4.3 Formation of the Dublin–Wicklow Fold Mountains
440 million years ago
Ireland was once located in a very different geographical position to its position today. One half of Ireland was connected to a landmass near North America, and the other half was connected to a landmass further south. Continental drift (as explained in Chapter 1) pulled these continents apart. During the later Caledonian folding period, the two continents collided again and the two parts of ‘Ireland’ finally fused together. This collision resulted in the formation of the Dublin–Wicklow fold mountains.
Communicating:
Working in pairs, track Ireland’s movement in the images shown in figure 2. Two hundred and ninety million years ago, Ireland was located very close to the equator. We have moved a large distance since then. Using what you know about plate movements, where do you think Ireland might be in another 100 million years?
Landmass 1 Equator
410 million years ago
Landmass 2
Landmasses collide to form Ireland. The Dublin–Wicklow Mountains are formed.
4
Equator
290 million years ago
Ireland moves above the equator
Equator
Now current position
1. Draw a labelled diagram of a fold mountain. On your sketch, show and label (i) anticline, (ii) syncline and (iii) folds.
2. Name the three major periods of fold mountain creation.
3. During which folding period were the Dublin–Wicklow Mountains formed?
4. Name one range of fold mountains found in Ireland and one found outside of Ireland.
2. Ireland on the move To watch an animation on the
movement of the landmass of Ireland, go to YouTube and look up ‘Ireland on the move’ (1:05).
