North West Highlands Geopark (2016) North West Highlands Geopark Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan 2013–2016
Additional notes: These web pages are sourced from the PDF North West Highlands Geopark Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan 2013–2016
NWHG Ref. 045 — Cnoc an Leathaid Bhuidhe
Location, grid reference
The site is located about 1 km due west from Loch Awe, Grid Ref.
GCR site reference, block, volume and notified feature of SSSI?
GCR Ref. 1226, Caledonian Igneous Block, Vol. 17. Confirmed GCR site, not SSSI notified.
Description and geological significance
The quality of exposure at this locality is poor. Nonetheless, the site is important because it contains a sill of Canisp Porphry which occurs close to, but not above, the Sole Thrust, thus suggesting that Canisp Porphry magmatism preceded movements on the Sole Thrust. Canisp Porphry is therefore only found in the Foreland rocks to the west of the main Moine Thrust Belt, including the Sole Thrust.
Accessibility
The site is located within rough and undulating terrain requiring a 2 km walk westwards from the A 837 which runs along the eastern side of Loch Awe. There is no access for all abilities.
Conservation
Low conservation requirement due to the scale and location of the site.
Visibility and “clarity”
The actual site cannot be seen from the A 837 and visibility is poor once the actual exposure is reached.
Interpretation and interpretation potential
There is very limited potential for interpretation as the feature is of specialised interest only to students and researchers.
Key references
PARSONS, I. 1999. Late Ordovician to mid-Silutian alkaline intrusions of the North-west Highlands of Scotland. In Stephenson, D., Bevins, R. E., Milward, D., Highton, A. J., Parsons, I., Stone, P. & Wadsworth, W. J. (eds) Caledonian Igneous rocks of Great Britain. Geological Conservation Review Series, 17, Chapman & Hall, 345–393. (site description page 384).