MONAGHAN GEOLOGY

The county forms part of the northern extremity of the great limestone field of Ireland; and, except in its northern districts, the rock is well distributed and lies very advantageously for working. The limestone is of great variety and of excellent quality; at Glenmore it is raised in large blocks, and, when polished, exhibits all the varieties of fine marble. Freestone of beautiful and valuable quality is found in various parts. Part of Slievebeagh is formed of a fine white sandstone extensively used for architectural purposes. The south side of this mountain is formed altogether of jasper, in some places very pure, but mostly in a state of decomposition, much resembling clay-slate and of a bright vermillion hue: the mountains of Crieve are entirely formed of greenstone and basalt.

Escars can be traced in several parts, particularly in the neighbourhood of Tyhallon, which, in one respect, are unlike all others in Ireland, being entirely formed of jasper, quartz, agates and argillaceous sand. Coal has been found in thin seams at the foot of the Slievebeagh mountain near Emyvale, and at Glennon in large blocks; but the most extensive beds are near Carrickmacross, where pits were opened a few years since, but after a few tons had been raised, the workings were discontinued. Iron-stone of inferior quality is frequently found; slate quarries are worked at the Crieve mountains, and flags in three quarries in Dartree.

Large lead-works were erected in the Crieve mountains for the smelting of lead-ore, but they have been long since abandoned: the ore has also been found near Castle-Blayney, both in large blocks and in thin veins: some promising veins can be traced in the limestone near Carrickmacross. Indications of copper have been discovered near Castle-Blayney, and ochres, potters' clay and soft unctuous earth in the same neighbourhood. Potters' clay found near Glaslough is wrought into glazed earthenware; brick clay, and oxyde of manganese, are distributed over all the country. The bones and antlers of the moose deer and the bones of several other kinds of animals, long since extinct in the island, have been discovered. Four teeth of extraordinary size were discovered on the Slievebeagh mountains, which on an examination by the Royal Society of London, were pronounced to be those of an elephant; two of them weighed 2 ¾ lb. each; the other two, 6oz. each.

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