Bunmahon Geological Garden EarthCache
Hidden : 9/11/2009
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
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Geocache Description:

Welcome to the Bunmahon Geological Garden


This is a part of the Copper Coast Geopark. Here you will find samples of the rocks that form the foundation of the Copper Coast.
This garden reflects the variety of environments, which emplaced over 460 million years.  The rocks illustrate the closure of an ocean, the subsequent volcanism, the collision of two continents leading to the creation of Ireland, the installation of a desert with large rivers’ deposits and the effect of the glaciers during the Ice Age.

Mudstones (sedimentary rock)
Mudstones originated as very fine muds and deposited about 460 million years ago on the floor of a deep ocean, close to the South Pole. Sometimes, pale grey bands, about 2cm wide, are visible within the dark mudstones. These bands reflect the layering of coarser material created as the sediments were deposited. You can also see another type of layering within the mudstones: a very fine sheeting, along which, rocks similar to these may be split to form slate. This sheeting was created by extreme pressure during the collision of two continents 400 million years ago.
Mudstones can be found in Stradbally Cove, Ballyvooney Cove, Knockmahon Strand, Boatstrand Harbour, Benvoy Strand and Kilfarrasy.
Andesite (igneous rock)
Andesite is a green coloured, volcanic rock similar in composition to basalt. It forms a very “runny” type of lava, molten at about 800°C. Such lavas are normally extruded in the earliest stages of the formation of a volcano. The rock is rich in iron and magnesium minerals, which give it its green colour. It also contains distinct blobs and veins of a pale yellowish green, calcium and iron rich mineral, epidote, and white to greyish white glassy quartz.
Andesite can be found in Stradbally Cove, Ballyvooney Cove (low tide only), east of Ballydwane Bay and at Stage Cove (east end of Bunmahon).
Limestone (edimentary rock)
Limestone forms in the sea from the accumulation of broken and/or pulverised shells of shellfish. The material slowly accumulates as layer upon layer of lime rich mud, frequently containing complete or broken fragments of shellfish. The limestone visible along the Copper Coast is an unusual and rare type. It formed under relatively cold water conditions, during a pause between two distinct volcanic eruption events, and it is much older (at about 455 million years old) than the vast areas of limestone (“Carboniferous”, 350 to 300 million years old) which underlie much of central Ireland.
Limestone is best exposed around Dunabrattin Head, and at Lady Elizabeth’s Cove, Tramore. It occurs also along Knockmahon Strand and in the western part of Kilfarrasy Strand.
Rhyolite (igneous rock)
Rhyolite is treacly lava, produced during the “old age” phase of volcanic activity. It solidifies quickly from lava (molten at about 600°C). Much richer in silica than the andesite, it is prone to explosive disruption creating vast clouds of ash and fragments – like Vesuvius or Mt. St Helens. Rhyolite is usually grey to cream coloured but can also be multicoloured, ranging from raspberry red to orange, yellow and white, reflecting the alteration caused by very hot fluids moving through the rock. The alteration process can change mineral compositions, as well as colours. Here, the various colours reflect oxidation of iron. Alteration is also commonly associated with mineral rich veins and was eagerly sought by old time prospectors and miners as a guide to mineralisation.
Rhyolite can be found in Knockmahon Strand, Benvoy Strand, Annestown, Dunhill and Kilfarrasy Strand.

The TimePath

Another feature of the geological garden is the TimePath. It will guide you through the immensity of geological time as each slab represents a major step in Earth history and Life evolution.


The geological garden was created in xxxx (by Bunmahon Heritage Society with supported of Waterford Leader Partnerships and Waterford County Council) and upgraded in 2006 by the Copper Coast geopark Ltd to raise awareness of geology.

To get credit log this earthcache, please send the answers to follwing questions:
1. When was the geological garden created?
2. What is the number standing on the first time panel (the panel which told you the start of the solar system?
3. On the informationboard at the entrance oft the park you can see 4 different kinds of prehistoric animals. What are the species of this 4 animals.

Please wait for the credit to log your found.

A Photo from you at the place will be nice, but is not necessary for the log-permission. Groups are not allowed to log altogether, every member of the group have to send a own eMail to get credit und have to take an own picture of him.

Logs without credit and logs from groups will be deleted without request.

Visit also the webside of the coppercoast geopark .

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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