Rocks and Minerals named after localities in Mull:

This page lists those rocks and minerals which have been either named after Mull localities or which are found in other localities near to Mull. Many of the rocks in the "other localities" category are also to be found in Mull itself. There is a Gallery page showing examples of the type listed below.

Benmoreite  is a type of basalt. The name is not used in the Memoir - it was originally described as a Mugearite (qv). The type locality is Ben More, in the very centre of the island of Mull. On the latest geological maps, the benmoreite is clearly identified in yellow and it is actually quite easy to find in the field. It occurs in several places but perhaps the best place is about 3/4 of the way up Ben More itself. The rock is fairly distinctive - it has a "platy" appearance. The start of the band is not particularly clear, but where it ends, the slope steepens up to the final summit ridge. If you compare the geological map with the Landranger or Explorer, you will see what I mean.

Craignurite is found near Craignure (Creag an Iubhair in Gaelic) where the ferry from Oban comes in. It is extremely easy to find as it forms the rocks of the shore at the pier. It is a light grey, very hard, felsitic type of rock, related to granophyre and frequently shows flow structures. At Craignure it forms a cone sheet. The reader is referred to the Geologists Association Guide to the Mull Tertiary as there is a good excursion described which gives a lot of information on this rock. See the Resources page for information about this book.

Craigite is a porphyritic dolerite which forms part of the Ben Buie Gabbro. It is named after Craig Cottage in Glen More. It was first named after this locality. The writer has only seen the name "craigite" mentioned in the GA Guidebook -  elsewhere it is simply described as a dolerite. As is the case with craignurite above, there is an excursion in the GA guide describing it, but unfortunately, since the book was written, a lot of forestry has sprung up making the walking something of a challenge!

Leidleite Named after Glen Leidle (the Glen that runs down to Carsaig) in Mull this is a form of andesite.

Tobermorite is a whilte mineral first discovered by the legendary Professor Heddle near Tobermory. It is orthorhombic, white or light pink in colour with a hardness of 2½ on the Mohs Scale. More information is available on the Mindat web pages: www.mindat.org/min-3985.html

Mullite is a mineral that was first discovered in 1924 near Seabank Villa on Loch Scridain. Orthorhobic, its hardness is 6 - 7 and is white or pink in colour. It is an aluminium silicate. There is an article with information about its uses on this site: www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=951 . Spot the deliberate error - "Isle of Mull off the English coast!!"

Other examples of rocks and minerals named after locations close to Mull:

Inninmoreite

Kilchoanite

Sannaite

Allivalite

Harrisite

Mugearite

Marscoite

Crinanite

Kentallenite

Appinite

Strontianite

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