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.: B31
Site name: Lecht Mine
Grid reference:
Locality: c. 7 km SE of Tomintoul
GCR Status: Confirmed
GCR No.: 2427
Type: Artificial mine workings
Description: Former mine workings from which iron (1730- 1737) and manganese (1841 to 1846) were extracted. The mine employed over 60 men and boys at its peak, however lack of investment in a railway from Tomintoul prevented the mine re- opening in the 1860's to supply iron to ironworks in England. The ore is a seepage-bog type deposit of manganiferous ironstone. The main orebody is hosted in an intrusion-breccia pipe which acted as a channel-way for iron- and manganese-rich solutions formed by weathering of local Dalradian strata. The GCR volume 'Mineralogy of Scotland' (Smith and Livingstone, in prep) contains a full description of the site.
Justification: The largest manganese mine ever worked in Scotland, possibly with substantial reserves of Fe and Mn ore remaining. The ore is an excellent example of a large bog iron ore deposit, and is unique in Britain. The ore contains relatively common iron- and manganese oxide and oxyhydroxide minerals, and a range of unusual minerals including complex Zn-Mn oxides and Li-Mn oxides. The Tomintoul Museum holds leaflets about the mine, and there is a small interpretive display within the mine building, but no machinery remains.