Barron, H F, Gillespie, M R and Merritt, J W 2011. Geodiversity of the Cairngorms National Park. British Geological Survey Open Report, OR/10/019
A PDF of this report is available from the NORA, the NERC archive
Site no.: B19
Site name: Cairn Leuchan to Pannanaich Hill
Grid reference:
Locality: ~5 km SE of Ballater
GCR Status: Proposed
GCR No.: 0
Type: Natural exposures
Description: Scattered crags and small exposures on the upper slopes of Cairn Leuchan. The GCR volume 'Dalradian rocks of Scotland' (Stephenson et al., 2010) contains a full description of the site.
Justification: The site encompasses rocks that have made a major contribution to the understanding of conditions of high-grade regional metamorphism, both in the Grampian Terrane and globally. Most notably: (i) it lies within the area where Barrow established the concept of metamorphic zones and index minerals; (ii) it lies close to the trace of the kyanite-andalusite isograd, which effectively defines the boundary between the Barrovian and Buchan styles of metamorphism in the Grampian Highlands; (iii) the temperature (~820 °C) and pressure (>8 kbar) during peak metamorphic conditions are the most extreme so far recorded in the Scottish Dalradian.