The mining heritage of County Antrim and its legacy

Did you know that Northern Ireland has over 2,400 abandoned mine workings? Its lands conceal a rich mining heritage dating back millennia with a rapid expansion of underground mining to feed growing demand during the industrial revolution. County Antrim was at the epicentre of these activities and today contains almost 1,000 old mine workings.

Its diverse and mineral rich geology led to the development of this thriving industry ranging from coal fields on the north coast, iron ore and bauxite mines throughout the county and salt mining in south-east Antrim which continues to this day. Whilst we can’t always see the geology, there are abundant artefacts associated with this rich industrial heritage still visible within the landscape today if you know where to look!

We will explore the underlying geology that intrigued early explorers, the expansion of the industry and development of its communities and take a closer look at how Antrim minerals played a role in assisting industrial development and contributing to the efforts during World War two.

While mining is a rich part of Northern Irelands heritage, abandoned mines also pose a significant risk to the public, infrastructure and the environment. Today, this legacy is managed through comprehensive monitoring programmes using a range of technologies and science to assess and mitigate any risk.