
Mudstone and Sandstone, County Down

The layers of red sandstone and mudstone found here were formed in desert conditions; some of the sands show cross-bedding formed by wind-blown dunes, whilst mudstone layers occasionally show cracks that formed as the mud dried out after occasional rainstorms. More evidence for a desert environment comes from the recent discovery of scorpion prints at this site.
Sandstone and mudstone: Scrabo Hill, Newtownards, County Down

Credit: Alex Donald

Credit: N. Ireland Environment & Heritage Service
