MONTROSE -----SCOTLAND-----
A reality, not just a dream.
A small group of the Essex Rock and Mineral Society members went to Scotland in June this year (2004)
Our main reasons were to explore the local geology, we all had varied interests. The one common interest to us all was hopefully to find some SCOTTISH AGATES. We were also keen to see what the prospects were for organising an exciting trip for other club members with next year in mind.
I kept a diary of our daily adventures, here follows a brief description of what we discovered and enjoyed:
Day one:
We walked around the outskirts of the town discovering agates in some
of the walls around buildings and gardens. Later we visited the local
museum. The assistant curator was delighted to show us Lord Grays collection
of agates. It had 700 agates all in individual packets. We spent about
two hours holding them up to the light looking, positively drooling and
discussing them. Lord Frances Gray was the 14th Lord Gray of Kifauns castle
1765-1842. While drooling over this wonderful collection the asst curator
brought out two pieces of sheeps jaw whose teeth were plated with gold,
caused by grazing on grass around the Kildonan area! Fact, or fiction?
We came to the conclusion of …….well may I suggest you pay a visit with
us next year for further discussion / debate? The museum also has a small
collection of local rocks and minerals very attractively displayed.
Later
that afternoon we visited the nearby beach. No agates were found on this
occasion but we were astounded by the beautiful pebbles along the shoreline.
There were red and green jaspers many being heavily faulted and were full
of white or colourless quartz or bright green epidote veins, also snow
white quartzes. I have yet to learn about the pebbles that were coloured
with yellow and brown swirling patterns moulding into each other and so
many more. This was my perfect dream of a paradise for the Lapidary.
Day
two.
A short drive took us to our next planned venue. Once the car was parked,
our day started with an ice cream each. The day was lovely and sunny.
We walked along a pebbly beach until we reached a volcanic outcrop near
a lighthouse. It took us a long time as once again the pebbles were so
beautiful we couldn’t stop ourselves from picking them up, comparing and
discussing them. On the way we found quite a few small agates….YAHOO I
was excited! We took the tourist way back, the long but easy way on the
path as we were worn out, tired and happy.
Day three.
We went to two places of interest today. Once again being beach locations.
Along
the fore shore we found some small pieces of agate, some were insitu
in the rock, the rock type being andesite. Our leader Roger happily occupied
himself paddling and sifting in a little stream at the bottom of a gentle
waterfall. He was well rewarded, he found an agate a little larger than
a tennis ball and almost the same shape. It had a minute chip which on
close inspection leads us to believe it will be a pale blue specimen.
You can imagine our awe and amazement at this find. While we were at this
location a retired couple who were out for a walk stopped to talk with
us .They told us of a secret location where they had found agates some
years ago. Of course we went in search of where we had been directed.
Unfortunately the site is now inaccessible.
In
the afternoon we visited a place called Saint Cyrus. Access to the beach
was via a very long narrow bridge. On the bridge was an information point
that explained the geology and wild life of which I have taken notes and
photographs. When we reached the beach a very high wind had arisen. We
felt as if we were in a mini sandstorm. The sun was drying the sand ,
the wind was whipping it around our feet as we sank and stepped along.
It was a very weird feeling. We studied the rocks, and geology which has
whetted our appetites for a return visit.
Day four:
Today we had a tourist day.
A
visit to Glamis castle where we saw a lovely agate and jasper topped table,
we recognised them as being the same pebbles that were on the local beaches.
Day five:
Another venue.
The
geology was so fascinating and complex that I will leave it for someone
else to write about as I had to have it explained to me. Very basically
it was like seeing miles of conglomerates all in incorrect sequence.
Day six.
A visit to Dunnottar castle
The castle and grounds were interesting, but the rocks that the castle
was sitting on were even more interesting. It was a conglomerate of pebbles
from a few inches of up to fourteen inches and more, and embedded in a
series of sand stone. Again this needs more studying.
Day seven. Our last day which we did not want to waste.
A farewell visit to our favourite museum. Then off to visit a little town called Arbroath where there was a very interesting museum in a lighthouse. A relaxing and interesting last day. Maybe not quite so relaxing for Roger who so very kindly ferried us everywhere in his car throughout the whole holiday.
In trying to keep this article short I have not been able to mention the good places we found of an evening to eat and the fun times we shared. Every minute was enjoyed. Thank you Roger for making it possible.
Another of my dreams that came true. DW
All photographs & text © Doreen White, 2004