Slemish College Geography Department THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE BLACK MOUNTAIN The Black Mountain overlooks west Belfast, but over the years a highly visible

Slemish College Geography DepartmentSlemish College Geography Department

THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE

BLACK MOUNTAIN

THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE

BLACK MOUNTAIN

The Black Mountain overlooks west Belfast, but over the years a highly visible scar grows ever more visible. A mining company are quarrying basalt rock from its summit destroyingIn only a number of years what has taken nature millions of years to form.The extraction of rock continues but there is a campaign by local residents to SAVE theBLACK MOUNTAIN.

The Black Mountain overlooks west Belfast, but over the years a highly visible scar grows ever more visible. A mining company are quarrying basalt rock from its summit destroyingIn only a number of years what has taken nature millions of years to form.The extraction of rock continues but there is a campaign by local residents to SAVE theBLACK MOUNTAIN.


QUARRYING ON THE BLACK MOUNTAIN: GENERAL INFO

QUARRYING ON THE BLACK MOUNTAIN: GENERAL INFO

• Antrim basalt is extracted & crushed into various grades.• Av annual production is 500,000 tonnes of rock.• Total no employed is 100.• 20/25 trucks per day used for the haulage of stone.• 2,500 tonnes of stone moved each day.• Cheaper to buy larger stones, as it takes more to process the rock into smaller sizes.• Av price for stone is £3- £4 per tonne.• The quarry company has received planning permission to continue quarrying until 2056 !


THE GRIM REALITYTHE GRIM REALITYTHE GRIM REALITYTHE GRIM REALITY


The skyline of the Black Mountain highlighted with quarry machinery, painted green so that it blends in with the hillside !!The skyline of the Black Mountain highlighted with quarry machinery, painted green so that it blends in with the hillside !!

BLACK MOUNTAIN SKYLINEBLACK MOUNTAIN SKYLINEBLACK MOUNTAIN SKYLINEBLACK MOUNTAIN SKYLINE


WHITEMOUNTAIN: LAGAN GROUPThe quarry is operated by WHITE MOUNTAINQUARRIES.The company quarries 2.5 million tonnes of material per year, but has the capacity toproduce 4 million tonnes!Antrim basalt is quarried from the Black Mt and is used mostly as the “hard core” for surfacingjobs on roads and airports throughout Ireland& Britain and further afield.In fact the rock has been used at AldergroveAirport and the new Hong Kong InternationalAirport and many other sites around the world.

So rock mined from a Belfast Mountain has found its way to the far corners of the earth.The basalt is blasted from the mountain and in its roughest shape takes the form of largeboulders.It is then crushed by heavy machinery to a variety of sizes and grades right down tobasalt “dust”. This dust forms the basis of ready mixed concrete made in three factories in theBelfast area.Much of the profit from the basalt quarrying comes from the transport delivery of the material-A constant stream of quarry lorries takes the stone from the mountain to various destinationsaround Ireland and to the port of Belfast.Conservationists and “Save the Black Mountain” campaigners state that:“Every lorry that leaves the quarry is taking another piece of the heart of the mountain with it”


THE BLACK MOUNTAINTHE BLACK MOUNTAINTHE BLACK MOUNTAINTHE BLACK MOUNTAIN

Visible from all angles the quarry dominates the skylineVisible from all angles the quarry dominates the skyline


AREA CLOSE TO THE BLACK MOUNTAIN QUARRYAREA CLOSE TO THE BLACK MOUNTAIN QUARRYAREA CLOSE TO THE BLACK MOUNTAIN QUARRYAREA CLOSE TO THE BLACK MOUNTAIN QUARRY


The housing demand in West Belfast means that more andmore land is being used by developers for new housing estates.This photograph shows the new Hannahstown Hill houses,with the quarry clearly seen above.

The housing demand in West Belfast means that more andmore land is being used by developers for new housing estates.This photograph shows the new Hannahstown Hill houses,with the quarry clearly seen above.

HANNAHSTOWN HILL: NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTHANNAHSTOWN HILL: NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTHANNAHSTOWN HILL: NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTHANNAHSTOWN HILL: NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT


Many new housing areas haveMany new housing areas havebeen built close to the quarry asbeen built close to the quarry asthis dramatic photograph shows.this dramatic photograph shows.

Over the last 20 years oppositionOver the last 20 years oppositionto quarrying on the mountainto quarrying on the mountaincame particularly strong from came particularly strong from

people living in this area. people living in this area. Not only was the hole created on the Not only was the hole created on the side of the mountain a problem, butside of the mountain a problem, but

the dust pollution was, residents the dust pollution was, residents Claim leading to respiratory problemsClaim leading to respiratory problemsamong them young and elderly, andamong them young and elderly, and

blasting was causing structuralblasting was causing structuraldamage to housing in the area.damage to housing in the area.

Many new housing areas haveMany new housing areas havebeen built close to the quarry asbeen built close to the quarry asthis dramatic photograph shows.this dramatic photograph shows.

Over the last 20 years oppositionOver the last 20 years oppositionto quarrying on the mountainto quarrying on the mountaincame particularly strong from came particularly strong from

people living in this area. people living in this area. Not only was the hole created on the Not only was the hole created on the side of the mountain a problem, butside of the mountain a problem, but

the dust pollution was, residents the dust pollution was, residents Claim leading to respiratory problemsClaim leading to respiratory problemsamong them young and elderly, andamong them young and elderly, and

blasting was causing structuralblasting was causing structuraldamage to housing in the area.damage to housing in the area.

“ PROBLEMS “


LOOKING TOWARDS THE CITY OF BELFASTLOOKING TOWARDS THE CITY OF BELFASTLOOKING TOWARDS THE CITY OF BELFASTLOOKING TOWARDS THE CITY OF BELFAST


AGAINST THE DESTRUCTION : THE REASONSAGAINST THE DESTRUCTION : THE REASONSAGAINST THE DESTRUCTION : THE REASONSAGAINST THE DESTRUCTION : THE REASONS

1. Visual pollution. The huge canyon cut by the quarry company and the ugly buildings.1. Visual pollution. The huge canyon cut by the quarry company and the ugly buildings.

2. Noise pollution. Lorries laden with stone move down from the rock face like ants. And every week, the rumble of explosions echo across the city as another part of the mountain is blown away.

2. Noise pollution. Lorries laden with stone move down from the rock face like ants. And every week, the rumble of explosions echo across the city as another part of the mountain is blown away.

3. Destroying the environment, which cannot be recovered for our ancestors.3. Destroying the environment, which cannot be recovered for our ancestors.

4. Dust pollution leading to respiratory problems, particularly among the young and the elderly.4. Dust pollution leading to respiratory problems, particularly among the young and the elderly.

5. Blasting causes structural damage to houses.5. Blasting causes structural damage to houses.

6. Roads are congested and dirty caused by the constant use of heavy lorries.6. Roads are congested and dirty caused by the constant use of heavy lorries.


THE DESTRUCTION OF THE BLACK MOUNTAIN 1


THE DESTRUCTION OF THE BLACK MOUNTAIN Questions

1. What type of rock is quarried at Black mountain?

2. For what purpose is the rock used? 3. Name 2 groups of people who would

object to quarrying at theBlack Mountain site and explain their opposition:Group 1Group 2

4. What forms of pollution are associated with this kind of primary activity?

5. Are there any benefits to the country from this type of exploitation of a resource?? Benefits:6. The quarry company have the rights to mine in this area for another

50 years. Do you agree or disagree with this. Argue your case


YOU LIVE HERE

ROLE PLAY: ROLE PLAY: LIVING BESIDE A LIVING BESIDE A

QUARRYQUARRY

Write a letter to the quarry owners, letting them know thatyou are not happy with what is happening on the mountain.Mention how the quarrying is affecting YOU and YOURfamily.

Documents

Slemish College Geography Department THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE BLACK MOUNTAIN The Black Mountain overlooks west Belfast, but over the years a highly visible