Mineral prospectivity map for the border region of Ireland
Investigator(s): Omagh Minerals
Funder: EU INTERREG IVA -funded Tellus Border project
Map showing border region Preliminary Target Areas for mineral prospectivity. From Coulter and Stinson (2013).
The Border region is underlain by a diverse geology and similar geological associations elsewhere have yielded a wide range of mineral prospects including gold, silver and base metals such as copper, lead and zinc. Some such prospects have already been established within the Border zone. Using Tellus Border geochemical and geophysical data along with information on bedrock lithology, age of bedrock and structural features such as NE trending faults and deep seated lineaments, four prospective areas were selected for further detailed sampling and mapping: Glenties and Millford in Co. Donegal; Manorhamilton in Co. Leitrim and Shercock in Co. Cavan. All four areas appeared prospective for gold, with Shercock and Glenties also exhibiting potential for base metal mineralisation. This work has informed discussions regarding genetic models for mineralisation has highlighted the highly prospective nature of the Border region, particularly for gold.
Critical Metal potential of the Mourne Mountains
Investigator(s): University of Exeter, British Geological Survey, University of Brighton
Funder: EU INTERREG IVA -funded Tellus Border project
Tellus map of (Sn) in stream sediments for south-east Northern Ireland showing the significant enrichment across the Mournes granite area (white outline). From Moore et al. (2013).
The manufacture of low-carbon and emerging modern technologies requires an increasingly wide range of elements, many of which have traditionally been used in very small quantities, but are highly valued for their chemical and physical properties. Currently production of many of these critical metals is concentrated in a small number of countries, frequently with political and social infrastructures that create a substantial supply risk. Accordingly, there is a requirement to identify new sources of supply. The Mournes Granites have compositions that suggest that they have the potential to be enriched in Rare Earth Elements and other critical metals. Heavy mineral concentrates, bedrock samples and grain-size analysis were used together with Tellus stream geochemical data in this study to indicate critical metal enrichments and enrichment processes in the Mourne Mountains.
