Saturday, 26th March, 2011
Leader: Stephen Callaghan (IGA)
REGISTRATION: It is necessary to pre-register with excursions secretary Dan O’Shea by email, or phone before 5pm, 25th March next.
On 26th March we will meet in Killiney DART carpark at 10:30am sharp. From here we will make our way down to the beach at Whiterocks. We will examine the effects of regional metamorphism and which minerals indicate this. We will also investigate the old mine adit, and discuss how the intrusion of the Leinster granite played an important role in the lead/zinc mineralisation of the area.
Photo by Marcius Fabiani
After this we will brush up on our rock identification skills and try to identify the different pebbles making up part of the beach at Killney. After our brief brush up of rocks we will visit Dalkey Quarry. Here we will take a brief walk around and try to identify pegmatite and aplite veins. We will discuss how these formed and how they hosted some interesting and exotic minerals which where discovered while the quarry was working. We will finish around 2 – 3pm at Dalkey DART, from where participants can travel back to Killiney or directly home by train. We are being encouraged to walk during the trip (parking is restricted at most stops) but a small number of cars may be used if required. Please bring a packed lunch and suitable warm/rain gear.
MEETING POINT: Killiney DART carpark
TIME: Saturday 10:30am sharp
Participation is entirely at your own risk