Midlandian cold stage deposits at Loop Head, Southern County Clare

Abstract:This paper discusses the nature of two suites of glacigenic sediments exposed at Bridges of Ross, southern County Clare. A lower diamicton suite is thought to have been derived from an ice sheet moving from the north-east and contains a previously unrecorded, organic, stadial deposit. The overlying limestone-rich glacigenic sediments appear to be derived from a later stage of glaciation, emanating from the east. A formal lithostratigraphic scheme is presented that includes two new formations, the Loop Head and Lehinch formations, both of which are likely to be of Midlandian age.