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.: B34
Site name: Loch Kander
Grid reference:
Locality: Glen Callater upstream of Loch Callater, and Coire Loch Kander
GCR Status: Proposed
GCR No.: 3101
Type: Natural exposures
Description: At Allt an Loch, bedded barite-quartz rock (4.5 m thick in a drill intersection) can be followed for 0.7 km in a layer of graphitic schist. A 15 m thick band of barian quartzite in Coire Loch Kander displays a mineralogy unique to Britain, including armenite, hyalophane (barium feldspar), barite, salitic pyroxene and tremolite-actinolite (as well as common sphalerite, galena and iron sulphide minerals).
Justification: This locality is the northwestern-most expression (and the only occurrence in the CNP) of the stratabound barite mineralisation (of sedimentary exhalative type) which is mined commercially at Foss Mine near Aberfeldy. The assemblage of barium-rich minerals in Coire Loch Kander is unique to Britain