Omagh Thrust Explained

The Omagh Thrust Fault is a geological fault in County Tyrone. It is of one of the most important structural discontinuities in Northern Ireland[1] and an extension of the Highland Boundary Fault which runs through Scotland.[2]

The fault occurred in the Caledonian orogeny, during a late stage of this period of mountain building. Older sequences of Dalriadan metamorphic strata were moved over younger Ordovician ones with the fault as their boundary.

There is access to a view of the fault at Mountfield Quarry, County Tyrone. This has been designated an Area of Special Scientific Interest.

See also

References

General references

Footnotes

54.6022°N -8.8518°W

Notes and References

  1. http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/protected_areas_home/new_assi_landing_page/county_tyrone-2/mountfield_quarry_assi.htm Department of the Environment NI
  2. http://sgeg.gsa.org.au/eventreports.html Geological Society of Australia