Geological observations on Easter Ross, Moy, Craggie and Athole

Abstract

<i>Easter Ross.</i>—A junction of the Old Red and the Gneiss occurs near the summit of Nigg Hill. A fine bed of Arctic marine shells occurs at Cadboll, at 124 feet above sea-level. <i>Moy and Craggie.</i>—Auriferous sand occurs in almost all the streams of Moy and Strathnairn, such as the burns of Moy, Craggie, Altruadh, Altlugie, and in the gorge of the Nairn below Craggie. Here on one occasion in the summer of 1881 I found about 30 grains of gold by scraping out the <i>débris</i> from the seams of the claystone rocks and by washing it out in an iron basin. Limestone rocks containing cubes of galena occur <i>in situ</i> along both sides of the Nairn below Easter Craggie and Daltullich, and also to the east of Clava. Ironstone seems to be abundant, particularly in Strathnairn, and often occurs in the form of slag resting upon peat-charcoal in the ancient bloomeries of the district at Moy, Bunachton, Aberarder, and Clava. The Moy valley is flanked by high terraces. No detrital barriers can be traced at the 1000 feet level. They exist in the shape of the Kame at 923 feet, across the north end of the valley, and again at 953 feet, across the south end of Loch Moy. <i>Athole.</i>—Craig Ower (1400 feet) forms the central height of the south watershed of the vale of Athole. It is crowned by an ancient circular hill fort about 40 yards in diameter. The rampart is formed of boulders of limestone and gray granite. This granite evidently belongs to the Grampians to the north-east. The most singular feature on Craig Ower is the numerous pot-holes in the limestone rocks on the summit.