Arkley, S. L. B., Browne, M. A. E., Albornoz-Parra, L. J. and Barron, H. F. 2011. East Dumbartonshire Geodiversity Audit. British Geological Survey Open Report, OR/09/19. 265pp.
EDC 27: East Mugdock Quarry, by Mugdock Reservoir
Grid reference:
Site type: Artificial quarry works
Site ownership: Not known
Current use: Recreation
Field surveyor: Sarah Arkley & Mike Browne
Current geological designations: None
Date visited: 2nd April 2009
Site map
Summary description
Disused sandstone and microgabbro quarry, may have been formerly used for building stone and roadstone.
The intrusion is part of the Milngavie Sills complex intruding here into sandstones belonging to the Lawmuir Formation.
There are several quarries in the vicinity, although most are only in sandstone, just the one displays the intrusion. This quarry reveals sandstone in the lower part (approx 6 m) and the microgabbro sill in the upper part (approx 4 m). The sandstone is fairly massive, medium-grained and pale-coloured. The microgabbro, in contrast, is dark-coloured and displays good sub-vertical columnar jointing.
A path over-looking the reservoir, to the south of the quarry, has been improved by man. The hillside adjacent to the path has been beautifully chiselled, the tool-marks left by quarrymen are still very clear. The exposure through sandstone here displays a good example of contorted (convolute) cross bedding.
EDC 27: Stratigraphy and rock types
Age: Carboniferous Formation: Lawmuir Formation
Rock type: Sedimentary Rock Cycles of the Strathclyde Group Type.
Age: Carboniferous to Early Permian
Formation: Milngavie Sills, Western Midland Valley Westphalian to Early Permian Sills
Rock type: Basalt and microgabbro
Assessment of site value
Access and safety
Aspect/Description
Road access and parking Parking is available for a couple of cars at the northeastern tip of the reservoir in a layby or a large number of cars can be parked at Drumclog Moor car park, at the edge of Mugdock Country Park.
Safety of access Care should be taken along the road, then a footbridge leads from the road across the reservoir to a network of paths through woods on the eastern side of Mugdock Reservoir
Safety of exposure Care should be taken as in all quarries and an assessment made of each face before approaching. The quarry which displays the overlying sill has a bench half way up which can be easily accessed but care should be taken not to step back!
Permission to visit No permission sought as part of public park
Current condition Two of the four quarries are almost completely overgrown. The other two are in good condition although some of the sandstone faces are a pretty mossy obscuring any structures.
Current conflicting activities None
Restricting conditions None known
Nature of exposure Sub vertical quarry faces
Culture, heritage & economic
Historic, archaeological & literary associations None known. Rating: 0.
Aesthetic landscape Pleasant with scarp features. Rating: 5.
History of earth sciences None known. Rating: 0.
Economic geology Former sandstone and microgabbro quarry used in the walls and 3 buildings around the reservoir and possibly for the reservoir itself. Rating: 3
EDC 27: Geoscientific merit
Total Geoscientific merit score 45
Current site value
Community. Rating: 10
Education. Rating: 6.
Fragility and potential use of the site
Fragility Geohazard, Natural Overgrowing
Potential use Research, Higher/Further Education, School, On-site Interpretation, On- site Geotrail, Multidisciplinary
Geodiversity value
The main value of this site is the number of different features it exposes. Not only of the rocks and their structures but tool-marks of this quality are rare in East Dunbartonshire, and the sandstone was likely used for constructing local buildings connected with the reservoir. Rating: 7