Iron ore from a vein at the east end of Loch Monar, Ross and Cromarty

BGS image ID: P527598

A collection of specimens of iron ore from a vein at the east end of Loch Monar, Ross and Cromarty, showing a distinctive botryoidal form. Iron making has had a long history in Scotland. Firstly bog iron ores were used in the early bloomeries and later, haematite and clayband ironstones were used, the former probably imported. Iron ores such as this specimen were fairly rare in Scotland, perhaps the most well known locality is the Leicht Mine at Tomintoul. Iron ores come in many types from bog iron ores, haematite ores, clayband and blackband Carboniferous ores and the much younger Jurassic ores such as those from Raasay.

British Geological Survey Petrology Collection sample number MC 7378. 

Bob McIntosh