Ardtun
Geological Conservation Review site | GCR #18 | Igneous Petrology | Tertiary Igneous
Scotland's geosites are chosen because of their local, national or international importance. Take only photos, leave only footprints: avoid causing any damage to this site. You can walk almost anywhere in Scotland without the need to ask permission or keep to paths, but you have a responsibility to care for your own safety, to respect people's privacy and peace of mind and to cause no damage.
This site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is an offence to intentionally or recklessly damage the protected natural features of a SSSI, and this includes unauthorised sample collection.
The right of access does not extend to quarries, building sites or any land where public access is prohibited, or to the collection of geological samples.
Summary
Coastal cliffs and gullies north within the site provide exposures of the internationally famous inter-lava sediments in the Tertiary Igneous Province at a horizon near the base of the volcanic sequence of south-western Mull. Their discovery is of major significance as the sediments carry a rich terrestrial flora allowing the early lavas of Mull to be dated. The relationships of the sediments with the volcanic rocks provide evidence of value in reconstructing the palaeogeography of Mull and of north-western Britain during the Lower Tertiary.
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Related geosites
Sketch map of leaf beds excursion access route, from Skelhorn (1969) GA Guide to Mull (out of print). Locality 3 is shown in the overlapping igneous features at this site.
Con Gillen
Extract from Skelhorn (1969) Mull guide (GA, out of print) with notes for Locality 3 - sill intruding lavas, etc.
Con Gillen
Jointed sill cutting lava at Ardtun, near Locality 3 of Skelhorn (1969) guide.
Con Gillen
April 25, 2015
Step-up of sill cutting basalt lava.
Con Gillen
April 25, 2015
Detail of sill, showing irregular contact with lava; gully east of leaf beds gully, Ardtun.
Con Gillen
April 25, 2015
Alteration structures at boundary between sill and lava, Ardtun.
Con Gillen
April 25, 2015
Varioles in altered edge / chilled margin of lava at contact with sill, Ardtun.
Con Gillen
April 25, 2015
Basalt plug with cooling joints at base and agglomerate at top; foot of leaf beds gully, Ardtun.
Con Gillen
April 24, 2015
Columnar joints at base of basalt plug, Ardtun.
Con Gillen
April 25, 2015
View to lava plateau on Ardmeanach peninsula from Ardtun.
Con Gillen
April 24, 2015