Gortalughany is a special place because of its earth science interest. The area contains a number of important rock outcrops while a series of typical landforms are associated with the limestone.
The area consists of a series of Carboniferous age rocks, mainly limestones. At that time these rocks formed in warm, shallow and biologically productive equatorial waters.
The series of disused quarries around Gortalughany offer a superb section through one of the most important geological units in this area and known as the Dartry Limestone Formation. The limestones contain abundant fossils dominated by corals and brachiopods.
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