Ardalanish Geology Trip
Posted: Sunday, 13 April 2008 |
We were due to have another geology field trip on Saturday - it all depended on the weather as always. It was a toss up between Iona and Ardalanish - on the basis of the forecast, Ardalanish won
Ardlanish Bay is one of those special places. I wont say "wonderful" "fantastic" and "amazing" cos I'm a hard nosed cynic who hates hyperbole.
But if i werent, I would...
The weather looked good - approaching Bunessan, the Ardmeanach peninsula looked very serene:
We met at Bunessan and then headed off to the beach car park just past Ardachy. Again, on this occasion, we had the pleasure of the company and immense knowledge of Dr John Faithfull of the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow. John knows the area intimately, and as well as bringing a keen eye to matters rocky, he is also very au fait with recent as well as pending published research.
The area from Ardalanish Bay round to Knockvologan has been very well studied. Many papers have been published and it is clear that there is still a lot that could be done. My own first visit here was in 1979 as an undergraduate from St Andrews. It is still a beautiful spot and one of my favourite places in Mull.
Anyway, onto the rocks. Ardalanish is a SSSI and is a "no-hammer" zone. So no hammering please! Incidfentally, the Gaelic for SSSI is ISSS (Ionad de Shuim Shaidheasal Shonraichte)....
There is a rocky knoll above the beach that is full of unusual minerals like kyanite and tourmaline and andalusite and stuff like that. The kyanite can appear as thin blue bladed crystals. It is this one knoll that makes the whole area so special. We spent a bit of time looking at the knoll before heading down to the beach and over towards where the Ross of Mull Granite is.
There is so much geology "happening" in this area that it would be a major tome to describe it in detail, so you'll just have to put up with a few pics and some descriptions. Here goes:
Nice folding in the rocks
John pointing out a rather neat rock that can be found here - garnet amphibolite. The garnets in some cases can be very large, up to a couple of cms across. Not of gem quality however!
More garnets:
On beaches like this, you occasionally come across some oddities that dont really belong. How did they get here? Brought on the tide? Where from? Ballast from boats? Who knows? There were a couple of conglomerate boulders which fit this category well:
And in close-up:
The Ross of Mull Granite is not far from here and that was where we were headed. On the way is this outcrop that looks like a volcanic plug - it isnt. But why it looks the way it does is a bit of a mystery. It is pretty steep all round:
Where the granite comes in contact with the metamorphic rocks, you have some seriously interesting structures (whoops, nearly said "fantastic" there....)
This is a classic locality - well studied, easy to get to, visually satisfying, a lot of geology in a small area. All good stuff
The granite has invaded the metatmorphic rocks and generally cooked and chewed them up. As a consequence there are a lot of xenoliths in the rocks:
This ones a beauty. The original piece of rock picked up by the granite is actually two types in contact. The granite has squeezed a vein into the contact between the two parts.
This pic shows a xenolith of garnet amphibloite in the granite:
You can still see the ganets in it - Its the long thin one at the bottom of the pic
After the Ross of Mull Granite, we intended to go to Scoor and look at some stuff there. However, we actually ran out of time. So after saying goodbye to John , we decided to have a look at Uisken instead.
Another great beach with more of the schists and amphibolites on display. Some pics:
Group heading over to look at the rocks
A very nice dry stane dyke with a lump of garnet amphibolite forming a capstone on one side of the gap. The white stuff is massive quartz - pure white, so it was...
And here it is in close-up! Neat eh?
OK, that was Saturday. Next trip is still to be decided upon. Probably Iona, but it will be in a few weeks time
If you want more geology, I am doing talks as part of Wild Isles Week. www.wildisles.co.uk for details. The talks are on the 7th and 14th of May at the Isle of Mull Hotel
Catch up with you later!
JW (MM)
PS: Speaking of the Ross of Mull Granite, on the last trip we had a look at the cave "Uamh nam Marbh" near the Tormore quarry. Here is yours truly grinning inanely through the window...
(Thanks to the other John for the pic!)
Ardlanish Bay is one of those special places. I wont say "wonderful" "fantastic" and "amazing" cos I'm a hard nosed cynic who hates hyperbole.
But if i werent, I would...
The weather looked good - approaching Bunessan, the Ardmeanach peninsula looked very serene:
We met at Bunessan and then headed off to the beach car park just past Ardachy. Again, on this occasion, we had the pleasure of the company and immense knowledge of Dr John Faithfull of the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow. John knows the area intimately, and as well as bringing a keen eye to matters rocky, he is also very au fait with recent as well as pending published research.
The area from Ardalanish Bay round to Knockvologan has been very well studied. Many papers have been published and it is clear that there is still a lot that could be done. My own first visit here was in 1979 as an undergraduate from St Andrews. It is still a beautiful spot and one of my favourite places in Mull.
Anyway, onto the rocks. Ardalanish is a SSSI and is a "no-hammer" zone. So no hammering please! Incidfentally, the Gaelic for SSSI is ISSS (Ionad de Shuim Shaidheasal Shonraichte)....
There is a rocky knoll above the beach that is full of unusual minerals like kyanite and tourmaline and andalusite and stuff like that. The kyanite can appear as thin blue bladed crystals. It is this one knoll that makes the whole area so special. We spent a bit of time looking at the knoll before heading down to the beach and over towards where the Ross of Mull Granite is.
There is so much geology "happening" in this area that it would be a major tome to describe it in detail, so you'll just have to put up with a few pics and some descriptions. Here goes:
Nice folding in the rocks
John pointing out a rather neat rock that can be found here - garnet amphibolite. The garnets in some cases can be very large, up to a couple of cms across. Not of gem quality however!
More garnets:
On beaches like this, you occasionally come across some oddities that dont really belong. How did they get here? Brought on the tide? Where from? Ballast from boats? Who knows? There were a couple of conglomerate boulders which fit this category well:
And in close-up:
The Ross of Mull Granite is not far from here and that was where we were headed. On the way is this outcrop that looks like a volcanic plug - it isnt. But why it looks the way it does is a bit of a mystery. It is pretty steep all round:
Where the granite comes in contact with the metamorphic rocks, you have some seriously interesting structures (whoops, nearly said "fantastic" there....)
This is a classic locality - well studied, easy to get to, visually satisfying, a lot of geology in a small area. All good stuff
The granite has invaded the metatmorphic rocks and generally cooked and chewed them up. As a consequence there are a lot of xenoliths in the rocks:
This ones a beauty. The original piece of rock picked up by the granite is actually two types in contact. The granite has squeezed a vein into the contact between the two parts.
This pic shows a xenolith of garnet amphibloite in the granite:
You can still see the ganets in it - Its the long thin one at the bottom of the pic
After the Ross of Mull Granite, we intended to go to Scoor and look at some stuff there. However, we actually ran out of time. So after saying goodbye to John , we decided to have a look at Uisken instead.
Another great beach with more of the schists and amphibolites on display. Some pics:
Group heading over to look at the rocks
A very nice dry stane dyke with a lump of garnet amphibolite forming a capstone on one side of the gap. The white stuff is massive quartz - pure white, so it was...
And here it is in close-up! Neat eh?
OK, that was Saturday. Next trip is still to be decided upon. Probably Iona, but it will be in a few weeks time
If you want more geology, I am doing talks as part of Wild Isles Week. www.wildisles.co.uk for details. The talks are on the 7th and 14th of May at the Isle of Mull Hotel
Catch up with you later!
JW (MM)
PS: Speaking of the Ross of Mull Granite, on the last trip we had a look at the cave "Uamh nam Marbh" near the Tormore quarry. Here is yours truly grinning inanely through the window...
(Thanks to the other John for the pic!)
Comments
Brilliant, MM, I wish I could have come with you! What a lot there is to see. A no-hammer zone, eh? That's a new one...
Jill from EK
Wonderful; fantastic; amazing. There you are Mr Cynic I've said them for you...not being a cynical cat...much...
Flying Cat from Hammer House of Horror
Thank you, MM, every blog you write and illustrate increases my passion for Mull.
Baarney from Swithiod blow my mind
MM, Thanks again for taking us along on your field trip. I really enjoy the pictures and commentary.
CVBruce from CA, USA
And when I consult the map I see that the Ardanalish peninsula is the place where we anchored in an almost landlocked cove on the first perfect evening of my first ever cruise on teh west Coast. We were so content having a nice social time on board that we didn't go for a stroll. But 2008, it will be on the route map. Tws, an almost landlocked cove is a geographical feature, not an aged person.
Barney from Swithiod thinking slowly
Ah its great to see another peep so enthusiastic about geology. I was on the Island of Raasay last Saturday and we visited brochel Castle. My other half insisted that the underlying geology of the Castle and surrounding ourcrops were of a volcanic plug consisting of ash and angular rocks, but I wasnt convinced. I thought it was of a congomerate... it was very soft and easily crumbled, Yet it forms narrow columns. At first I thought it was glacial till but it cannot be as the sea would have eroded it away. It was bizzare stuff to say the least. Any ideas?
Over the Sea to Sunny Skye from Skye
Brilliant, marvellous, wonderful pics! (Have I outsuperlatived myself there?) Since MM's been posting these, I have a completely different way of looking at the landscape when I visit Mull. Thank you! Iz
Iz from Flintshire
yet again an interseting blog and lovely snaps
carol from over here
Excellent Blog. I looked at the photos then went back and read it right through. Really interesting. Thanks MM.
Sunny from Costa Lovely
Thanks for the comments so far! Regarding Raasay, I have only ever been there once. I am not very familiar with the geology of the area but I do know that there is a great deal of variety. I'll see what I can find... MM
MM from Mull
MM. If there are quartz infusions What happend to the gold that mixes with the quartz or forms an ouside layer. From a goldmining location .Regards
roy from Sofala. Oz
Did you walk Calum's Road, Sunny Skye?
Flying Cat from Sunny day
Flying Cat: You mention Calums Road eh? Now theres a piece of folk history. As well as a great tune by Capercaillie. I met Calum once. It was in late September 1986 (sounds kinda Rod Stewart -ish that...) and I was a student at Sabhal Mor Ostaig, the Gaelic College at the time. He was a great character, full of stories. I also met another famous son of Raasay, Sorley Maclean about the same time. Great days. But where are the "characters" of tomorrow? Are there any? When you walk down your village street and see young people, do you think, "now s/he'll be a character..."
MM from Mull
Maybe MM is going to be a Mull character - or already is? The young going abed after saturday night revels see MM trudging down the street with his hammer and luch bag and a blissful look on his face, and they nudge each other, anf guffaw, and go and crash out and couldn't understand what drives MM if they even tried.
Barney from Swithiod crystal ball gazing
Hi flying cat, yes we drove up culums road an amazing piece of human determination.... Raasay is an amazing place.
Sunny Skye from S kye
But they will, Barney, they will... I'm pure impressed you met two bits of 'living history' MM and hope you realise this makes you, by association, the same...
Fying Cat from shock and awe
I visited Mull last September and was told about your blog by my hosts at Viewmount when they found out I am interested in geology. I have been reading your blog ever since and feel like I get to return to Mull each time. Since I'm handicapped with MS, you take me to places I would never be able to get to myself. The pics and the comments are a continuing joy.
Peggy from Bainbridge Island, WA USA
Amazing that these little islands are here and are uninhabited. I knew about Inch Kenneth because I have a book about the Mitfords, who I believed bought Inch Kenneth and had a holiday home here.
Sue Bardsley from pjb
MM have you seen or held from "wild freckle"lately? she seems to have gone quiet
carol from over here
Carol, havent heard from Wild Freckle recently although I was talking to her husband just the other day. I am sure she has been out and about in the nice weather though! MM
MM from Mull
thanks MM for the news!
carol from sunny but cold
I am still here - sorry not done much blogging recently but been getting ready for the tourist season - got thousands of pictures to share with you - nice someone missed me! Looks like you've had a great time MM!
Wild Freckle from Still here!
Me too Wild Freckle...prrrrrrrrrrr...
Flying Cat from furryhugs
welcome back wf xx
carol from frae here
3x timesi've replied to wild freckl'es post and 3xits been refused so hereb i say"welcome back"!!!!!
carol from hating the "spam filter"
MM thanks for another great post,
island threads from lewis
Exploring the hills and coasts of Mull and Iona and occasionally elsewhere, with a close eye on the geology
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