Twenty-five mile salt mine at Kilroot

Carrick’s salt mines were found to stretch for 25 miles, according to a report in the East Antrim Times in 1968.

By The Newsroom

Published 9th Jun 2015, 00:00 BST

Excavation was being carried out by an American firm at a mine in Kilroot.

Principal geologist PI Manning from a geological survey which was being carried out across Northern Ireland, reported the findings to a meeting of Carrickfergus Professional Women’s Club.

The survey team was employed by the Ministry of Commerce.

Mr Manning said, that as a result of this survey, several industries had decided to locate in Ulster.

The salt mine opened in 1965. It is part of a salt bed stretching to Russia.

It was formed during the Triassic Period 220 million years ago.