Drimggeen.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Deep-limestone-pavement-Drimggeen-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Deep-limestone-pavement-Drimggeen-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Deep-limestone-pavement-Drimggeen-9x12.jpg 9w\" data-aspect=\"0.75\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-1\/5 liquid-column-69e0586eac340\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center  liquid_vc_single_image-69e0586ebc01f\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<a data-rel=\"prettyPhoto[rel-5727-1814372661]\" href=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Colonial-coral-limestone-768x1024.jpg\" target=\"_self\" class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey prettyphoto\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg xmlns%3D&#039;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#039; viewBox%3D&#039;0 0 768 1024&#039;%2F&gt;\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-large ld-lazyload\" alt=\"\" title=\"Colonial coral limestone\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Colonial-coral-limestone-768x1024.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Colonial-coral-limestone-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Colonial-coral-limestone-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Colonial-coral-limestone-9x12.jpg 9w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Colonial-coral-limestone.jpg 1500w\" data-aspect=\"0.75\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602035451035 row-contains-padding-top row-contains-padding-bottom liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586ebc2aa\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586ebc67f\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 liquid-column-69e0586ebc872\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><\/section><section id=\"HIATUS\" class=\"vc_section vc_custom_1603192063787\"><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602019536803 liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586ebcb2c\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 liquid-column-69e0586ebcd00\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #00656a;\"><strong>300-66 Million Years Ago<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The Last 300 Million Years \u2013 After the Carboniferous<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602035061065 row-contains-padding-top row-contains-padding-bottom liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586ebcf5a\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-3\/5 liquid-column-69e0586ebd15c\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>There are no rock records in our geopark region for the following 250 million years. We know from other parts of Ireland that the landmass continued to move north, after colliding with another landmass to its south, which prompted some deformation of the bedrock and an uplift of most of the Irish landmass to a level higher than the sea-level at\u00a0 that time. As most sediments tend to settle and accumulate in basins, such as the seabed, the uplift of the Irish landmass above the sea-level meant that hardly any sediments were deposited in Ireland during these 250 million years.<\/p>\n<p class=\" translation-block\">Tectonically speaking, the next major event recorded in the geopark area was the opening of the <strong>Atlantic<\/strong> Ocean about 65 million years ago, at the end of the <strong>Cretaceous<\/strong> and the start of the <strong>Palaeogene<\/strong> <strong>Period<\/strong>. This started with the thinning of the continental crust followed by the opening of rifts.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-2\/5 liquid-column-69e0586ebd3b5\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center  liquid_vc_single_image-69e0586ece9d0\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<a data-rel=\"prettyPhoto[rel-5727-34511717]\" href=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/View-NE-from-top-of-Droim-Chagaidh-1024x683.jpg\" target=\"_self\" class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey prettyphoto\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg xmlns%3D&#039;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#039; viewBox%3D&#039;0 0 2560 1707&#039;%2F&gt;\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full ld-lazyload\" alt=\"\" title=\"View NE from top of Droim Chagaidh\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/View-NE-from-top-of-Droim-Chagaidh-scaled.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/View-NE-from-top-of-Droim-Chagaidh-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/View-NE-from-top-of-Droim-Chagaidh-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/View-NE-from-top-of-Droim-Chagaidh-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/View-NE-from-top-of-Droim-Chagaidh-scaled-16x12.jpg 16w\" data-aspect=\"1.4997070884593\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586ecec42\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 liquid-column-69e0586ecee7a\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\" translation-block\">Cracks in the bedrock were formed and were \u201cplugged\u201d by limited intrusions of magma in our geopark area, as seen by the <em>dolerite<\/em> sill on top of the Partry mountains at Droimchogaidh. This <strong>rifting<\/strong> activity that separated Ireland from Greenland and North America is also now thought to be responsible for the formation of the mountains that we see today in the west of Ireland. A section of Carboniferous <em>sandstone<\/em> that predates the Carboniferous <em>limestone<\/em> of Ireland is found on top of the <a href=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/attractions\/maumtrasna-mountain-building-lough-nafooey-viewpoint\/175\/\" target=\"_self\">Maumtrasna<\/a> plateau, which sits 400 m above the sea level. The same <em>sandstone <\/em>is also found at a depth of 300 m below the surface around Clonbur. This indicates that the rocks west of Lough Mask and Lough Corrib were uplifted by about 700 m. This would have occurred when the early spread of oceanic crust pushed the two landmasses apart, which would have locally pinned blocks of bedrock against one another in a limited space and pushed them upwards.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><\/section><section id=\"UNDER_THE_ICE\" class=\"vc_section vc_custom_1603192389396\"><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602019536803 liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586ecf1be\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 liquid-column-69e0586ecf3e0\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #00656a;\"><strong>66 Million Years Ago To Today<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Ireland Under The Ice<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1602035061065 row-contains-padding-top row-contains-padding-bottom liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586ecf64e\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-3\/5 liquid-column-69e0586ecf84d\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>Further sediments were likely deposited over the bedrock we can see today during most of the Palaeogene and Neogene periods (66 million years ago to today). However, for most of Ireland, we can only find record of sediments from the last 30,000 years. The main reason for this lack of record are the extensive glaciations that took place all over Ireland during the end of the most recent geological period, the Quaternary, which started 2.6 million years ago. As global climate was cooling, as evidenced in marine sediment core records and most importantly in ice core records, extensive ice sheets developed in the higher latitudes. These ice sheets responded to climate forcing that showed cycles of glacial and interglacial periods with warmer or even temperate conditions in the latter.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-2\/5 liquid-column-69e0586ecfac1\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center  liquid_vc_single_image-69e0586edf348\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<a data-rel=\"prettyPhoto[rel-5727-1637749643]\" href=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Gleann-Treig-and-Lough-Mask.jpg\" target=\"_self\" class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey prettyphoto\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"685\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg xmlns%3D&#039;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#039; viewBox%3D&#039;0 0 1024 685&#039;%2F&gt;\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full ld-lazyload\" alt=\"\" title=\"Gleann Treig and Lough Mask\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Gleann-Treig-and-Lough-Mask.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Gleann-Treig-and-Lough-Mask.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Gleann-Treig-and-Lough-Mask-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Gleann-Treig-and-Lough-Mask-16x12.jpg 16w\" data-aspect=\"1.4948905109489\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid liquid-row-shadowbox-69e0586edf582\"><div class=\"ld-container container\"><div class=\"row ld-row\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 liquid-column-69e0586edf7be\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"   ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper-inner\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>These cycles have settled to be about 100,000 years long with a short interglacial period compared to the glacial one.<\/p>\n<p class=\" translation-block\">We have very limited information of the penultimate glaciation in Ireland, but we do have extensive information of the last one, which was most extensive during the <strong>Last Glacial Maximum<\/strong>, about 24,000 to 21,000 years ago. Extensive amounts of sediments were deposited under the ice sheets and can be found throughout Ireland. These sediments are known as glacial till and are composed of sediments of different sizes, from mud and silt to sand or even boulders. These large fragments of rocks can be attributed to their region of origin and have allowed geologists to trace the movement of the ice. Sedimentary ridges of sand and gravel marking the edge and extent of the ice sheets were found on the marine shelf offshore, up to 150 km away from modern Irish shores. There is evidence of extensive weathering of the bedrock of Irish mountains with only a few areas around some of the peaks with loose sediments left in situ (known as block fields). All other loose sediments were carried away by the moving ice. This collection of evidence shows that at its maximum, the ice covered the whole of Ireland, most of the mountains (leaving only small peaks outcropping over the top of the ice) and extended up to 150 km offshore. This last ice sheet eroded the bedrock, shaped the <a href=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/our-geopark-project-territory\/landscape\/\" target=\"_self\">landscape<\/a> and carried away an enormous amount of sediments offshore.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><\/section>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"THE GEOLOGY OF OUR GEOPARK REGION BIRTH OF AN OCEANEND OF AN OCEANIN THE TROPICSLAST...","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5287,"parent":5697,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5727","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Geological story of the Geopark region &#8212; Joyce Country &amp; Western Lakes Geopark Project<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie\/fr\/the-geological-story\/geological-story-of-the-geopark-region\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"fr_FR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Geological story of the Geopark region &#8212; 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