Minerals of Scotland

ISLE of SKYE

A Guide to Mineral Locations.

Mineral Collecting
Localities
of the
Tertiary Basalt Lavas.

MOONEN BAY

Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye.
A partial view of the cliffs from the shoreline.

This recently discovered mineral locality has become, along with Sgurr nam Boc,
one of the premier collecting sites on the Isle of Skye.
For the variety and quality of the species, it is arguably the best.

Collectors, D McCallum and M. Wood (the photographers of this page), along with J.G. Todd & M. MacMullan, discovered the site in 1995. Since then, the specimens encountered
have rendered it one of Skye's most important mineral sites.

It is rather unusual the site was overlooked by Heddle when he scoured the country for mineral locations over a century ago. Nonetheless, it is refreshing to have a new major mineral site uncovered in present times.

Access -
From Dunvegan, by road towards The Neist, and then a walk south to the northern edge of the bay at Waterstein Head.

Access to the collecting areas can also be made farther south.

Though access to the cliffs is not as difficult as Sgurr nam Boc, due preparation for accessing the beach and full safety equipment for the site are necessary.

Tidal variations and rockslides are major considerations if collecting.

This site forms an impressive headland with views seawards to Uist and Benbecula on the Outer Hebrides.

Although the cliffs of Moonen Bay - approaching 1,000 feet above sea level - are not the highest on the island, they are perhaps the most impressive of the island's numerous sea cliffs.

An additional advantage is that, along with The Neist, they are more readily accessible for viewing.

Moonen Bay - A view of the cliffs and the boulder-strewn beach.

Zeolite species -
Analcime, Chabazite, Cowlesite, Erionite, Heulandite, Laumontite, Levyne, Mesolite, Offretite, Phillipsite, Stellerite, Stilbite, Thomsonite.

Other Silicates -
Apophyllite (Hydroxylapophyllite), Gyrolite, Quartz (Chalcedony).

Other Species -
Calcite, Gypsum, Copper, Pyrite.

The discovery of apophyllite created an immediate interest in the locality. Additionally, specimens of chabazite and heulandite of good quality were uncovered.

The rarer zeolites tend to crystallize in isolation in small vesicles, often with few or no associated species.
Examples of these, such as cowlesite and phillipsite, are also of collector interest for their quality.

Since the initial finds, more trips have revealed more fine examples, including most recently, more apophyllite.

Both collectors/photographers
pose at two mineralised sites at Moonen Bay.

above - A large zeolite-filled cavity is clearly visible in the rockface (May, 1997).
right - The heulandite zone uncovered during the initial discovery of the site in May 1995.

above - A large zeolite-filled cavity encountered May 2002.

right - A large rockslide close to the area where
apophyllite examples were found in 2002.