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’Devil’s Slide’ - Lundy Island’s most famous rock climb goes up the inclined slab of granite; the climb is approx. 400ft (120m). On this day the wind was near hurricane force, and the waves were enormous - so unsurprisingly we didn’t climb it ! (Author: Mike Wood)
’Devil’s Slide’
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’Glen Caladale’, Loch Eynort, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
The stilbite locality (and the laumontite locality) is in the huge boulders on the wave-cut platform to the right of the big cave - which is approx. 25m high ! The beach to the left of the cave is surprisingly devoid of minerals.
In the distance (looking south) can be seen the distinctive sea-stack (named Stac an Tuill) at the north end of Sgurr nam Boc / Sgurr an Duine localities.
Photo taken April 2010 (Author: Mike Wood)
’Glen Caladale’, Loch
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A ’stalkers’ path makes life easier on the steeper ground. These paths were made over a hundred years ago by estate workers specifically to allow easier access into the mountains, for the purpose of deer stalking, on the Laird’s estate (land). (Author: Mike Wood)
A ’stalkers’ path make
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A large deer tick on the prowl. This one was about 4mm long (body) and the red part on it’s abdomen indicates that it is mature and has fed on some thing. Mostly they are a bit smaller and can be very hard to spot when they are <1mm. They hang around in long vegetation (grass, heather, bracken, trees) and wait for prey to walk past. They have caused serious infection in some parts of the UK in the form of Lyme Disease. I’ve been getting bit by these suckers for twenty years or more but I’m still ok (I think). Tick season - probably april to october. (Author: Mike Wood)
A large deer tick on the prowl. Th
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A little over an hour later I was back in the sunshine on the other side of the valley. The mountain in the distance is Ben Macdui, which I traversed the day before in a fruitless search for phenakite. (Author: Mike Wood)
A little over an hour later I was
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A stream in the woods, somewhere on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.
The stream/creek/small river I spent three hours lying face down in looking for silver nuggets... (Author: Mike Wood)
A stream in the woods, somewhere o
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A typical pegmatite vein in the granite of Ben a’ Bhuird, this one is a bit larger than is usual for the locality, but was lacking in euhedral crystals.
The outcrop is approximately 10m high. (Author: Mike Wood)
A typical pegmatite vein in the gr
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Adder approx. two feet long (60cm). They can grow to three feet long (90cm). They are poisonous but very rarely bite - usually slither away and vanish when approached. Photo taken in July. (Author: Mike Wood)
Adder approx. two feet long (60cm)
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Allt Preshal Beg, Minginish, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Looking down into the 500’ deep chasm of this little-known ’Heddle’ locality. (~160m deep). ’Allt’ means ’stream’ in Gaelic.
Photo taken 2006 (Author: Mike Wood)
Allt Preshal Beg, Minginish, Isle
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An interesting looking granite ’tor’, as these rock formations are known; though the term is more usually known in the south-west of England. (Author: Mike Wood)
An interesting looking granite &rs
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Analcime
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
52 mm x 32 mm x 32 mm
Analcime crystals on matrix (52mm x 32mm x 32mm). Self-collected 1994 from Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland. (Author: Mike Wood)
Analcime
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye,
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Analcime
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Crystal 48 mm wide
Crystal 48mm wide on thin piece of matrix (chabazite+thomsonite). Self-collected 2002 from Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland. (Author: Mike Wood)
Analcime
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye
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Analcime + chabazite + stilbite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Crystals to 13 mm
Analcime crystals to 13mm on matrix with pink chabazite and stilbite. Self-collected 1997 from Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland. (Author: Mike Wood)
Analcime + chabazite + stilbite
Mo
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Analcime + chabazite. A large analcime crystal 34mm wide with smaller grey analcimes, and white chabazite crystals to 10mm. Also there are a few small stilbites and some brownish calcite. Specimen measures 10cm x 7cm x 4cm high. Self-collected 2002 from Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland. (Author: Mike Wood)
Analcime + chabazite. A large anal
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Analcime + laumontite + ’mesolite’
Inbhir a’ Gharraidh, Duirinish peninsula, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Specimen 9 cm x 5 cm high x 6 cm deep
Analcime crystals to 13 mm
Analcime crystals to 13mm + laumontite + ’mesolite’. Specimen is 9cm x 5cm high x 6cm deep. The analcime crystals are unusually clear for their size. Self-collected 1998 from a very remote locality on the Duirinish peninsula, Isle of Skye, named Inbhir a’ Gharraidh on the map. (Author: Mike Wood)
Analcime + laumontite + ’mes
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Analcime + stilbite + thomsonite + calcite
Oisgill Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Specimen 14 cm x 9 cm.
Large analcime crystal is 24 mm wide
Analcime + stilbite + thomsonite + orange calcite. The large analcime crystal is 24mm wide. The specimen is 14cm x 9cm. Self-collected 1996 from Oisgill Bay, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Analcime + stilbite + thomsonite +
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Analcime + stilbite + thomsonite, laumontite + chabazite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Specimen 16 cm x 8 cm x 8 cm
Crystals to 20 mm
Analcime crystals to 20mm on matrix with stilbite, thomsonite, laumontite and chabazite. Specimen 16cm x 8cm x 8cm; self-collected 2003 from Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland. (Author: Mike Wood)
Analcime + stilbite + thomsonite,
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And the scenery is nice. These Scots Pine trees (Caledonian Pines) are one of my favourite tree species. (Author: Mike Wood)
And the scenery is nice. These Sco
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Another adder, more green than brown, maybe recently discarded it’s skin as it looks very ’fresh’ and glossy. This one was sunning itself just next to the path - my boot missed it by <5cm ! Didn’t see it until I almost stood on it; if I had it might well have bitten me. However, it stayed put so I took some photo’s, from about 40cm away ! Good snake.
Photo taken in May. (Author: Mike Wood)
Another adder, more green than bro
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Another photo taken from ~ 4,000m on Aiguille Verte, showing the top of Aiguille du Moine and in the distance Mont-Blanc herself (4808m).
Photo taken August 1992 - scanned from slide. (Author: Mike Wood)
Another photo taken from ~ 4,000m
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Apophyllite + ’gyrolite’. A large and lustrous apophyllite crystal with a distinct brown coloured centre on a bed of altered looking gyrolite. Crystal measures 27mm wide. Self-collected 2009 from near to Ollisdal Geo, Duirinish, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Apophyllite + ’gyrolite&rsqu
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Apophyllite + ’gyrolite’. Large chunky apophyllite crystals with corner modifications, nice and lustrous. The big crystal measures 23mm x 19mm x 17mm. The gyrolite looks somewhat altered - it might be something else now. Specimen measures 53mm wide x 30mm x 25mm. Self-collected 2009 from near to Ollisdal Geo, Duirinish, Isle of Skye. (Another remote locality in this area of Skye). (Author: Mike Wood)
Apophyllite + ’gyrolite&rsqu
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Apophyllite + Chabazite. This is the same specimen as Skye Minerals 091 seen previously, but after trimming, so this view is from the other side. Happily the trimming worked well ! The apophyllite crystal group is 22mm wide and 20mm long, on this side. Self-collected 2004 from Creag na Cuail, Duirinish, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Apophyllite + Chabazite. This is t
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Apophyllite + Quartz
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Vug is approx. 15cm x 10cm
Pinacoidal terminated apophyllite crystals to approx. 13mm sprinkled on a layer of blueish quartz. A few small stilbite crystals can also be seen. This material is identical to specimens I have seen in the Heddle Collection in the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.
I have never bothered to extract it as it is in the side of a very large boulder consisting of extremely hard basalt.
Not collected 2006. Still there 2013. (Author: Mike Wood)
Apophyllite + Quartz
Sgurr nam Boc
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Apophyllite + stilbite + thomsonite. Lustrous transparent apophyllite crystals, with curved pinacoidal terminations, on a bed of thomsonite with associated small stilbites. Specimen measures 42mm x 30mm x 20mm. Self-collected 2010 from Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland. (Author: Mike Wood)
Apophyllite + stilbite + thomsonit
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Apophyllite + Thomsonite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Crystals 17mm + 22mm
Same specimen as above. ’Nuff said. (Author: Mike Wood)
Apophyllite + Thomsonite
Moonen Ba
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Apophyllite + Thomsonite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Crystals 17mm + 22mm
Nice pair of larger apophyllite crystals from the same cavity, on a thin slice of basalt matrix, with white thomsonite. A feature of these apophyllites is the smaller thin crystals penetrating the larger ones; very interesting when magnified. Collected 2013. (Author: Mike Wood)
Apophyllite + Thomsonite
Moonen Ba
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Apophyllite + Thomsonite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
12mm crystals
Close-up of the above specimen. Difficult to photograph unless the crystals are in profile. The terminations show pyramidal modification, but none that were found had actual pyramidal terminations. However, the terminations are so clear and mirror-like, it looks like they are pyramidal, because of the optical effect within the crystal. (Author: Mike Wood)
Apophyllite + Thomsonite
Moonen Ba
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Apophyllite + Thomsonite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
9cm x 8cm x 5cm
Same specimen as above. (Author: Mike Wood)
Apophyllite + Thomsonite
Moonen Ba
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Apophyllite + Thomsonite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
9cm x 8cm x 5cm
Undamaged cluster of transparent apophyllite crystals, to about 12mm, with ’feathery’ white thomsonite. Most of the specimens came out small because the basalt rock here is very hard, and the cavity lining was very thin. Hours were spent chopping out rock from around the cavity but still ended up with small specimens. Collected 2013. (Author: Mike Wood)
Apophyllite + Thomsonite
Moonen Ba
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Apophyllite + thomsonite + chabazite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Apophyllite crystal 24 mm x 4 mm
Double terminated apophyllite crystal 24mm x 4mm on thomsonite and chabazite. Self-collected 1994 from Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Apophyllite + thomsonite + chabazi
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Apophyllite + thomsonite + chabazite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Apophyllite crystal 24 mm x 4 mm (Author: Mike Wood)
Apophyllite + thomsonite + chabazi
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At least the local seals were happy. Seemed a shame to disturb them by making a noise, so I didn’t.
There wasn’t much to collect anyway, and time is very limited at this locality because of the tide.
As the saying goes - ’time and tide wait for no-one’. (Author: Mike Wood)
At least the local seals were happ
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At least there is a good landrover track to follow for the first 5 miles ! (Not allowed to drive up it). (Author: Mike Wood)
At least there is a good landrover
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At the top of the ladders a nice path leads pleasantly but steeply up to the Courvercle Huts - new and old. The area to the left of the huts is lovely and grassy with boulders to bivouac under, and clear streams to drink from (and a lot cheaper than staying in the hut). also the views from around here are absolutely superb.
Photo scanned from slide. (Author: Mike Wood)
At the top of the ladders a nice p
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Back to the ’crystal cave’. I read about this in a climbing guide book. I spotted it from the top of Shelter Stone Crag - you can see it in this photo, dead centre but down a bit. I thought it would be worth a look! (Author: Mike Wood)
Back to the ’crystal cave&rs
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Back up on the plateau again, heading towards where my gear is stashed. I know it’s over there somewhere hidden in the rocks...
Seriously though if it had become foggy I might never have found it. Good job it was a nice day. (Author: Mike Wood)
Back up on the plateau again, head
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Beinn Mheadhoin (1182m) - pronounced as ’Ben Vane’ - was formerly well known as producing smoky quartz, in the 19th century! I have been over it a couple of times but failed to find anything worth carrying out, except for one single beryl crystal on my first visit in 1994. Photo taken looking East at the mountain, with it’s distinctive ’tors’, in July 2006. (Author: Mike Wood)
Beinn Mheadhoin (1182m) - pronounc
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Beinn Mheadhoin from the East. Photo taken June 2012, from Beinn a’ Chaorainn. (Author: Mike Wood)
Beinn Mheadhoin from the East. Pho
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Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
’The Great North Face’ - Sgor Chaonasaid, from the west. The precipice is approximately 400m high. (Author: Mike Wood)
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
&r
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Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
At the foot of the mountain the angle changes abruptly. Looking south towards the woods where I was attacked by ’deer flies’ last time I was here. There is a belt of lovely silver birch trees along the lower slopes of the mountain, mainly on the west side. (Author: Mike Wood)
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
At
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Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
Deerfly country (in September anyway). (Author: Mike Wood)
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
De
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Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
Higher up the mountain and the sun was trying to come out. Unfortunately the mist won and visibility was much impaired, which makes it difficult to explore very steep ground. (Author: Mike Wood)
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
Hi
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Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
I spotted this herd of red deer, about eighty strong, running up the hill about 300m away. That was pretty cool. That reminds me - the whole area is full of deer ticks!! (Author: Mike Wood)
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
I
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Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
I came across this section of pegmatite vein, which wasn’t exotic, merely containing pink microcline and quartz, and not showing any euhedral crystals. But it showed I was getting warmer.. (Author: Mike Wood)
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
I
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Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
I walked from the tent towards the mountain across the heathery moorland and bog. There was a farmer’s quad bike track to follow in places which made things easier. (Author: Mike Wood)
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
I
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Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
Looking down through the silver birch trees to the valley floor; the stream course clearly marked by the grasses, between the extensive dark brown heather. (Author: Mike Wood)
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
Lo
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Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
Part of Ben Loyal, from the west, in the mist. (Author: Mike Wood)
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
Pa
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Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
Part of Ben loyal, from the west. (Author: Mike Wood)
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
Pa
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Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
The next day it was really sunny and I drove round to the east side of the mountain, which looks like this. The slopes are much more gentle but there is hardly any bare rock. The photo was taken from the top of Cnoc nan Cuilean (557m) which apparently is a distinctly different part of the syenite intrusion, containing more mafic minerals and elevated REE’s. I didn’t see anything worth jumping up and down about. Oh except perhaps an otter in the burn (stream) that I followed to get there. (Author: Mike Wood)
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
Th
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Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
The mist cleared briefly and afforded a view looking west towards my wild campsite, just the other side of the small loch (lake) which is on the nearside of the sea-inlet, which is called the ’Kyle of Tongue’. (Author: Mike Wood)
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
Th
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Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
There are some rather nice though modest waterfalls. The water tastes really good and pure. (Author: Mike Wood)
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
Th
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Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
View looking towards the North Pole. The lake is the big lake on the east side of Ben Loyal, known as Loch Loyal. You can see the north coast in the distance. (Author: Mike Wood)
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
Vi
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Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
View looking south into the wilderness that is the far north of Scotland. (Author: Mike Wood)
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
Vi
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Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
View of the mountain from the west side, from where I was camping a few miles away. (Author: Mike Wood)
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
Vi
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Ben Macdui without the snow. A green and pleasant land. (Author: Mike Wood)
Ben Macdui without the snow. A gre
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Beryl
Beinn Mheadhoin, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK
42mm x15mm
This turbid greenish beryl crystal (repaired) was found in a very localised patch of pegmatite. It was nestled in a patch of quartz and was about 4" long (10cm) but broke apart badly upon extraction. Found 1994. (Author: Mike Wood)
Beryl
Beinn Mheadhoin, Cairngorm M
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Beryl
Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngorms, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK
20mm x 8mm x 6mm
Terminated gemmy greenish/yellowish beryl crystal. (Author: Mike Wood)
Beryl
Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngo
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Beryl
Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK
14mm x 8mm x 7mm
Same specimen as above showing the termination in more detail. I did have one of these pale yellow beryls cut one time, after I first came across them in the mid 1990’s. The gems were small but rather beautiful, and not far off a true heliodor for colour. Unfortunately the one I kept I lost during a house move ten years ago -_-
I think I’ve got a slide photo of it somewhere, I’ll try to find it and scan it. (Author: Mike Wood)
Beryl
Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngo
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Beryl
Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK
20mm x 8mm x7mm
Same specimen as above showing the flat, slightly etched termination. (Author: Mike Wood)
Beryl
Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngo
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Beryl
Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK
20mm x 8mm x7mm
Transparent pale green beryl crystal, heavily striated along it’s length with a slightly etched termination. From a small pocket in a thin pegmatite vein in granite. (Author: Mike Wood)
Beryl
Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngo
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Beryl
Ben Macdui, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK
14mm x 8mm x 7mm
Another specimen from the same pocket, very similar in habit to the first specimen, but a more pale yellow hue. (Author: Mike Wood)
Beryl
Ben Macdui, Cairngorm Mounta
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Beryl (var aquamarine)
Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK
22mm x 14mm x 10mm
A single heavily etched pale green crystal from the same locality as the above smoky quartz specimens. The beryls are very few and far between and nearly always very etched in appearance. Found 2002 on a seperate occasion. (Author: Mike Wood)
Beryl (var aquamarine)
Ben a&rsquo
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Beryl (var aquamarine)
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
17mm x 6mm x 4mm
Close-up of the aquamarine crystal, only the second one I have found on Arran, after 19 years of going there. They are rare ! (Author: Mike Wood)
Beryl (var aquamarine)
Isle of Arr
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Beryl (var aquamarine)
Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK
27mm x 4mm crystal
Undamaged terminated crystal on quartz/feldspar pegmatitic matrix - repaired at the base ! (After getting it home in one piece) -_- (Author: Mike Wood)
Beryl (var aquamarine)
Lundy Islan
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Beryl (var aquamarine)
Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK
10mm x 10mm x 8mm
Another pale blue/green aquamarine crystal, with very different morphology. Quite interesting considering that all three crystals in this post came from the same cavity ! (Author: Mike Wood)
Beryl (var aquamarine)
Lundy Islan
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Beryl (var aquamarine)
Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK
12mm long x 4mm x 3mm
Very pale colour blue/green, virtually flawless, with complex termination. (Author: Mike Wood)
Beryl (var aquamarine)
Lundy Islan
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Beryl (var aquamarine) and smoky quartz
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
Aquamarine crystal 17mm x 6mm x 4mm
These crystals all came from the same mud-filled miarolitic cavity, which was not quite big enough to get my hand in, and over 30cm deep. The smoky quartz terminations were all damaged. The smoky on the right is 46mm tall. Self-collected. (Author: Mike Wood)
Beryl (var aquamarine) and smoky q
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Beryl + Feldspar (rock)
Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK
FOV approx 3cm x 2cm
Close-up of above specimen. I think the little black specks are actually smoky quartz. (Author: Mike Wood)
Beryl + Feldspar (rock)
Ben a&rsqu
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Beryl + Feldspar (rock)
Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK
8cm x 6cm x 4cm
I found a few lumps of this unusual rock in one place, just lying on the ground. It looks like granite but there is almost no quartz in it - comprising an equigranular mass of greenish beryl and pink feldspar (don’t know if the feldspar is microcline or orthoclase). Beryl crystals were found in the vicinity, from thin pegmatite veins. (Author: Mike Wood)
Beryl + Feldspar (rock)
Ben a&rsqu
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Beryl + Microcline + Smoky Quartz + Muscovite
Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK
10cm x 7cm x 3cm
Close-up of the above specimen. The beryl crystal reflecting the light is 10mm long. (Author: Mike Wood)
Beryl + Microcline + Smoky Quartz
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Beryl + Microcline + Smoky Quartz + Muscovite
Ben a’ Bhuird, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK
10cm x 7cm x 3cm
Random lump of pegmatite found on it’s own on the ground. The beryl crystals are a strong yellow colour but are opaque. (Author: Mike Wood)
Beryl + Microcline + Smoky Quartz
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Biod a’ Mhurain, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Looking back down at where I had been earlier. Now comes the 10km hike back to the car.. (Author: Mike Wood)
Biod a’ Mhurain, Duirinish,
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Biod a’ Mhurain, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland
’The Land That Time Forgot’
Dramatic scenery on the way to check out the calcite locality, where in the past I have collected some very nice rhombohedral crystals. (Author: Mike Wood)
Biod a’ Mhurain, Duirinish,
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Both mineral display cabinets, all specimens from Skye and Arran.
As before, lighting is six (2W) (4100K) LED strips; supplied by Paul Lowe.
Each cabinet is 80cm across and 50cm high. (Author: Mike Wood)
Both mineral display cabinets, all
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Braeriach mountain on the other side of the Lairig Ghru (deep valley) which was filled with cloud. I had to descend 1000ft into the mist and up the far side, then do the same on the way back. (Author: Mike Wood)
Braeriach mountain on the other si
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But about 2-300m below the ’crystal cave’ it started snowing, much to our disgust. The clouds were continuing to become lower - it didn’t look good. (Author: Mike Wood)
But about 2-300m below the ’
-
But it was worth the effort!
Self-taken photo of me in the crystal cave, holding smoky quartz crystals..
More to follow... (Author: Mike Wood)
But it was worth the effort!
Self-
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But the night before that I slept here, on the grassy patch by the boulder. This was the next morning at 6am. Loch Avon reflecting perfectly the surrounding mountains. (Author: Mike Wood)
But the night before that I slept
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Calcite
Biod a’ Mhurain, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Crystalgroups approx 6cm across
Calcite crystals in-situ, about 6m above the ground and out of reach! (Author: Mike Wood)
Calcite
Biod a’ Mhurain, Dui
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Calcite
Sgurr nan Cearcall, nr Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
63mm x 40mm x 20mm deep
Calcite crystals in ’nailhead’ habit, found on the sides of a large, otherwise empty cavity in a huge boulder. The only calcite I recall seeing at this locality. The glossy sheen is natural (etching from sea-water?).
Self-collected 2011 (Author: Mike Wood)
Calcite
Sgurr nan Cearcall, nr Gle
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Calcite + analcime. A gorgeous brown group of slightly curved rhombohedral calcites, in a vug lined with small (2mm) analcime crystals. The calcites are very lustrous, and rather difficult to photograph ! Vug measures 36mm high x 25mm wide. Self-collected 1999 from Talisker Bay, Minginish, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Calcite + analcime. A gorgeous bro
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Calcite + chabazite + analcime
Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Calcite crystals 25 mm
Honey-brown spike of rhombohedral calcite crystals 25mm long stands in a vug (35mm x 20mm) lined with small twinned pinkish chabazite crystals and a single white analcime crystal (3mm). Self-collected 1992 from Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Calcite + chabazite + analcime
Tal
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Calcite + chabazite. A nice ’floater’ specimen of transparent yellowish calcite with a matt surface, on lustrous chabazites. Specimen is 23mm high x 20mm x 17mm. Self-collected 2009 from Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Calcite + chabazite. A nice &rsquo
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Calcite + chabazite. A not-so-good photo showing a nice yellowish transparent calcite rhomb to 15mm on edge, on a bed of small chabazite crystals. Specimen is 50mm x 25mm x 22mm. Self-collected 1999 from Moonen Bay, Duirinish, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Calcite + chabazite. A not-so-good
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Calcite + stilbite
Biod a’ Mhurain, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
The plate measures 22 cm x 13 cm
Very large plate covered on both sides with simple calcite rhombs to 5mm, on a layer of micro stilbite crystals (which are much more exposed on the back of the specimen). Several groups of large pale yellow interpenetrant calcite rhombs are perched aesthetically on the specimen. The plate measures 22cm x 13cm. Self-collected, in the company of Dave Green, 1997 from Biod a’ Mhurain, Duirinish, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Calcite + stilbite
Biod a’ M
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Calcite + stilbite
Biod a’ Mhurain, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
The large calcites 29 mm on edge
A beautiful specimen of transparent, slightly etched rhombohedral calcite with some modifications to the corners and edges. The large calcites (to 29mm on edge) rest on a bed of micro stilbite crystals and a few simple calcite rhombs. This is the first specimen I found at this locality; it was exposed to the atmosphere and colourless. The other calcites found within the cavity have a yellowish hue. Self-collected 1996 from Biod a’ Mhurain, Duirinish, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Calcite + stilbite
Biod a’ M
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Calcite + stilbite
Biod a’ Mhurain, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Specimen is 75 mm x 45 mm
Calcite crystal 20mm wide
An interpenetrant rhombohedral calcite crystal 20mm wide is perched aesthetically on a bed of simple calcite rhombs (to 4mm), on a thin bed of micro stilbite crystals. Specimen is 75 mm x 45 mm. Self-collected 1997 from Biod a’ Mhurain, Duirinish, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Calcite + stilbite
Biod a’ M
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Calcite + stilbite
Biod a’ Mhurain, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Calcite crystal 33 mm
A large interpenetrant rhombohedral twinned calcite crystal 33mm wide is perched aesthetically on a bed of smaller simple calcite rhombs, which are in turn deposited on a thin layer (1mm) of tiny stilbites. The calcites are mostly dull with surface etching or coating but are transparent otherwise. Found at a very remote locality on the Duirinish peninsular. This specimen and the next three specimen photo’s all came from the same large vein cavity, in basalt lava. Self-collected 1997 from Biod a’ Mhurain, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland. (Author: Mike Wood)
Calcite + stilbite
Biod a’ M
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Calcite + stilbite
Camas na h-Uamha (Bay of Caves), Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Specimen is 75 mm wide and 55 mm high.
This specimen is from a different locality, though again it was in a vein cavity in basalt. There are THREE different forms of calcite here, though only two are represented on this specimen. The earlier scalenohedral calcites are coated with micro-crystallised stilbite, with simple later calcite rhombs on top; a rather beautiful combination. Specimen is 75mm wide and 55mm high. By the way, that calcite scalenohedron near the bottom left that sticks out leftwards - is stuck back on - in this case it was probably an unnecessary repair! Self-collected 1998 from Camas na h-Uamha (Bay of Caves), Duirinish, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Calcite + stilbite
Camas na h-Uamh
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Calcite + stilbite. An elongated scalenohedron of calcite 64mm long is coated with micro stilbites, with a few rhombohedral calcites aesthetically perched on the larger crystal. Self-collected 1999 from Camas na h-Uamha, Duirinish, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Calcite + stilbite. An elongated s
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Calcite + stilbite. Basically a rhombohedral habit of transparent calcite, but elongated, into thin crystals, on a bed of stilbite. Specimen measures 55mm wide x 40mm high x 30mm deep. Self-collected 1994 from Sgurr nam Boc, Minginish, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Calcite + stilbite. Basically a rh
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Calcite + stilbite. Nice yellowish rhombohedral calcite crystal to 15mm on the front edge, associated with small white stilbite crystals. Specimen is 37mm wide x 20mm high x 20mm deep. Self-collected 1992 from Sgurr an Duine, Minginish, Isle of Skye. ( Sgurr an Duine is the cliff/beach immediately north of Sgurr nam Boc.) (Author: Mike Wood)
Calcite + stilbite. Nice yellowish
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Calcite + stilbite. Same specimen as Skye Minerals 094 seen previously, from a slightly different angle. Specimen is 58mm high and 80mm wide from this angle. Self-collected 1998 from Camas na h-Uamha, Duirinish, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Calcite + stilbite. Same specimen
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Calcite + stilbite. The only decent specimen showing the third habit of calcite at this locality. A ’butterfly’ twinned and flattened scalenohedral crystal measuring 25mm x 19mm is partially coated with micro stilbites, as is the more common elongated scalenohedral ’dog-tooth’ habit of crystal. The later more simple rhombohedral calcites appear to have been deposited after the earlier forms af calcite were covered with the micro stilbite crystals. Specimen measures 80mm wide (not all shown in the photo) x 45mm high x 40mm deep. Self-collected 1998 from Camas na h-Uamha, Duirinish, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Calcite + stilbite. The only decen
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Calcite on basalt. Simple rhombs of transparent calcite to 11mm on edge rest on a bed of ’sugary’ looking calcite, which has a smooth surface. Specimen is 10cm x 8cm. Self-collected 1995 from Loch Bharcasaig, Duirinish, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Calcite on basalt. Simple rhombs o
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Carn Etchachan (1120m) and Shelter Stone Crag, at the head of Loch Avon in the Cairngorms. The cliff is about 800 feet high (~250m) and is popular for hard climbers, both in summer and in winter. (Author: Mike Wood)
Carn Etchachan (1120m) and Shelter
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Carrying my huge heavy rucksack full of camping stuff I eventually arrived on the verdant slope below the cave. I was sweaty and full of anticipation, but alas was to be rather disappointed..
Why was I carrying all my gear up to the cave? Because I was en-route back to base where my car was waiting. Not one of my better ideas, as it turned out.. (Author: Mike Wood)
Carrying my huge heavy rucksack fu
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Chabazite
Vug measures 60 mm x 45 mm
Chabazite crystals, the big one in the centre measures 14 mm x 12 mm
Moonen Bay, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Chabazite in vug in basalt. Very large with a fine pink/orange colour chabazite crystals. The big one in the centre measures 14mm x 12mm. Vug measures 60mm x 45mm. The chabazite crystal on the top edge has been stuck back on I’m afraid. Moonen Bay does produce some excellent large and coloured chabazites but they are very brittle and difficult to extract in one piece! Self-collected 1996 from Moonen Bay, Duirinish, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Chabazite
Vug measures 60 mm x 45
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Chabazite + ’mesolite’
Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Large plate 12 cm x 8 cm
Chabazite crystals to 8 mm
Large plate 12cm x 8cm covered with simple white chabazite crystals to 8mm, associated with ’mesolite’ needles. The specimen looks a bit dirty - I just gave it a quick rinse under the tap so’s not to wash away all the ’mesolite’. Self-collected 2002 from Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Chabazite + ’mesolite’
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Chabazite + analcime
Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
The vug measures 60 mm wide and 45mm high
Analcime crystals to 12 mm
Lovely pink twinned chabazite crystals with some analcime crystals (to 12mm). Very fresh crystals with a good degree of transparency. The vug measures 60mm wide and 45mm high. Dave MacCallum collected this in 2002, from Talisker Bay; and I exchanged it with him for a nice pink heulandite specimen from Sgurr nam Boc. (Author: Mike Wood)
Chabazite + analcime
Talisker Bay,
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Chabazite + analcime. A large specimen with white chabazite crystals to 10mm resting on small transparent analcime crystals. Specimen measures 14cm wide x 8cm high x 7cm deep. Self-collected 1997 from Sgurr nam Fiadh, Minginish, Isle of Skye, Scotland. (Another remote locality, 5km south of Talisker Bay). (Author: Mike Wood)
Chabazite + analcime. A large spec
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Chabazite + analcime. Fresh lustrous chabazite crystals to 7mm, of simple habit, scattered on a bed of transparent 1mm analcime crystals. Specimen measures 8cm x 6cm x 3cm high. From a remote locality on the south shore of Loch Bracadale. Self-collected 1994 from (600m east of Rubha nan Clach), Minginish, Isle of Skye, Scotland. (Author: Mike Wood)
Chabazite + analcime. Fresh lustro
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Chabazite + analcime. Very fresh pinkish transparent chabazites of a highly twinned nature (to 5mm) with a couple of small white analcime crystals. Vug measures 40mm x 25mm. Self-collected 1999 from Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland. (Author: Mike Wood)
Chabazite + analcime. Very fresh p
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Chabazite + phillipsite. A 6mm white chabazite crystal of simple habit rests in a vug lined with lustrous brown phillipsite crystals. Vug measures 25mm wide x 22mm high. Self-collected 1996 from Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland. (Author: Mike Wood)
Chabazite + phillipsite. A 6mm whi
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Chabazite + stilbite
Oisgill Bay, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Crystal of chabazite 3 cm wide
Very large and fresh twinned crystal of chabazite 3cm wide in a vug with small fresh ’cauliflower’ (ie flat-topped) stilbites. Self-collected 1996 from Oisgill Bay, Duirinish, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Chabazite + stilbite
Oisgill Bay,
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Chabazite + stilbite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
8 cm x 4 cm x 2 cm high
Fresh specimen measuring 8cm x 4cm x 2cm high. Simple clear and lustrous chabazite crystals to 14mm on edge, associated with lustrous flat-topped stilbites in curved aggregates, like cauliflower. Beneath is a thin crust made up of small stilbites, tiny quartz crystals and a little mordenite. Self-collected 1994 from Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Chabazite + stilbite
Sgurr nam Boc
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Chabazite + stilbite + mordenite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Specimen measures 8cm wide x 6cm high x 4cm deep
Chabazite crystals to 13 mm on edge
Simple chabazite crystals to 13mm on edge, lustrous but with a lot of internal crazing, sit next to a group of ’cauliflower’ stilbites, all on a bed of mordenite. ( Mordenite is generally a rare mineral but it does occur at Sgurr nam Boc, with other silica-rich zeolites and of course quartz. Specimen measures 8cm wide x 6cm high x 4cm deep. Self-collected 1996 from Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Chabazite + stilbite + mordenite
S
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Chabazite + stilbite. Very large chabazite crystals of simple habit, to 16mm on edge, on stilbite crystals. Whole specimen measures 55mm x 45mm x 40mm high. Self-collected 1994 from Sgurr nam Fiadh, Minginish, Isle of Skye, Scotland. (Author: Mike Wood)
Chabazite + stilbite. Very large c
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Chabazite on analcime
Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Specimen is 8 cm wide x 6 cm high x 5 cm deep
Chabazite crystals to 8 mm
Attractive combination of pinkish simple chabazite crystals to 8mm on translucent analcime crystals. Specimen is 8cm wide x 6cm high x 5cm deep. Self-collected 1990 from Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Chabazite on analcime
Talisker Bay
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Chabazite on basalt. Fresh lustrous chabazite crystals to 11mm on edge. Specimen measures 75mm wide x 37mm deep x 40mm high. Self-collected 1996 from Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland. (Author: Mike Wood)
Chabazite on basalt. Fresh lustrou
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Chabazite variety ’phacolite’ + analcime + ’mesolite’
Oisgill Bay, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Specimen is 12 cm long x 3 cm high x 5 cm deep
Chabazite crystals are up to 19 mm across
’Phacolite’ is an old name given to chabazites showing extreme twinning - these crystals are nearly circular! The crystals are up to 19mm across, and lie on a bed of very small grey (transparent) analcimes and some ’mesolite’ (could be natrolite as this mineral has been found here associated with analcime). Specimen is 12cm long x 3cm high x 5cm deep. Self-collected 1996 from Oisgill Bay, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Chabazite variety ’phacolite
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Chabazite. A nice plate of lustrous white chabazite crystals to 10mm. Specimen measures 8cm x 7cm. Self-collected 1993 from Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland. (Author: Mike Wood)
Chabazite. A nice plate of lustrou
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Cioch na h-Oighe (661m) viewed from Glen Sannox. Around the edge of Arran nearer sea-level the scenery is quite verdant and lush in the summer, but the summer months have added hazards. For example, this photo was taken in July, so it is quite likely there are millions of midges in the trees and undergrowth. They are everywhere if there is little wind and the weather is damp, even on the mountain tops. Sure, you can use DEET on yourself which stops ’em biting, but they still land on you briefly and they tickle. They don’t like strong sunlight, thankfully. They don’t like cold weather 12C or below. Midge season is usually mid-may to early october. (Author: Mike Wood)
Cioch na h-Oighe (661m) viewed fro
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Cliff-top above Oisgill Bay, Isle of Skye. March 2007.Tertiary basalt lava flows are easily seen in the 600’ (200m) vertical sea-cliff. The even bigger cliff-top in the middle distance is called Waterstein Head (nearly 1000’ high or 270m) and tucked in behind it is Moonen Bay. (Author: Mike Wood)
Cliff-top above Oisgill Bay, Isle
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Close-up of the pegmatite vein pictured above. The vein is approx. 2ft (60cm) thick. Only the inner part is truly pegmatitic; the outer two parts of the vein are composed of either fine-grained granite, or aplite rock. But free grown crystals of quartz for example are very rarely found in these veins. (Author: Mike Wood)
Close-up of the pegmatite vein pic
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Cowlesite
Oisgill Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Grey balls of cowlesite to <1mm on 25 mm x 10 mm gas pocket in the basalt
Cowlesite. A gas pocket in the basalt lava (25mm x 10mm) hosts an aggregate of grey balls of cowlesite (to <1mm). It looks very similar to the more common thomsonite but it forms much smaller balls; and tends to occur with other rarer zeolites such as levyne phillipsite, garronite. Self-collected in 1999 from Oisgill Bay, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Cowlesite
Oisgill Bay, Isle of Sky
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Deer Tick 4mm long
A large deer tick from Arran. The big ones are easy to see, but the small ones are not, and can be <0.5mm long. (Author: Mike Wood)
Deer Tick 4mm long
A large deer ti
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Destination reached, I was very sweaty and nearly exhausted, but relieved to get there. I did feel rather unfit at the time, but after a couple of days walking around I felt a lot better and my legs became springy again.
Photo’s of minerals to follow... (Author: Mike Wood)
Destination reached, I was very sw
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Directly above the centre of the Earth
Photo of me (Author: Mike Wood)
Directly above the centre of the E
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Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Hopefully the zoom function will allow a closer look at the Basking Shark - can you see it near the edge of the rocks?
Photo taken from the cliff-top about 180m high. Only had a 3x zoom on that camera at that time.. (Author: Mike Wood)
Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland
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Epistilbite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Largest ’ball’ is 6 mm x 4 mm. Cavity is 3 cm x 2 cm.
Epistilbite in single crystals and aggregates - largest ’ball’ is 6mm x 4mm. Cavity is 3cm x 2cm. Self-collected in 1997 from Sgurr nam Boc.
{Ref:- Green,D.I. & Wood,M. (1996) Epistilbite from the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Journal of the Russell Society 6(2), p85-87. (Author: Mike Wood)
Epistilbite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of
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Epistilbite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Crystals to 5 mm
Crystals to 5mm on quartz, with a little ?mordenite. The cavity is 23mm x 18mm. Self-collected in 1996 from Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Epistilbite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of
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Even this marmot looks disgusted.
I photographed this ’round the back of the Courvercle Hut, it was squatting on the ashes-pile eating some bits of onion that someone had thrown there. Kind of ironic that in the previous two weeks (’doing’ the Tour du Mont-Blanc) I never got anything like this close to a marmot. Now here is one, large as life and less than two metres away, sitting on a rubbish heap. (Author: Mike Wood)
Even this marmot looks disgusted.
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Fluorapophyllite
Creag na Cuail, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Crystals to 19 mm x 8 mm
Apophyllite crystals to 19mm x 8mm, with fine, glassy pyramidal terminations. Interesting brownish zoning in the bottom half of the crystal. The backdrop is composed of many fresh small <2mm chabazite crystals. The specimen has been trimmed since this photo was taken - I’ll try and do another sometime. Self-collected 2004 from Creag na Cuail, Duirinish, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorapophyllite
Creag na Cuail, D
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Fluorapophyllite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Crystals to 10 mm
Apophyllite crystals to 10mm; nicely transparent and with pyramidal terminations. Self-collected from Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorapophyllite
Moonen Bay, Isle
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Fluorapophyllite + stilbite + quartz
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Specimen size 10 cm wide x 8 cm high x 12 cm deep
The fluorapophyllite crystals are up to 3 cm x 2 cm.
Apophyllite + stilbite + quartz. The apophyllite crystals are up to 3cm x 2cm. The quartz is ’stalactitic’. specimen size 10cm wide x 8cm high x 12cm deep. Self-collected 1995 from Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorapophyllite + stilbite + quar
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Fluorapophyllite + stilbite + quartz
Creag na Cuail, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Specimen is 8 cm wide x 4 cm x3 cm.
The double terminated apophyllite crystal is 34 mm x 16 mm.
Apohyllite + stilbite + quartz. The double terminated apophyllite crystal is 34mm x 16mm. The specimen is 8cm wide x 4cm x3cm. Self-collected 1995 from Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorapophyllite + stilbite + quar
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Fluorapophyllite on ’mesolite’
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Crystal 23 mm
Apophyllite crystal 23mm on ’mesolite’. Self-collected 1994 from Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorapophyllite on ’mesolit
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Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France
25mm x 15mm x 15mm
Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-B
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Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France
25mm x 15mm x 15mm
Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-B
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Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France
25mm x 15mm x 15mm
Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-B
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Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France
25mm x 15mm x 15mm
Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-B
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Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France
25mm x 15mm x 15mm
The largest pink fluorite I found, fairly complete at one end. Looks like two crystals grown together. The faces are somewhat etched, but the colour is rich and inside the crystal is gemmy. (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-B
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Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France
25mm (largest piece) to 10mm (smallest)
Some pieces of pink fluorite found in the rubble of the floor of the ’crystal cave’. Mostly cleavage pieces but some show crystal faces. The colour of the crystals has reproduced very well with photography.
Collected 1991. (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-B
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Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France
specimen 33mm tall
Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-B
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Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France
10mm across
Same specimen. (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-B
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Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France
10mm across
Same specimen. (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-B
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Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France
10mm across
Same specimen (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-B
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Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-Blanc massif, France
10mm across (tip to tip)
A single gemmy octahedral pink fluorite crystal, almost complete but for one face cleave where it was attached it’s host rock originally.
Found in the rubble floor of an old crystal cave dig, in 1991. (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorite
Aiguille du Moine, Mont-B
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Fluorite on Albite
Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK
Specimen 20mm across
Same specimen as above. (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorite on Albite
Lundy Island, D
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Fluorite on Albite
Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK
Specimen 20mm across
Purple fluorite crystal (8 x 8 x 6mm) on albite (var. cleavelandite). The fluorite ’cube’ has corner modifications. (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorite on Albite
Lundy Island, D
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Fluorite on Albite and Smoky Quartz
Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK
Specimen 24mm x 14mm tall
A similar specimen to the previous, the purple fluorite ’cube’ is slightly smaller, also slightly etched and with corner modifications. There is a tiny (1mm) topaz crystal just below on the right of the fluorite crystal; interestingly under the microscope it appears to have a purple fluorite crystal included within! (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorite on Albite and Smoky Quart
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Fluorite, Topaz, Microcline, Smoky Quartz, Albite.
Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK
60mm x 58mm x 21mm
More magnified view of the above specimen. Topaz crystal 8 x 4mm and approx. 2mm thick.
All these collected from a sea-level locality on the island, several years ago. (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorite, Topaz, Microcline, Smoky
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Fluorite, Topaz, Microcline, Smoky Quartz, Albite.
Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK
60mm x 58mm x 21mm
Close up of the above specimen showing the 8mm topaz crystal and the black radiating schorl? crystals. The schorl seems to be partly included within the microcline as well as the smoky quartz and the topaz! (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorite, Topaz, Microcline, Smoky
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Fluorite, Topaz, Microcline, Smoky Quartz, Albite.
Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK
60mm x 58mm x 21mm
A real mixture of minerals from a small pegmatitic pocket in the granite. The purple fluorite takes the form of an elongated cube with one face 16mm long, though not without damage.
Topaz crystal lying flat on the microcline is 8 x 4mm.
The tiny little ’starbursts’ of black acicular crystals on the micrcline - I’m fairly certain these are tourmaline var. schorl. (Author: Mike Wood)
Fluorite, Topaz, Microcline, Smoky
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From Chamonix I got the train to Montenvers, which is by far the easiest way to get to the Mer de Glace; which I needed to walk along to get to the Aiguille du Moine. It’s a very popular spot for visiting tourists and climbers passing through..
Photo scanned from slide. (Author: Mike Wood)
From Chamonix I got the train to M
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Gadolinite
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
3mm crystal
A rare associate mineral, found only in one cavity in the granite; the same cavity as the large smoky in this post. The mineral has been tested. The matrix is composed of tiny feldspar and quartz crystals, and a few smaller gadolinite crystals. Self-collected (though when first spotted I thought it was sphene/titanite). (Author: Mike Wood)
Gadolinite
Isle of Arran, Scotland
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Garronite
Oisgill Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
20mm x 15mm
Garronite specimen showing typical complete infilling of the cavity, and characteristic curved ’cleavage’ lines. Usually associated with phillipsite, levyne, cowlesite and chabazite. Occurs with similar minerals at Moonen Bay.
Self-collected 1999. (Author: Mike Wood)
Garronite
Oisgill Bay, Isle of Sky
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Glacier de Talèfre from Aiguille du Moine.
Photo taken 1991. (Author: Mike Wood)
Glacier de Talèfre from Aiguille d
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Gmelinite
Little Deer Park, Glenarm, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK
!0mm crystal
Nice gmelinite ’rose’ with analcime, on basalt matrix. The crystal is complete and undamaged. (Author: Mike Wood)
Gmelinite
Little Deer Park, Glenar
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Grandes Jorasses(4208m) and the Glacier de Leschaux, from the summit of Aiguille du Moine(3412m).
Photo scanned from slide.
Photo taken August 1991, scanned from slide. (Author: Mike Wood)
Grandes Jorasses(4208m) and the Gl
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Gyrolite + Apophyllite on Analcime
Inbhir a’ Gharraidh, Duirinish peninsula, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Field of view approx. 6 cm across
Self-collected from Inbhir a’ Gharraidh, Duirinish, Isle of Skye in 1998. This locality is about 600m NW of MacLeods’ Maidens - which are two or three prominent sea-stacks (pinnacles). If there was a scale of difficulty to access this place, it would be seven (assuming Sgurr nam Boc is grade five !). (Author: Mike Wood)
Gyrolite + Apophyllite on Analcim
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Gyrolite + Apophyllite on Thomsonite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
The larger gyrolite ball is 12 mm across.
Nice little thumbnail specimen; self-collected from Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, in 1996. (Author: Mike Wood)
Gyrolite + Apophyllite on Thomsoni
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Gyrolite on Thomsonite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
9 cm x 4 cm x 6 cm high
Some of the gyrolite shows alteration to a white powdery mineral. Self-collected from Moonen Bay in 1996. (Author: Mike Wood)
Gyrolite on Thomsonite
Moonen Bay,
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Gyrolite on Thomsonite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Field of view approx. 30 mm x 22 mm.
Self-collected from Moonen Bay in 1996. (Author: Mike Wood)
Gyrolite on Thomsonite
Moonen Bay,
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Heulandite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
10mm x 8mm x 3mm crystal
Close up of the main heulandite crystal on the previous specimen. Remnants of ’mesolite’ and tiny chabazite crystals are included within the heulandite. (Author: Mike Wood)
Heulandite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Sky
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Heulandite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Field of view 4 cm across.
Crystals to 4 mm with thin platy stilbite crystals to 10 mm.
Pink Heulandite crystals to 4mm with thin platy stilbite crystals to 10mm. Field of view 4cm across. Self-collected in 1994 from Sgurr nam Boc. (Author: Mike Wood)
Heulandite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of
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Heulandite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Crystals to 7 mm
Pink Heulandite crystals to 7mm; specimen is 48 x 26mm. Self-collected in 1992 from Sgurr nam Boc. (Author: Mike Wood)
Heulandite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of
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Heulandite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Specimen measures 17 x 6 x 5 cm
Pink Heulandite crystals to 10 mm
Pink Heulandite crystals to 10mm with some white ’cauliflower’ stilbites. Specimen measures 17 x 6 x 5cm. Self-collected in 1992 from Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Heulandite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of
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Heulandite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
16 cm x 12 cm x 8 cm
The largest heulandite crystal I have collected - it measures 80mm x 50mm. There are smaller heulandite crystals to 25mm and stilbite crystals to 25mm attached to the large crystal, all lustrous, resting on a bed of coloured chabazite crystals to 10mm, and a mesolite spray. The mineral combination appears to be unique to this boulder, near the south end of the beach.
The specimen is repaired - it split in half - right down the middle of the big crystal ! But no way was I going to leave it like that, so I glued the two halves back together. Sorry.
Self-collected 2006 from Sgurr nam Boc. (Author: Mike Wood)
Heulandite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of
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Heulandite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
25 cm x 10 cm x7 cm
Very large specimen of pink heulandite crystals to 15mm, with a few white stilbite crystals to 20mm. A lucky find - only took me 30 minutes to extract it. Found by crawling under an enormous boulder; it was in another boulder below it. Spent three days breaking rock to find more cavities and only found one more - a smaller cavity - at the end of the third day !
Self-collected 2007 from Sgurr nam Boc. (Author: Mike Wood)
Heulandite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of
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Heulandite + chabazite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Specimen is 4 cm x 2 cm.
Heulandite crystals to 12mm on very small friable chabazite crystals.
Heulandite crystals to 12mm on very small friable chabazite crystals. Specimen is 4 cm x 2 cm. Self-collected in 2002 from Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye. (Author: Mike Wood)
Heulandite + chabazite
Sgurr nam B
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Heulandite + Chabazite + Mesolite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
50mm x 30mm x 35mm high
I was not alone on Skye on this occasion: my friend Dave found a small cavity full of ’mesolite’ and when the ’mesolite’ was washed off, some nice heulandite crystals appeared, accompanied by chabazite. A lot of the chabazite occurs as tiny crystals growing on the ’mesolite’ needles, forming white globular masses. The main heulandite crystal measures 10mm x 8mm x 3mm thickness. Collected March/April 2013. (Author: Mike Wood)
Heulandite + Chabazite + Mesolite
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Heulandite + stilbites + micro crystallized quartz
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Specimen measures 63 x 45 x 35 mm.
Large curved Heulandite crystals with small stilbites and micro crystallised quartz. Specimen measures 63 x 45 x 35mm. Self-collected 1992 from Sgurr nam Boc. (Author: Mike Wood)
Heulandite + stilbites + micro cry
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Horseflies, also known as Clegs, are nasty. They have a somewhat ’furry’ appearance, sort of dusty-grey colour. You can’t hear them flying. You can’t feel them land. If you’re quick and recognise the sensation you can swipe them off you just as they start to bite; then the bite will only itch a little ! Unlike midges these things are active in bright sunshine. They are about during the months of July and August when it’s warm. It’s best to keep moving when these are around, and keep an eye on them but they are very distracting. They are mainly living in the valleys; it is usual to have several following you as you walk. And they can bite through thin clothing !! (Author: Mike Wood)
Horseflies, also known as Clegs, a
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Horsefly/Cleg 10mm long
A horsefly yesterday. About the same size as a bluebottle fly, as they are called here. They have a distinctly dusty, soft appearance with a grey-brown colour, and fly and land very quietly. Just as they bite, if you know the feeling, there is about 1-2 seconds to swat it away before the bite hurts. (Author: Mike Wood)
Horsefly/Cleg 10mm long
A horsefly
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I contented myself with wandering around this high plateau. It was desolate and beautiful, but no real signs of pegmatites. Quite often there are lots of white quartz pieces lying about, but it’s the ’wrong kind of quartz’, weathered out from hydrothermal veins, (not smoky quartz from pegmatites), and rarely contains euhedral crystals. (Author: Mike Wood)
I contented myself with wandering
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I had to carefully negotiate the huge snowdrift to begin the descent. A slip here would have been diastrous and I only had a hiking stick - should have had an ice-axe really. Fortunately the snow was slightly soft. If it had been rock-hard neve I wouldn’t have attempted it. (Author: Mike Wood)
I had to carefully negotiate the h
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In July 2005 myself and two comrades attempted to climb the Aiguille du Moine (as mentioned earlier). Two of us slept out under the stars (bivouac), while the other stayed in the Courvercle Hut for the night. Mark (pictured) went back down to the valley in the morning, not fancying the look of the weather, and seemingly remembering he’d climbed the mountain before! (Author: Mike Wood)
In July 2005 myself and two comrad
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Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
Granite, miarolitic cavities, and mountains : ) (Author: Mike Wood)
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
Granit
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Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
Looking north along Glen Rosa (valley) towards the fine mountain of Cir Mhor (799m). Although the mountains of Arran are modest in height in comparison to many of Scotlands’ mountains, they possess a unique grandeur. Photo taken in november. (Author: Mike Wood)
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
Lookin
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Isle of Skye coastline at it’s most beautiful - the ’Wilderness’ area (Duirinish), about 6 miles (10km) south of Moonen Bay. The locality of Biod a Mhurain is approximately in the centre of the photograph. June 2008. (Author: Mike Wood)
Isle of Skye coastline at it&rsquo
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Just one more photo then - from the path down from the Courvercle Hut to the Mer de Glace, looking across to the ’Chamonix Aiguilles’.
Photo scanned from slide. (Author: Mike Wood)
Just one more photo then - from th
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L’Aiguille Verte (4122m) north face, seen across Glacier D’ Argentière from the summit of Le Aiguille D’ Argentière (3999m).
les Droites is to the left, even more impressive a sight.
Photo taken 1992. Scanned from slide. (Author: Mike Wood)
L’Aiguille Verte (4122m) nor
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Laumontite
’Glen Caladale’, Loch Eynort, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
8cm x 6cm x 2cm
Laumontite on ’mesolite’ with a few scattered brown calcite crystals (to 3mm). From the same locality as one shown previously which is dry and kept in a plastic box. This specimen has been kept in water and is still fairly fresh.
The locality is on the north side of Loch Eynort on a wave-cut platform with large boulders on it.
Self-collected 1996. (Author: Mike Wood)
Laumontite
’Glen Caladale&rs
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Laumontite
Sgurr nam Fiadh, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
6 cm x 5 cm x 3 cm
Fresh laumontite crystals (largest is 14mm) from a large cavity at sea-level in the cliff at Sgurr nam Fiadh. The mineral has been kept in water and so far it has not dehydrated and still looks fresh.
Self-collected 1998. (Author: Mike Wood)
Laumontite
Sgurr nam Fiadh, Isle o
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Laumontite on ’Mesolite’
’Glen Caladale’, Loch Eynort, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Laumontite sprays 10 mm high
Small brown calcite crystal: 3mm
A small (3mm) brown calcite crystal sits on top of the laumontite sprays which are 10mm high. Self-collected in 1996 from ’Glen Caladale’ - a coastal locality near Loch Eynort, Isle of Skye. I keep the specimen in a clear sealed box and so far, it hasn’t crumbled to bits. (Author: Mike Wood)
Laumontite on ’Mesolite&rsqu
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Levyne
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Levyne crystals to 9 mm on small clear Analcime crystals
Levyne crystals to 9mm on small clear Analcime crystals. Most of the crystals are undamaged and this is the best specimen I have found of levyne. Self-collected in 2010 from Moonen Bay. (Author: Mike Wood)
Levyne
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, S
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Levyne
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Crystals to 7 mm
Levyne crystals to 7mm in a gas cavity in basalt 16mm across. The thin blue layer lining the cavity is a clay - like mineral. The broken edges of some of the levyne crystals show the white fibrous epitaxial overgrowths of (erionite/offretite). Self-collected in 1994 from Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland. (Author: Mike Wood)
Levyne
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, S
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Loch Diubaig, near Greshornish, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Pair of sea - eagles. Photo taken April 2014; M.Wood. (Author: Mike Wood)
Loch Diubaig, near Greshornish, Is
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Loch Diubaig, near Greshornish, Isle of Skye, Scotland
One of a pair of sea - eagles.
M.Wood April 2014. (Author: Mike Wood)
Loch Diubaig, near Greshornish, Is
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Loch Diubaig, near Greshornish, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Pair of sea - eagles playing ’Yin and Yang’ perhaps? ;-)
M.Wood April 2014. (Author: Mike Wood)
Loch Diubaig, near Greshornish, Is
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Lochan Uaine, about 1.5km southeast of Ben Macdui in the Cairngorms, one of the highest lochans (small lake) in the UK at over 950m above sea level. But even I was surprised to see icebergs floating on it, in late June!! Don’t know for sure if it contains trout, but I bet it does.
Photo taken June 1994 (scanned from print), M.Wood. (Author: Mike Wood)
Lochan Uaine, about 1.5km southeas
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Looking back down the hill at the sheltering trees in the valley. It was getting late and I did consider staying down there for the night but there were too many midges. (Author: Mike Wood)
Looking back down the hill at the
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Looking down the ’ladders’. Hard work climbing these with a big heavy rucksack!
Photo taken 2005. (Author: Mike Wood)
Looking down the ’ladders&rs
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Looking down the first part of the descent route from the top of Aiguille du Moine. This is the easiest way up and down the mountain, involving a few abseils on the way down. The route grading is not much easier than the route I climbed up, and follows a way down the South face over to the right (looking up from the bottom), ending at the same spot that I started my route up (South arete). There were a few people about but I think most of them climbed up and down the same way.
Photo scanned from slide. (Author: Mike Wood)
Looking down the first part of the
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Looking down towards the river Dee from near the top of Ben Macdui. The snow was gone, I found the place this time. Spent three hours crawling about examining the ground, looking for phenakite. Came back with one tiny piece which weighed about 2 grams, and it wasn’t really good enough to be sure what it was! That was all I collected this day, apart from a 5cm strip of red skin where my shirt had ridden up my back from my shorts! Doh! (Author: Mike Wood)
Looking down towards the river Dee
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Looking east along the northern corries of Ben Avon, the partner mountain to Ben a’ Bhuird. Not yet explored by myself. There’s a lot of ground to cover, and it’s very remote. August 2011. (Author: Mike Wood)
Looking east along the northern co
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Looking NW towards Cir Mhor, and Caisteal Abhail beyond; from Goatfell. Photo taken in August. (Author: Mike Wood)
Looking NW towards Cir Mhor, and C
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Looking towards Aigiulle Verte (south side) from the summit of Aiguille du Moine.
Photo taken 1991. Scanned from slide. (Author: Mike Wood)
Looking towards Aigiulle Verte (so
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Macleods’ Maidens, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland.
Sixty metres (~190 feet) tall
The sea-stack ( "cliff " ) that Steve McQueens’ double jumped off in the classic film ’Papillon’. (Author: Mike Wood)
Macleods’ Maidens, Duirinish
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Maybe this is why it’s called Dubh Lochan. On this reflective morning, and in the eerie stillness, the surface of the water seemed to turn into a Black Hole. (Author: Mike Wood)
Maybe this is why it’s calle
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Meanwhile back in the cave..This was obviously a pre-dug cave, the floor was a couple of feet deep in small rubble, which I had a scrape around in and found a few pink fluorite crystals! A bit rough but pink and octahedral to a cm or two, mostly broken. In the back of the 4m deep cave there was a mossy crack just big enough to get your arm in. My headtorch revealed shiny faces, at full arm stretch. I could see the big smoky; it looked as if previous visitors had seen it too as it had a few bruises where someone had tried to dislodge it by jabbing an ice-axe at it. I managed to lever it out with mine, also utilising the lumphammer. I found several loose smaller smokies in the crack by feeling around, and getting cut in the process. Some of them are nice little floaters.
After a couple of hour I had to go, back on route up the arete to the top. It was very exposed and I had to use a ’back-rope’ kind of technique to protect myself; this was a first for me.
Photo scanned from slide. (Author: Mike Wood)
Meanwhile back in the cave..This w
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Mesolite
Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
6 cm x 5 cm x 4 cm
Mesolite crystals to 13mm in analcime-lined gas cavity in basalt rock.
Self-collected 1988. (Author: Mike Wood)
Mesolite
Talisker Bay, Isle of Sky
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Mesolite + Chabazite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
70 mm x 55 mm high x 25 mm
Mesolite in attractive radiating clusters to 13mm across on pink twinned chabazite crystals. From the south end of Moonen Bay.
Self-collected 1997. (Author: Mike Wood)
Mesolite + Chabazite
Moonen Bay, I
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Mesolite + Stilbite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
9 cm high x 5 cm x 4 cm
Superb mesolite ’ball’ 50mm across, with white stilbite crystals, resting on coloured chabazite crystals. The mesolite ball is not complete; it is cleaved across the back - but it displays well ! From the same boulder as the previous photographed specimen. Self-collected 2006. (Author: Mike Wood)
Mesolite + Stilbite
Sgurr nam Boc,
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Mesolite or Natrolite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
9 cm high x 6 cm x 4 cm
Large ’mesolite’ crystals collected from wave-cut platform at south end of beach at Sgurr nam Boc. I have a recollection that this material was tested, and it may be natrolite - but I can’t remember now !
It is certainly the largest of its type I have seen from Skye. Self-collected 2003. (Author: Mike Wood)
Mesolite or Natrolite
Sgurr nam Bo
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Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
50mm x 21mm x 18mm crystal
Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)
Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland
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Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
50mm x 21mm x 18mm crystal
Microcline feldspar crystal free-standing on a small piece of matrix. Self-collected. (Author: Mike Wood)
Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland
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Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
73mm x 20mm x17mm
Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)
Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland
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Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
73mm x 20mm x17mm
A more elongated, single crystal (Author: Mike Wood)
Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland
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Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
50mm x 40mm x 32mm
Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)
Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland
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Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
50mm x 40mm x 32mm
Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)
Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland
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Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
50mm x 40mm x 32mm
Two intergrown microcline crystals with a small remnant of smoky quartz near the base.
Self-collected. (Author: Mike Wood)
Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland
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Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
61mm x 50mm x 48mm
Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)
Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland
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Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
61mm x 50mm x 48mm
Another, smaller microcline feldspar specimen from the same cavity, consisting mainly of one large single twinned curved crystal ! (Author: Mike Wood)
Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland
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Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
105mm x 90mm x 55mm
Side view of same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)
Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland
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Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
105mm x 90mm x 55mm
Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)
Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland
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Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
105mm x 90mm x 55mm
Large group of curved aggregates of creamy-white microcline crystals. Self-collected. (Author: Mike Wood)
Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland
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Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
78mm x 31mm x 26mm
Same specimen as above showing termination detail (Author: Mike Wood)
Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland
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Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
78mm x 31mm x 26mm
Same specimen as above (Author: Mike Wood)
Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland
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Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
78mm x 31mm x 26mm
Rather large microcline crystal with odd termination. Self-collected. (Author: Mike Wood)
Microcline
Isle of Arran, Scotland
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Microcline var. amazonite
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland, UK
33mm x 19mm (Author: Mike Wood)
Microcline var. amazonite
Ben Loya
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Mont-Blanc, Mer de Glace, et Moi.
This photo taken 2005, from near the Courvercle Hut. (Author: Mike Wood)
Mont-Blanc, Mer de Glace, et Moi.
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Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Waterstein Head and Moonen Bay cliffs, viewed from Neist Point. September 2009. (Author: Mike Wood)
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland
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Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Looking across Moonen Bay (southward). The cliffs are very steep, often with rockfall, especially when it rains. The tide cuts off access to most of the ’beach’ at the foot of the cliffs. The cliffs in the distance (Ramasaig Cliff) reach over 700’ high (230m).
Photo taken April 2005 (Author: Mike Wood)
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland
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Mordenite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
10 cm x 5 cm x 6 cm deep
Mordenite in delicate crystals to 10mm long with a few stilbite crystals, in a quartz-lined cavity in basalt. This zeolite mineral is very silica-rich and to my knowledge is only found at this locality (on Skye, that is), where quartz is plentiful.
Self-collected 1998. (Author: Mike Wood)
Mordenite
Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of S
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Myself and Colin set off to climb Aiguille du Moine. The climbing is steep and airy, but relatively easy. Colin was refreshed by his luxurious night’s sleep in the hut and was way out in front - you can see him working his way leftwards along some sloping ledges. Actually I think at that point he waited for me ’cos a rope was required... (Author: Mike Wood)
Myself and Colin set off to climb
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Native silver
Isle of Skye, Scotland
11mm across
This is the silver nugget I found in the stream, the first time I was there. Actually I haven’t had it tested yet, but it is so distinctive, it just has to be. Doesn’t it? (Author: Mike Wood)
Native silver
Isle of Skye, Scotla
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Natrolite
Oisgill Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
10cm x 8cm x 4cm
Radiating aggregates of natrolite crystals. This was found in a gully around the corner at the north end of Oisgill Bay - on the map this spot is called ’An Ceannaich’. This specimen has been analysed. I went back to the same spot recently and could not find a trace of it; I think it had been buried by rockfall. My recollection is that the natrolite was formed in a vein in the back of the gully.
Self-collected 1995. (Author: Mike Wood)
Natrolite
Oisgill Bay, Isle of Sky
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Natrolite
Sgurr nam Fiadh, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
8cm x 4cm x 3cm
Crystals of Natrolite found in a very large gas cavity in a weathered boulder. The greenish background (altered basalt) is distinctive and Prof. M.F.Heddle in his famous book ’Mineralogy of Scotland’ (1901) describes Scolecite from this locality on a similar coloured background. But this stuff is definitely Natrolite, it was tested via Alan Dyer in 2002. A mystery perhaps?
Self-collected 1994. (Author: Mike Wood)
Natrolite
Sgurr nam Fiadh, Isle of
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Natrolite + Analcime
Oisgill Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
10mm crystals
Natrolite crystals to 10mm on small analcime crystals in a gas cavity in basalt lava. This material has been analysed.
Self-collected 2004. (Author: Mike Wood)
Natrolite + Analcime
Oisgill Bay,
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Natrolite + Laumontite
Sgurr nam Fiadh, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
8 cm x 8 cm x 4 cm
Natrolite or mesolite crystals to 12 mm on white crystals that used to be laumontite, but have most likely dehydrated as the specimen has been stored dry. I have had similar material tested from this locality and it proved to be natrolite - courtesy of Alan Dyer - but not this same material.
This locality is 5km south of Talisker Bay and - you guessed it - very difficult to access !
Self-collected 2006.
Self-collected 2004. (Author: Mike Wood)
Natrolite + Laumontite
Sgurr nam F
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Not the ’Famous Grouse’ - this is the infamous ptarmigan! Brown in summer and white in winter, this fine fellow appears to be in full breeding plumage. I think that’s why he was standing his ground - you don’t normally get this close to them, even with a zoom lens. (Author: Mike Wood)
Not the ’Famous Grouse&rsquo
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Oisgill Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland
The north end of Oisgill bay. An Ceannaich is the cliff around the corner. The cliffs are 600 feet (190m) high and scary / awe-inspiring !
Photo taken Easter 2013. (Author: Mike Wood)
Oisgill Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotlan
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Ollisdal Geo, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Photo (courtesy of D.I Green) of me trying to get across the steep bit. I retreated as I was in danger of getting wet and it was a long walk back to the car ! Photo taken same day as the previous stilbite specimen was collected in May 1996. (Author: Mike Wood)
Ollisdal Geo, Duirinish, Isle of S
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On my way back to my bivi place, crossing the Lairig Ghru for the second time. At least the cloud has gone, revealing a much greener vista, looking south down the valley where the river Dee flows. (Author: Mike Wood)
On my way back to my bivi place, c
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Once on the glacier (Mer de Glace) it is several kilometres walk to some more ladders, to get off the glacier and up the path to the Courvercle Hut below the Aiguille du Moine. The glacier is ’dry’ this low down at this time of year so is mostly easy to walk on - you can see the objective dangers (crevasses) and avoid them. A refreshing cold breeze blows down the valley, otherwise it would be hot under the summer sun.
Photo scanned from slide. (Author: Mike Wood)
Once on the glacier (Mer de Glace)
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One half of my mineral display.
Cabinet is 80cm x 50cm.
Six (2W) LED (4100K) strips. (Author: Mike Wood)
One half of my mineral display.
Ca
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Part of mineral display from Skye and Arran. (Author: Mike Wood)
Part of mineral display from Skye
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Part of mineral display from Skye and Arran. (Author: Mike Wood)
Part of mineral display from Skye
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Part of mineral display from Skye and Arran. (Author: Mike Wood)
Part of mineral display from Skye
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Pegmatite
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland
30cm across
Higher up the very steep ground near the top of the spur I was climbing, I came across a section of pegmatite I had seen before, seventeen years ago. This chunk of quartz with microcline var. amazonite was lying on the surface. I had a little dig in what was obviously a swelling in an otherwise narrow pegmatite vein, but did not find much worth collecting. Most of the microcline was pink. (Author: Mike Wood)
Pegmatite
Ben Loyal, Sutherland, S
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Perfect harmony. (Author: Mike Wood)
Perfect harmony.
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Phenakite
Ben Macdui, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK
15mm x 13mm x 7mm crystal
This is what I was looking for; some more of these - which I found in 2006. It is a fair sized crystal sitting on a shard of smoky quartz. I’ll post some more photo’s of it in the next post. They are very hard to find, but it’s fun trying to find them, if the weather is nice. (Author: Mike Wood)
Phenakite
Ben Macdui, Cairngorm Mo
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Phenakite
Ben Macdui, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK
15mm x 13mm x 7mm crystal
And again. Apologies for the multiple photo’s but it’s the only specimen I have! Besides, there’s a lot of little reflective faces to scrutinise. Looks very much like albite, but it scratches quartz - and quartz does not scratch it. (Author: Mike Wood)
Phenakite
Ben Macdui, Cairngorm Mo
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Phenakite
Ben Macdui, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK
15mm x 13mm x 7mm crystal
Same again (Author: Mike Wood)
Phenakite
Ben Macdui, Cairngorm Mo
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Phenakite
Ben Macdui, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK
15mm x 13mm x 7mm crystal
Same (Author: Mike Wood)
Phenakite
Ben Macdui, Cairngorm Mo
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Phenakite
Ben Macdui, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK
15mm x 13mm x 7mm crystal
Same as above (Author: Mike Wood)
Phenakite
Ben Macdui, Cairngorm Mo
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Phenakite
Ben Macdui, Cairngorm Mountains, Grampian Region, Scotland, UK
15mm x 13mm x 7mm crystal
Same phenakite crystal as per the last post. The crystal is sitting on a shard of smoky quartz and also a bit of mica. (Author: Mike Wood)
Phenakite
Ben Macdui, Cairngorm Mo
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Phillipsite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
13mm crystal
Small specimen of a very large phillipsite crystal. Rarely seen in this size from here. The crystal is sheared off at the back - it’s a bit ’hit and miss’ when you are splitting boulders with small cavities.
Self-collected 2013. (Author: Mike Wood)
Phillipsite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Sk
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Phillipsite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
38mm x 30mm vug
Large specimen of small phillipsite crystals (2-3mm). Occasional associates are levyne and chabazite.
Self-collected 1995. (Author: Mike Wood)
Phillipsite
Moonen Bay, Isle of Sk
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Phillipsite + Levyne
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Cavity is 17mm x 14mm
Phillipsite in pink balls to 8mm across, associated with levyne crystals. When I first found this I thought it was something else, like gobbinsite perhaps. But I had it analysed by xrd (thanks Dave) and it turned out to be phillipsite.
Self-collected 1995 (Author: Mike Wood)
Phillipsite + Levyne
Moonen Bay, I
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Phillipsite + Levyne
Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
30mm x 20mm x 13mm
Radiating balls of yellow phillipste in a small cavity (13mm x 11mm) with levyne crystals. Rare in this habit.
Self-collected 1997 (Author: Mike Wood)
Phillipsite + Levyne
Moonen Bay, I
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Photo of me at the same time, looking disgusted. We retreated, abseiling in some places, as the weather worsened. Good call as it turned out, it snowed all day above 2500m. (Author: Mike Wood)
Photo of me at the same time, look
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Photo taken from approx. 4,000m on the south arete (ridge) of the Aiguille Verte, looking down at the Aiguille du Moine (3412m) at the end of the arete; where in 1991 I found some crystals!
The stripy glacier is the famous Mer de Glace.
Photo taken August 1992, by me : )
Scanned from slide photo. (Author: Mike Wood)
Photo taken from approx. 4,000m on
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Prehnite
Sgurr nan Cearcall, nr Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
12cm x 7cm x 5cm
The nicest prehnite specimen I have found, collected from a random small boulder on my last visit - I was very pleased ! The colour is a stronger green than the last specimen photo, but it is very difficult to capture.
Self-collected 2011 (Author: Mike Wood)
Prehnite
Sgurr nan Cearcall, nr Gl
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Prehnite
Sgurr nan Cearcall, nr Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
FOV 7cm x 5cm
Nice green and quite lustrous prehnite crystals forming thick crusts in very hard basalt. Open and vuggy material, often with little epimorphs(?) or casts of prehnite on calcite (presumably) to 3mm across, but the casts are hollow.
Self-collected 1997 (Author: Mike Wood)
Prehnite
Sgurr nan Cearcall, nr Gl
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Prehnite
Sgurr nan Cearcall, nr Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
6cm x 4cm x 5cm deep
’Stalactitic’ formation of white prehnite on very hard basalt. The prehnite has most likely replaced some thin crystals of another, probably zeolitic mineral like laumontite.
Self-collected 1997 (Author: Mike Wood)
Prehnite
Sgurr nan Cearcall, nr Gl