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Globally significant volcanic event formed Giant’s Causeway, scientists find

The Guardian UK Sunday 14 June 2026, 23:01 UTC By Donna Ferguson 1 min read
Key Points

Geochronologists say Antrim coastline’s basalt columns developed over 5.5m years – 8m less than thoughtFor centuries, the tale has been passed from generation to generation: how the Irish giant Finn McCool built the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland to fight Benandonner, his Scottish rival, by hurling chunks of the Antrim coastline into the sea. Now, scientists have revealed it was intense volcanic activity during a “major globally impacting volcanic event” – and not a legendary battle...

Geochronologists say Antrim coastline’s basalt columns developed over 5.5m years – 8m less than thought

For centuries, the tale has been passed from generation to generation: how the Irish giant Finn McCool built the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland to fight Benandonner, his Scottish rival, by hurling chunks of the Antrim coastline into the sea.

Now, scientists have revealed it was intense volcanic activity during a “major globally impacting volcanic event” – and not a legendary battle between two destructive giants – that led to the formation of the coastline’s 40,000 distinctive interlocking basalt columns about 60m years ago.

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Giant’s (LOCATION) Causeway (ORG) Geochronologists (ORG) Antrim (LOCATION) Irish (ORG) Finn McCool (PERSON) Giant (ORG) Northern Ireland (LOCATION) Benandonner (PERSON) Scottish (ORG)
Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

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Globally significant volcanic event formed Giant’s Causeway, scientists find

Geochronologists say Antrim coastline’s basalt columns developed over 5.5m years – 8m less than thoughtFor centuries, the tale has been passed from generation to generation: how the Irish giant Finn McCool built the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland to fight Benandonner, his Scottish rival, by hurling chunks of the Antrim coastline into the sea. Now, scientists have revealed it was intense volcanic activity during a “major globally impacting volcanic event” – and not a legendary battle...

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