Minerals of Scotland

ISLE OF SKYE
Mineral Collecting Localities

Mineral Collecting Localities

of the

Tertiary Basalt Lavas

THE QUIRAING
Edinbane area & Sligachan.

(photo courtesy of D. McCallum/ M. Wood).

THE QUIRAING

This area of "enchanted scenery" with its unique and atmospheric views of rock formations
and pinnacles is one of the premier, natural attractions on the Isle of Skye.

It is located in the north-east of the island, north of Portree, on the Trotternish Peninsula.
Access to the area is via the route which connects Uig and Staffin.

The Quiraing is also an area which can supply
interesting specimens of zeolite minerals.

Since this is a classic, and consequently, well-trodden,
Skye mineral locality, specimen quality may vary.

Nevertheless, it it well worth a visit,
both for its scenery and for its minerals.

Minerals recorded at The Quiraing include:
analcime, chabazite, mesolite, levynite, pectolite, stilbite, thomsonite.
Though analcime and chabazite are found more regularly, perhaps the thomsonite occurs as the more interesting specimens.

The Quiraing, Isle of Skye.

The Quiraing, Isle of Skye.

SLIGACHAN

The locality is a popular starting point for treks tand mountaineering trips to the nearby Cuillen Hills and surrounding areas. It is also the point where the main road from the south of the island diverges.

One can continue on northwards on this road towards Portree and the Trotternish Peninsula or choose the route to the North-west towards the mineral localities of Talisker Bay and those farther north in the Dunvegan area.

The quarry site near Sligachan has recently revealed numerous micro-sized minerals.

Minerals reported from the site include albite, calcite, chrysocolla, djurleite, epidote, epistilbite, malachite, mesolite, orthoclase, prehnite, pumpellyite.

right - STILBITE - The Quiraing, Isle of Skye.
(F.Frattini specimen & photo).

Edinbane is located between Portree and Dunvegan
on the A850.

Roadcuts on this route and on by-pass around the village
of Edinbane, such as at Black Hill, are possible sites
to investigate zeolite mineral occurences.

Minerals recorded from this area include -
calcite, chabazite, erionite, heulandite, stellerite, stilbite.

Of particular note have been the stellerite found here
and the small, but very good, erionite micro-crystals
occuring in small and apparently vacant basalt amygdules.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A special thanks to Fabrizio Frattini for the permission
to publish his photographs and making this page possible.

A special thanks also to Dave McCallum & Mike Wood.

For photographs of specimens from the Isle of Skye,
see the Skye Mineral Gallery pages.