Monday 20 June 2011

Camas Malag and Elgol

We had a smashing sunny day for this trip. On the B8083 down from Broadford we made the first stop at the side of Loch Cill Chriosd.

 Beinn na Caillich in the Red Hills; a tertiary granite intrusion with a rounded summit and attired in pink scree. Apparently these hills are rounded because the mica and feldspar in granite are readily degraded into clay minerals.



Beinn Dearg (Red Mountain) (ditto)



And then on to Camas Malag, near Torrin

The Torrin Skye marble quarry. The marble is formed from the metaphorphosis of Durness limestone under the influence of heat and fluids from a granite intrusion. Much of the marble is ground up for use in agriculture and construction. Notice the Cuillin Hills (Black Cuillin) in the background to the west.


     Left to right - Beinn na Cro and Beinn Dearg?



                                               Stuff at Camas Malag, on the shore of Loch Slappin















Looking north west over the top of Loch Slappin to the Black Cuillin, a series of igneous intrusions that form the base of an eroded volcano which had spewed forth basalt lava millions of years ago. Note that, unlike the Red Cuillin, the tops are not rounded.




                                                          Elgol, on the shore of Loch Scavaig

A sandstone outcrop






                      Looking north to the south end of the Black Cuillin