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Protected Areas

Portmuck ASSI

Last updated: 5 February 2010

picture of Portmuck ASSI including Isle of Muck

Site No ASSI 177
Area 20.18 (ha)
Declared Date 23/10/1997
Confirmed Date 23/03/1998
County Antrim
Council(s) Larne BC
Keywords Earth Science

Portmuck contains the best exposure of the Cretaceous Hibernian formation in Northern Ireland, the only occurrence of the mineral sodalite in Ireland and the international type locality of Gobbinsite. A range of other minerals and basalt related features are also present.
picture of razorbills with fish in beakThe tombolo (a bar that extends outward from the shore, connecting with an island) between Isle of Muck and the mainland is the only such feature on the open coast of Northern Ireland.
A range of features associated with formerly higher sealevels are also present.
A range of typical seacliff communities are present together with limited saltmarsh and calcareous grassland.
A notable population of breeding seabirds including razorbill, guillemot, puffin, kittiwake and fulmar.

   

   

Site Related Documents

Site map (.PDF 740Kb)Opens in New window, Citation document (.PDF 165Kb)Opens in New window and Views about Management document (.PDF 50Kb)Opens in New window.