Excursion guide to the geology of the Isle of Skye
Work in progress - coming soon!
Content for this series of excursions is from the Geological Society of Glasgow publication: An Excursion guide to the geology of the Isle of Skye by B.R. Bell and J. W. Harris'
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Pre-Tertiary rocks
(B) Torridonian sedimentary rocks
(D) Cambro-Ordovician sedimentary rocks
(E) Triassic sedimentary rocks
(F) Jurassic sedimentary rocks
(G) Cretaceous sedimentary rocks
(H) Pre-Tertiary minor intrusions
Chapter 3 Tertiary extrusive products
(B) Interbasaltic sedimentary rocks
Chapter 4 The Cuillin Complex
(B) The Outer Marginal Gabbros and Eucrites
(D) The Layered Peridotite Series (Sgurr Dubh Peridotites)
(E) The Outer Layered Allivalite Series
(F) The Outer Layered Eucrite Series
(G) The Outer Layered Gabbro Series
(H) The Druim nan Ramh Eucrite
(I) The Inner Layered Allivalite Series
(J) The Inner Layered Eucrite Series
(K) The Inner Layered Gabbro Series
(L) The Coire Uaigneich Granite
(M) Thermal effects of the Cuillin Complex
(N) The Volcaniclastic pipes of the Cuillin Complex
Chapter 5 The Srath Na Creitheach Centre
(B) General field relationships
(E) The contact between the Meall Dearg and Ruadh Stac granites
(F) The Meall Dearg Acid Breccias
(H) Shape and mechanism of intrusion of the granites
Chapter 6 The Western Red Hills Centre
(B) The Belig and Meall a' Mhaoil vent agglomerates and breccias
(E) The early northern granites of Maol na Gainmhich and Eas Mor
(F) The Beinn Dearg Mhor and Loch Ainort granites
(G) The early southern granite of Glen Sligachan and the Southern Porphyritic Granite
(I) The Northern Porphyritic Felsite and the late northern granite of Meall Buidhe
(J) The late southern granite of Marsco
(K) Mechanisms of intrusion and volcanic processes
Chapter 7 The Eastern Red Hills Centre
(B) The Kilchrist Hybrid Ring-dyke
(E) The Glas Bheinn Mhor Granite
(H) The composite sills and dykes
(I) Thermal and metasomatic effects of the granites
Chapter 8 Pyroclastic rocks of The Central Complex
(B) The Srath na Creitheach Deposits: description
(C) The Srath na Creitheach Deposits: origin
(D) The Creagan Dubh and Kilchrist Deposits: description
(E) The Creagan Dubh and Kilchrist Deposits: origin
Chapter 9 The minor intrusions
(B) The regional dyke swarm and associated subswarms
(C) The compositions of the basic dykes of the regional swarm
(D) The cone-sheets of the Cuillin Complex
(E) The tholeiite sheets of the Western Cuillin Complex
(F) The Gars-bheinn ultrabasic sill
(G) The layered ultrabasic dyke of Stac Suisnish
(H) The basic sill complex of North Skye
(I) The ultrabasic (picritic) dykes and sills of Central Skye
(J) The ultrabasic (allivalitic) dykes of North Skye
(N) The leidleite dyke of the Tungadal River
(O) The brecciated rhyolite and acid breccias of the Kilchrist Area
(P) Deformed Lower Tertiary dykes and sills
Chapter 10 Tectonic and stratigraphic evolution
(C) The Sea of the Hebrides and Inner Hebrides sedimentary basins
Chapter 11 Quaternary and Recent geology
(B) Glaciation and glacial deposits
Chapter 12 Origin of the magmas and the hydro-thermal systems associated with the Skye centre
(B) Mantle melting events and crustal contamination of magmas
(C) The parental magmas of the Cuillin Complex
(D) Generation of the acid magmas
(F) Hydrothermal systems associated with the Skye Centre
(F) Hydrothermal systems associated with the Skye Centre
Introduction to excursions
Excursion 1 The area around Isleornsay
Excursion 2 The areas around Ord and Tarskavaig
Excursion 3 The Strathaird Peninsula
Excursion 4 Beinn an Dubhaich
Excursion 5 Kilchrist
== Excursion 6 The area around the Old Manse at Kilchrist ==
Excursion 7 The Broadford area
Excursion 8 Creag Strollamus
Excursion 9 Strollamus to Torrin
Excursion 10 Camasunary Bay
Excursion 11 Loch Coruisk - Druim Hain
Excursion 12 Gleann Torra-mhichaig - Coire nam Bruadaran - Belig
Excursion 13 The Moll Coast
Excursion 14 The Allt Daraich section
Excursion 15 Marsco
Excursion 16 Glen Brittle and the Western Cuillin Hills
Excursion 17 The Portree area
Excursion 18 Bearreraig Bay - The Storr
Excursion 19 The Loch Cuithir diatomite deposits
Excursion 20 The Kilt Rock
Excursion 21 Kildorais to Staffin Bay coastal section and The Quirang
Excursion 22 West Trotternish
Appendix 1: Glossary of petrological names and terms
Appendix 2: Glossary of fossil names
Appendix 3: Glossary of place names and grid references
Foreword
The Isle of Skye has attracted geologists since the beginning of the Nineteenth Century. Within this comparatively small area many of the major geological units of Scotland are found. In this guide we have attempted to describe the geological history of the island. The accompanying excursions allow many of the important field relationships to be observed directly. In a few instances, however, supplementary information is provided in order that interpretations can be presented. In following the excursions additional observations will doubtless be made. We hope, therefore, that the guide will stimulate new interest in this classic area.
Acknowledgements
During the production of this guide two organisations have been most generous with facilities and funding. Britoil plc. provided cartographic facilities through Aileen Clark and Michael Cairns. The high quality of the maps and diagrams in this guide is the result of their skills. The Scottish Development Agency provided funds in order that the excursions to the guide could be prepared. This contribution allowed us to include more detailed information which we believe substantially improves the text. Dr Jain Allison of the University of Strathclyde gave much valuable information on the publishing of the guide, as well as advice on aspects of structural geology incorporated in the text. Dr John Hudson of the University of Leicester reviewed the section on the Mesozoic sedimentary rocks and helped with the stratigraphic sections within the excursions. On Skye, Mr David Lloyd of Broadford most generously made available to us his cottage and provided logistic support during our fieldwork. We thank the University of Strathclyde for the academic environment which enabled this guide to be written and for the use of its facilities to carry out the work involved. Finally, our thanks go to all who gave permission to reproduce maps and diagrams: their important contribution to the guide is acknowledged in the appropriate places in the text. Grid References in the text and on maps are from the Ordnance Survey and are reproduced by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office.