2003 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

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Geological Survey of Northern Ireland
Ian Mitchell
Regional Guide to the Geology of Northern Ireland

Slemish Mountain, an example of one of the many volcanic plugs found scattered across the Palaeogene basalt plateau in County Antrim

In 1972, the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) published the first definitive guide to the Regional Geology of Northern Ireland. Priced at only 50 pence, the book described the geology of NI from the oldest Precambrian rocks that form the core of the northern part of Ireland to the youngest superficial deposits that post-date the end of the last glaciation. The book was designed to provide a field guide to localities where the different rock types could be seen that were depicted on the 1:250,000 scale solid edition of the Geological Map of Northern Ireland (1970). Since the bedrock geology of over 80% of the land area of NI is concealed by Quaternary and Recent deposits, the importance of these superficial deposits was emphasised in the Guide. The production of that book and the quality of the geological information it contained were largely due to the professionalism and diligence of the principal author, Harry Wilson, former Director of the GSNI.

In 2003, the GSNI will publish the second edition of the regional guide to the Geology of Northern Ireland. This book will describe the geology of NI as depicted on the revised edition of the 1:250,000 scale Geological Map of Northern Ireland. However, the new edition now comprises 23 chapters which, although contributed largely by staff in the GSNI, also draw on the considerable expertise of geologists outside the Survey, in particular Dr Bernard Anderson, formerly of Queen's University Belfast, and Professor Tony Bazley, former Director of the GSNI. In contrast to the first edition, the new book is being professionally designed and will be printed with the diagrams using the full range of colours that define different rock types on the Geological Map of NI. The new book should therefore be a colourful, innovative and eye-catching publication. It is hoped that the new guide will be an invaluable and essential aid to the professional geologist, and will also attract the interest and attention of the amateur geologist and those people with a curiosity about the natural environment. The diagrams and text will be supported by colourful photographs of the landscape and of individual localities. In addition, where fossils are mentioned in the text as being critical in the determination of the age of particular rocks, colour photographs of those taxa are also included. Finally, in recognition of the remit of the GSNI to assist the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in carrying out its role in Mineral and Hydrocarbon licensing, the new guide includes important chapters describing the current state of exploration in both those fields. In particular, the Minerals chapter describes the range of metalliferous, precious and industrial minerals that occur in NI.

Contact: Geological Survey of NI,
20 College Gardens Belfast BT9 6BS;
E-mail: [email protected]