Granodiorite plutons, Newry Igneous Complex, Late Palaeozoic intrusives, Northern Ireland

Mitchell, W I (ed.). 2004. The geology of Northern Ireland-our natural foundation. Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, Belfast.

Introduction

Geological map of the Newry Igneous Complex. (P947810)

Igneous enclave of ultramafic composition (A) and sedimentary enclave consisting of biotite hornfels of Silurian country rock (B) in the northeast granodiorite pluton of the Newry Igneous Complex. Ballymagreehan quarry [J 305 354], east flank of Tullynasoo Mountain, 3.75 km WSW of Castlewellan, Co. Down. (Pen 8mm wide and hammer head 16 cm long). (P947987)

Photomicrograph No. 3 Photomicrograph No. 3 Granodiorite of the northeast pluton in Ballymagreehan quarry [J305 354]. A steeply inclined foliation at the margins of the pluton is reflected in the alignment of plagioclase feldspar. (Crossed polars, field of view 5mm wide). (P948109)

Photomicrograph No. 4 Unfoliated granodiorite composed of plagioclase and alkali feldspar, quartz, hornblende and biotite from the centre of the northeast pluton. Exposure [J205 355] 2 km north of Rathfriland. (Crossed polars, field of view 5 mm wide). (P948110)

Granodiorite forms the largest part of the Newry Igneous Complex and occurs in three distinct plutons. It is likely that several magma pulses were involved in the formation of each pluton . While the northeast and southwest plutons have more basic margins and relatively quartz-rich central portions, the rocks of the central pluton show an opposite trend. Mineralogically, the granodiorites are composed of zoned plagioclase, microcline, quartz, hornblende, biotite and accessory Fe-Ti oxide, apatite, zircon and titanite. At the margins of the plutons the granodiorite has a penetrative, steeply inclined mineral foliation that is sub-parallel to the Silurian envelope rocks ( (P948109)). This deformation is not apparent towards the centre of the plutons ( (P948110)). Evidence of diapiric strain was produced at the margins of the complex at both its northeast and southwest ends by the ‘shouldering aside’ of the country rocks .

The normally zoned northeast pluton (P947810) extends from Slieve Croob to Barnmeen [J 173 327]. It is composed of medium- to coarse-grained granodiorite, with igneous and sedimentary xenoliths (enclaves) (P947987), and is exposed in Ballymagreehan quarry [J 305 354].

The reversely zoned central pluton (P947810) extends from Barnmeen to Bessbrook and typical lithologies are exposed in Aughnagon quarry [J 145 251]. At its exposed northern margin in Goraghwood quarry [J 066 319], near Jerrettspass, an early-formed marginal facies of porphyritic ‘rhyolite’ intervenes between hornfelsed and mobilised Silurian rocks and medium- to coarse-grained unfoliated biotite-hornblende granodiorite. The marginal granodiorite is notably more acidic than the rock at the centre of the pluton.

Much of the area between Bessbrook and Silverbridge is underlain either by granodiorite of the normally zoned southwest pluton (P947810) or by the Palaeogene Slieve Gullion Complex (see Palaeogene intrusive igneous rocks article). Its margin is exposed in Cam Lough quarry [J 037 246] and shows early microgranite, diorite and granodiorite (biotite granite) sheets intruding and hornfelsing Silurian country rock. A strong vertical fabric trending ENE, parallel to the pluton boundary, deforms the rocks in the quarry. The cross-cutting relationship between the southwest pluton and the Slieve Gullion ring dyke is also exposed here.

Newry Igneous Complex, Late Palaeozoic intrusives, Northern Ireland