Whitbread, K., Ellen, R., Callaghan, E., Gordon, J. E. and Arkley, S. 2015. East Lothian Geodiversity Audit. British Geological Survey Open Report, OR/14/063. 192pp.
ELC_9: Kippielaw Scarp
Site information
Location and summary description:
Kippielaw Scarp is situated 1.5 km south-west of the village of East Linton and approximately 800 metres to the north of Traprain Law. The outcrop at Kippielaw Farm is a basaltic lava flow of “Dunsapie” type basalt as described by MacGregor (1928). The Dunsapie basalt type is a macroporphyritic basalt composed of plagioclase, olivine and clinopyroxene phenocrysts, and forms part of the Garleton Hills Volcanic Formation.
National Grid reference:
Mid-point:
Site type: Natural section; Natural exposure; Artificial quarry works
Site ownership: Traprain Farm
Current use: Agricultural land
Field surveyors: Rachael Ellen and Eileen Callaghan
Current geological designations: none
Date visited: 10th June 2014
Other designations: Traprain Grasslands Local Biodiversity Site
Site map
Site description
Background
The Kippielaw Scarp is situated just to the south-east of Kippielaw Farm. The scarp is composed of the ‘Dunsapie’ type basalt, which is exposed as both a natural section and within an old quarry. The basalt belongs to the Garleton Hills Volcanic Formation. Kippielaw Scarp has good views of the quarried north face of Traprain Law
Volcanic rocks
The basalt outcrop is approximately 6 metres high, exposed within an old quarry
Access and additional information
Access and parking is gained by asking permission of the residents of Kippielaw Farmhouse and adjoining dwellings. The outcrop is easily accessible except in the summer months where the area is very overgrown with vegetation and there is no clear path. In front of the quarry lies uneven ground (loose rock material and metal covered by grass) and extensive gorse bushes block access to a lot of good faces. This outcrop is mentioned as an excursion within the Lothian Geology guide.
Stratigraphy and rock types
Age: Carboniferous
Formation: Garleton Hills Volcanic Formation
Rock type: Plagioclase-olivine-clinopyroxene basalt (Dunsapie Basalt)
Assessment of site: access and safety
Road access and parking Access is by the minor road from Traprain Farm heading west to Kippielaw Farmhouse. There is a parking bay opposite Kippielaw Farm which is now comprised of the farmhouse and two other dwellings, and the parking bay belongs to one of the dwellings within the Kippielaw Farm. Access to the site is through the courtyard and a gate belonging to Kippielaw Farm – the actual field that the site is located belongs to Traprain Farm. There is a path which leads to the outcrop but this is very overgrown in the summer.
Safety of access Access to the site is straightforward but the underlying terrain is uneven as the site has become overgrown.
Safety of exposure Care should be taken and an assessment made of the face before approaching. The face appears quite stable.
Access Access via farm track and agricultural land
Current condition Fresh faces of basalt are accessible through heavily vegetated and gorse bush entrance.
Current conflicting activities None
Restricting conditions Overgrown vegetation
Nature of exposure Outcrop forms part of an escarpment and old quarry.
Assessment of site: culture, heritage & economic value
Historic, archaeological & literary associations No known association
Aesthetic landscape Good view of the north facing side of Traprain Law and quarry
History of earth sciences No known association
Economic geology Unknown what the old quarry was used for.
Assessment of site: geoscientific merit
| Rarity | Quality | Literature/collections | Primary interest | |
| Lithostratigraphy | ||||
| Sedimentology | ||||
| Igneous/mineral/metamorphic geology | Local | Poor | X | |
| Structural geology | ||||
| Palaeontology | ||||
| Geomorphology |
Site geoscientific value
The site comprises an exposure of ‘Dunsapie’ type basalt, a plagioclase-olivine-clinopyroxene- macroporphyritic basalt, allowing a study of the petrology and mineralogy, and an interpretation of the lavas erupting during the Carboniferous in the local area.
Kippielaw provides a poor example of a Carboniferous basalt lava flow with local significance.
Assessment of site: current site value
Community The site is not well known or visited often apart from the local farmer or residents.
Education The site represents clean faces of which to examine the mineralogy of the ‘Dunsapie’ type basalt. This site may be a good locality for educational fieldwork related to the volcanism related to the Carboniferous in Scotland, but similar basalts are exposed at North Berwick Shore.
Assessment of site: fragility and potential use of the site
Fragility Natural overgrowth and erosion and weathering of feature.
Potential use School education, higher/further education
Geodiversity summary
The site exposes clean faces of ‘Dunsapie’ type basalt, a plagioclase-olivine-clinopyroxene basalt belonging to the Garleton Hills Volcanic Formation. Despite its clean face, access is gained by traversing over heavily vegetated and uneven ground, and the face is partially obscured by gorse vegetation. The site has good views across to Traprain Law.