B3
section Module
Work
Sheet No
4
The rocks of the Burren and
North County Clare
Look at the bedrock geology map of Ireland (Map 2) and the bedrock geology map
of North Clare (Map 3)
QQ What is the most common rock type in the Burren and north Clare?
QQ What age is the limestone in the Burren and north Clare?
QQ What rock type is older - limestone or shale?
QQ Can you name one town/village that is located mainly on shale?
QQ Can you name one town or village that is on the boundary
between the limestone and shale/siltstone/sandstone?
QQ Why do think there are no siltstone and sandstone
rocks found in the north part of the Burren?
B3
section Module
Work
Sheet No
5
Rocks of the Burren word puzzle
Fill in the gaps using the list words below
The Burren limestones were formed in a ________________ environment, during the
_______________________ time period. The Burren limestones were deposited when Ireland was
____________ of the Equator.
The Burren limestones were formed from layers of the ____________________ of sea-creatures.
Sometimes these parts are visible today in the rocks – these are called ______________________.
Limestone is composed of the mineral ___________________.
When the sea _______________ 326 million years ago, the _______________________ could no
longer be formed as the _________________ did not penetrate to the sea floor.
Shale is a _______________________ rock, which means it forms from compacted
____________________ of other rocks. Shale is a ___________________-grained rock. The Clare
Shales are a ________________________ colour. This is because they formed in an environment
that had very low __________________ levels.
The Clare Shales are ~12m thick and were deposited slowly over a period of ___________ million
years. Shale is only found at the surface in the Burren along a narrow band. This is because
it has been ______________________ in the north and because it is _______________________
by the siltstones and mudstones in the south. The Clare Shales can be found on the summits
of ________________________ and _____________________. The also make up the Fisherstreet
___________________________ south of Doolin.
The Burren sandstones and siltstones were laid down in the sea by a large _________________
at the mouth of a great river system about 318 million years ago. The large delta resembled the
________________________________ today. The clay, ________________ and sand carried by the
river delta is ­­­­­­­­­­­­­_______________________ as the ________________________ of the water slows
down. The ________________________ of sediments become _________________________ into
sandstones, ________________________________ and mudstones over time.
COVERED
POULACAPPLE
SILTSTONES
BLACK
COMPACTED
EIGHT
SKELETONS
MISSISSIPPI
DELTA
SOUTH
FOSSILS
FINE
SEDIMENTARY
SLIEVE ELVA
CURRENT
ERODED
DEEPENED
SUNLIGHT
LIMESTONE
OXYGEN
CLIFFS
PARTICLES
GRAVEL
DROPPED
LAYERS
MARINE
CALCIUM-CARBONATE
CARBONIFEROUS
B3
section Module
Work
Sheet No
6
Reading the rocks
Use this table to describe the rock samples you have been given. Can you think of any more
descriptions? (use the bottom row of the table)
Name of rock
Colour of rock
Size of grains
Is it shiny
Is it a rough rock
Is it crumbly
(use sandpaper)
Does it react with HCL acid
Other description
Look at the bedrock geology map of Ireland (Map 2) and fill in the rest of the table.
What colour is used on
geology maps to indicate
this rock type?
Scientific name
Is it a common rock
in Ireland?
How old is this rock?
QQ Which type of rock do you prefer and why?
QQ How would you describe this type of rock to your friend?
B3
section Module
Work
Sheet No
7
Limestone
First – examine a piece of limestone. Next drop some dilute HCl onto the rock and see what
happens! Next rub the rock with sandpaper.
QQ What happens when you put a drop of dilute HCl acid on limestone?
QQ Why do you think this is?
QQ Could this happen naturally outdoors?
If so, how?
QQ How might this type of chemical process affect
the Burren’s limestone landscape in the far off future?
B3
section Module
Work
Sheet No
8
Shale
Examine a piece of shale. Next drop some dilute HCl onto the rock and see what happens!
Next rub the rock with sandpaper...
QQ What happens when you put a drop of dilute HCl acid on shale?
QQ Why do you think this is?
QQ Does the rock scratch easily?
QQ Name an extinct animal that can be found as a fossil in the Clare Shales?
QQ Name a living creature that is related to this fossil?
B3
section Module
Work
Sheet No
9
Sandstone & Siltstone
Examine a piece of shale. Next drop some dilute HCl onto the rock and see what happens!
Next rub the rock with sandpaper...
QQ What happens when you put a drop of dilute HCl acid on sandstone/siltstone?
QQ Why do you think this is?
QQ Does the rock scratch easily?
QQ Can you name a famous type of Flagstone that is quarried near the Cliffs of Moher?
(hint: it has lots of squiggles on it!)