Michael Wood's Photo Gallery

View of Sgurr nan Gillean from Marsco

Sgurr nan Gillean, Cuillin Hills, Minginish, Isle of Skye, Eilean á Chèo, Highland, Scotland, UK

Sgurr nan Gillean (translated from Scottish Gaelic means 'Peak of the Young Man')- is 964m high. It is the prominent peak seen from Sligachan; the first proper view of the Cuillin when driving up the main road from the South. This view is from Marsco, (3 or 4 km to the East), looking across Glen Sligachan.

The rocks in the foreground are granite; Marsco being one of the 'Red Cuillin' - whereas the ('Black') Cuillin is composed of basic and ultrabasic intrusive rocks, mostly gabbro.

Photo taken April 2011 by Mike Wood.

AGY-1NPChabazite, Analcime Na(AlSi₂O₆)·H₂O

Oisgill Bay, Dunvegan, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Eilean á Chèo, Highland, Scotland, UK

Dimensions: 12 cm x 3 cm x 4 cm

Large twinned Chabazites from Oisgill Bay, Isle of Skye.

Dimensions : 12 x 3 x 4cm deep. Collected 8th May 1996; Mike Wood.

Highly twinned 'phacolite' habit Chabazite crystals to 17mm on very small clear analcime crystals and probable small brownish natrolite crystals.
The main faces of the Chabazites are so highly twinned that they appear smooth and rounded, whilst the edges have some flat faces. Could well be Chabazite-Na.
Found in-situ at cliff foot.

C00-0A3Prehnite Ca₂Al₂Si₃O₁₀(OH)₂

Sgurr nan Cearcall, Soay Sound, Isle of Skye, Eilean á Chèo, Highland, Scotland, UK

Dimensions: 8 cm x 6 cm x 6 cm
Field of View: 55 mm

Green Prehnite from Sgurr nan Cearcall, Isle of Skye.

Collected 10th September 1997; Mike Wood.

Specimen of green Prehnite forming 'stalactitic' clusters.
Small epimorphs of calcite(?) to 3mm form hollow white boxes (now coated with Prehnite).
Photographed under fluorescent light.

W8V-NPMPrehnite Ca₂Al₂Si₃O₁₀(OH)₂

Sgurr nan Cearcall, Soay Sound, Isle of Skye, Eilean á Chèo, Highland, Scotland, UK

Dimensions: 6 cm x 4 cm x 4 cm

Prehnite (epimorphing laumontite?), Sgurr nan Cearcall, Isle of Skye.

Collected 10th September 1997; Mike Wood.

White Prehnite crystals forming 'stalactites'; or more likely, epimorphs (coating) on laumontite crystals which are typically elongate.
In cavity in altered basalt lava. The country rock in this area (basaltic lavas) is close to the thermal metamorphic aureole of the Cuillin Gabbro of the Skye Igneous Centre. The normally black or brown lavas have been epidotised and have become a grey-green colour.

5WU-1F0Chabazite, Stilbite Subgroup M_6-7[Al_8-9Si_27-28O₇₂]·nH₂O

Oisgill Bay, Dunvegan, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Eilean á Chèo, Highland, Scotland, UK

Dimensions: 5 cm x 5 cm x 5 cm

Large twinned Chabazite crystal on Stilbite, Oisgill Bay, Isle of Skye.

Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 5cm. Collected 8th May 1996; Mike Wood.

Chabazite crystal is 30mm x 12mm, with clean sharp faces and edges; in a cavity lined with small, nearly transparent, 'flat-topped' Stilbite crystals.
Collected in-situ at foot of cliff, near the middle of the bay.

Photo taken under fluorescent light.

VJD-5QMChabazite, Stilbite Subgroup M_6-7[Al_8-9Si_27-28O₇₂]·nH₂O , Mordenite (Na₂,Ca,K₂)₄(Al₈Si₄₀)O₉₆·28H₂O

Sgurr nam Boc, Glen Brittle, Minginish, Isle of Skye, Eilean á Chèo, Highland, Scotland, UK

Chabazite with Stilbite on Mordenite from Sgurr nam Boc, Isle of Skye.

Dimensions : 8cm x 7cm 4cm. Collected 5th April 1996, Mike Wood.

Fine combination specimen of white Chabazite rhombohedral crystals to 12mm, and Stilbite 'fans' (bowtie type) to 23mm across; on a bed of what is probably mordenite, and brown, altered basalt. Chabazite is quite uncommon at Sgurr nam Boc, but when it occurs it does so in large simple crystals.

EU8-V5RChabazite

Talisker Bay, Talisker, Carbost, Minginish, Isle of Skye, Eilean á Chèo, Highland, Scotland, UK

Dimensions: 8 cm x 7 cm x 1.5 cm

Lustrous large Chabazite crystals from Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye.

Dimensions : 8cm x 7cm x 1.5cm. Collected 6th April 1993, Mike Wood.

Fine plate of fresh translucent Chabazite rhombohedral crystals to 12mm max. on edge; backed with a thin smear of hard grey basalt. Found near the waterfall on the north side of the bay.

8R3-W9NMesolite Na₂Ca₂Si₉Al₆O₃₀·8H₂O , Chabazite

Moonen Bay, Dunvegan, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Eilean á Chèo, Highland, Scotland, UK

Dimensions: 80 mm x 55 mm x 25 mm

Mesolite on Chabazite from Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye.

Dimensions : 80mm x 55mm x 25mm. Collected 25th May 1997, Mike Wood.

Fine sprays of Mesolite needles (15mm across) on somewhat twinned pinkish Chabazite crystals to 6mm, on basalt. Found beneath the Ramasaig Cliff, towards the South end of Moonen Bay.
The label is acid-free card; showing catalogue number, date collected, and UK National Grid Reference. The label is encased in epoxy resin.

3NX-XEKApophyllite Group AB₄[Si₈O₂₂]X · 8H₂O , Thomsonite Subgroup, Chabazite

Moonen Bay, Dunvegan, Duirinish, Isle of Skye, Eilean á Chèo, Highland, Scotland, UK

Double-terminated Apophyllite crystal from Moonen Bay, Isle of Skye.

Dimensions : 23mm x 4mm (crystal). Collected 16th August 1994, Mike Wood.

Excellent Apophyllite crystal on 'feathery' creamy-white Thomsonite, on pale pink Chabazite crystals to 6mm; on basalt. Found during the first year of my exploration of Moonen Bay.

XLR-YHWCalcite CaCO₃ , Chabazite

Talisker Bay, Talisker, Carbost, Minginish, Isle of Skye, Eilean á Chèo, Highland, Scotland, UK

Honey-brown Calcite crystals on pink Chabazite crystals from Talisker Bay.

Dimensions:(field of view): 6cm x 4cm. Collected 24th May 1992, Mike Wood.

Aesthetic spike of honey coloured calcite rhombs to 7mm in a small cavity lined with pink twinned Chabazite crystals to 2mm. The Chabazites appear to be twinned in what would have been called "phacolite" habit in the old days. A solitary white 3mm Analcime crystal lies on top of the pink Chabazites.