Whitespots ASSI
Topics:
Protected area type:
Areas of Special Scientific Interest
Feature type:
Earth Science
County:
Down
Council:
Ards and North Down
Guidance and literature:
Whitespots ASSI

Whitespots is of geological interest on account of its mineralogy, including a range of commercially mined metallic ores.
Minerals were deposited within a fault in the Silurian country rocks by hot, mineral-rich fluids. Minerals including galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, baryte, dolomite, calcite and chalcedony are present.
This site is the only occurrence in Northern Ireland of the unusual barium zeolite, harmotone.