Is the Burren a limestone pavement?
Limestone pavement has become almost synonymous with the Burren and covers most of the National Park, although, as mentioned above, usually in a mosaic with other habitats. The pavement may be of either a smooth or shattered type.
How did the limestone in the Burren form?
The limestone formed as sediments in a tropical sea which covered most of Ireland approximately 350 million years ago. These sediments were compressed into horizontal strata and contain fossil corals, sea urchins, sea-lilies (crinnoids) and ammonites.
Where are limestone pavements found?
Limestone pavements can be found in many previously-glaciated limestone environments around the world. Notable examples are found in the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria in Northern England, such as those above Malham Cove, on the side of Ingleborough, and above Grange-over-Sands.
How was the Burren landscape formed?
The rocks that make up the Burren were all formed during the Carboniferous period between 359 and 299 million years ago. The limestones were deposited slowly over a very long period of time, around 20 million years and much of the rock is actually made up of little bits of broken fossils.
What is a Clint on a limestone pavement?
Clints are the blocks of limestone that constitute the paving, their area and shape is directly dependant upon the frequency and pattern of grykes. Grykes are the fissures that isolate the individual clints.
How much limestone is in the Burren?
About 500m limestone is visible on the surface of the Burren; the base is another 300m! Changes in sea levels exposed the limestone. These rocks were weathered and dissolved by rainwater to form ancient Karst landscapes.
What are the features of limestone pavement?
Limestone pavement comprises exposed, flat expanses of Carboniferous, Dalradian and Durness limestone. The flat slabs of rock are scored with deep, undulating fissures (known as ‘grykes’). These can be up to 6m deep, although most are 1-2 m.
What is a limestone pavement made up of?
A limestone pavement is a large flat area of exposed limestone rock that has had its soil cover removed. Limestone is a well-jointed rock and as rainwater (weak carbonic acid) settles in the joints in the rock it may dissolve the rock.
What rock formation sits above the limestone in the Burren region?
Mudstone was formed when the limestones were exposed for such long periods that they became covered in soil. Thick bands of mudstones (about 200mm thick) are visible today.
Why is the Burren a distinctive landscape?
One rock type that produces a distinctive landscape is limestone. When limestone is exposed at the surface, it is slowly chemically weathered by carbonation to form a karst landscape like that in the Burren, County Clare. Another rock type that can produce a distinctive landscape in basalt.
How did limestone get its name?
limestone (n.) late 14c., from lime (n. 1) + stone (n.). So called because it yields lime when burnt.
What kind of pavement is the Burren made of?
The surface of the Burren consists largely of bare rock called limestone pavement. The limestone pavement is criss-crossed by “clints” and “grikes”. • Grikes are deep grooves in the pavement.
How much limestone is dissolved in the Burren?
The relatively pure calcium carbonate limestone of the Burren is very susceptible to the solutional effect of the high rainfall levels in the region (rain is a mild carbonic acid) – it has been estimated that 0.005mm of limestone is dissolved annually.
How long did it take for the Burren to form?
It took approximately 20 million years for the limestone to form. About 500m limestone is visible on the surface of the Burren; the base is another 300m! Changes in sea levels exposed the limestone. These rocks were weathered and dissolved by rainwater to form ancient Karst landscapes.
Why are there grikes and clints in the Burren?
The relatively pure calcium carbonate limestone of the Burren is very susceptible to the solutional effect of the high rainfall levels in the region – causing karren features. Grikes are the gaps between the limestone pavement and clints are the chunks of pavements between the gaps.