Waterloo Bay is an area of foreshore in Larne on the east coast of

County Antrim County Antrim (named after the town of Antrim, County Antrim, Antrim, ) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, located within the historic Provinces of Ireland, province of Ulster. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the c ...

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...

. It is of particular interest to geologists because it provides a clear, complete and accessible example of the sequences from Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic, when the rock types changed from land to marine.

Geology

Early investigation

Joseph Ellison Portlock studied the Triassic and Jurassic rocks of Ireland in 1843 as part of his engagement by Ordnance Survey Ireland. In 1864 Ralph Tate made an investigation of the Triassic rocks of

, which he reported to the Geological Society of London.

Status and significance

Because the location provides an unusually clear, complete and accessible example of the sequences from Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic, when the rock types changed from land to marine, Waterloo Bay was designated an Area of Special Scientific Interest for its geological importance in 1995.Department of the Environment NI, Waterloo ASSI
/ref> In 2007, it was a candidate for Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (also known as a GSSP, or 'golden spike') to mark the base of the Jurassic system and Hettangian stage.International Commission on Stratigraphy
/ref> although the Kujoch in Austria was chosen instead.

The "Larne Sea Dragon"

In 1999, an ichthyosaur, also popularly known as the 'Larne Sea Dragon' or 'Minnis Monster'BBC Attic
/ref> was found in the Langport Member strata by Brian McGee. Remains were found of the backbone and rib cage, scattered pieces of the front limbs, the lower jaw, and several teeth. These were uncovered by fossil preparator Andy Cowap and put on display in the Ulster Museum.Unearthing the Larne Sea Dragon (2007) National Museums Northern Ireland
/ref> From 2007-9, while the Ulster Museum was undergoing refurbishment, the ichthyosaur was exhibited in Larne Tourist Information Centre.
/ref>

Public right of way

The promenade, a footpath between the foreshore and the low cliffs at Waterloo, is a public right of way.Council Papers Confirm Members Labelled Marina Minute Erroneous (1 Dec 2005) Larne Times
/ref>

Gallery

File:Ammonites - geograph.org.uk - 474674.jpg, Ammonites are abundant in the mudstone that marks the Jurassic boundary - the primary marker at this site is the

ammonite Ammonoids are extinct, (typically) coiled-shelled cephalopods comprising the subclass Ammonoidea. They are more closely related to living octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish (which comprise the clade Coleoidea) than they are to nautiluses (family N ...

'' Psiloceras planorbis'' File:Slump Fold - geograph.org.uk - 474671.jpg, A slump fold in the Triassic Mercia Mudstone Group File:Synaeresis Cracks - geograph.org.uk - 474655.jpg, Synaeresis cracks in the mudstone File:Ichthyosaur hharder.png, The most complete example of an ichthyosaur in Northern Ireland was discovered at Waterloo Bay, Larne

References

{{Geology of Northern Ireland Protected areas of County Antrim Geology of Northern Ireland Geology of Ireland Stratigraphy of the United Kingdom Rock formations of Northern Ireland