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Dolerite

Dolerite is a medium-grained igneous rock similar in composition to basalt. Unlike basalt however dolerite cooled slowly below the surface forming larger crystals. Dolerite is often found as shallow intrusions such as dykes, sills and volcanic plugs e.g. Slemish, Ballymena. It occasionally has a green tinge due to the presence of the mineral olivine.

Buildings constructed with this stone type:

Tully Castle, Lower Lough Erne

County Fermanagh

Stone Types: Buff-Pink Sandstone, Dolerite, English Carboniferous Sandstone, Fermanagh Carboniferous Limestone
Scrabo Tower

County Down

Stone Types: Basalt, Dolerite, Scrabo Sandstone
Newtownards Priory

County Down

Stone Types: Dolerite, Greywacke, Scrabo Sandstone
Helen’s Tower

County Down

Stone Types: Dolerite, Greywacke, Scrabo Sandstone
St. Malachy’s Wall

County Down

Stone Types: Dolerite, Greywacke, Scrabo Sandstone
Killevy Churches

County Armagh

Stone Types: Armagh Limestone, Basalt, Dolerite