CALCITE

Found in the lava cavities and in other geological settings, calcite is not the most renowned of Skye minerals.
Nevertheless, interesting calcite specimens have been recovered in the basalt lavas of northern Skye.
Perhaps, the two most noteworthy sites for the species are at Talisker Bay and the more recent finds around Ollisdal.

CALCITE - Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye.
Toffee-coloured, rhombic crystals with analcime.

SKYE MARBLE - Elgol, Isle of Skye.
A 55x40mms specimen.

Skye Marble - which is a genuine marble -
contains other mineral species which gives it its
distinctive and attractive appearance.

It is found in the area around Elgol in southern Skye, in a skarn-type occurence where the Cambrian Durness limestone contacts the Cuillin granite.

CALCITE
Biod a'Mhurain, Glen Ollisdal, Isle of Skye.
Rhombic crystals on a crust of tiny calcite crystals
covering basalt matrix.

CALCITE
Biod a'Mhurain, Glen Ollisdal, Isle of Skye.
Twinned crystal to 20mms.

PREHNITE

Hand specimens of prehnite, occasionally associated with native copper and connellite,
are a recent addition to the minerals that may be found on Skye.
The prehnite occurs as lustrous, very pale green micro-crystal crusts, botryoidal aggregates as well as stalactitic growths. The latter habit is a result of the overgrowth/ replacement of laumontite crystals,
similar to those found in Indian Deccan basalts around Bombay - though, in this case, less distinct.

QUARTZ - TALC

Quartz is found normally as micro-crystals in several areas of Skye and in differing geological environments. Micro-crystals occur in the miarolitic cavities of the Cuillin granite as well as occasional micro-crystals
at Sgurr nam Boc. At the latter site, stalactitic tubes have also been found in the lava cavities.

Other Mineral Species

Several mineral species are found as micro-crystals
in the miarolitic cavities of the Cuillin granites.
Two examples of these minerals, including the uncommon silicate, clinohumite, are illustrated.

The other mineral, zircon, though common enough worldwide, is not found in the United Kingdom
as collector grade specimens.

The micro-crystals found in the Cuillin Hills area are nevertheless interesting and will appeal to micromount collectors. Associated minerals include humite, allanite, spinel, gadolinite and titanite.

Other species found on the island - and of much rarer occurence on a world scale - include ludwigite, harkerite and monticellite.

Their occurence on Skye is related to contact metamorphism - where the Tertiary igneous rocks of the Cuillins contact the Durness Limestone of Cambrian age.

CLINOHUMITE
Torrin area, Cuillin Hills, Isle of Skye.
Pale yellow, twinned crystals to 2mms.

ZIRCON - Cuillin Hills, Isle of Skye.
A 2mm crystal with a pyramidal termination.

ZIRCON - Luib, Cuillin Hills, Isle of Skye.
Gemmy 2mm crystal with a pyramidal termination.