Achanarras Quarry
Geological Conservation Review site | GCR #351 | Palaeontology | Silurian - Devonian Chordata
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
Achnarras Quarry SSSI is a disused quarry famous for its fossil fish fauna. Fossil fish can still be found by turning over material and carefully splitting the flagstone spoil material. There is a shelter with information boards depicting illustrations of the fossils discovered at the site.
The rich and varied Middle Devonian fish fauna of Achanarras has been frequently described since 1889. Vertebrates are prolific, both in numbers of individuals and numbers of species. Sixteen species are known from Achanarras, representing fifteen genera, and at least ten orders. This is the most diverse species list known from any of the many equivalent Scottish Achanarras horizon exposures, which extend from the Melby Fish Bed in Shetland to the nodule beds of Moray and Nairn. Very different abundances of individuals within a species are found between sites, and all other sites have a limited number of species. Almost every vertebrate known from the Achanarras horizon can be found in Achanarras Quarry. It is the type locality for two species: Palaeospondylus gunni Traquair and Rhamphodopsis threiplandi Watson, plus the only locality for a Scaumetiella-like problematical fossil. A key vertebrate locality of national importance.
Site information
Access
The site is signposted from the main A9 trunk road at Mybster. A short distance west signs indicate to turn up a gravel track where a small parking area is available by the site notice board. Achanarras Quarry is situated a further km up the track. Please ensure all gates are closed as found.
Further information
https://ehive.com/objects?query=achanarras&facet=object_typ…
Jack Saxon eHive online collection
http://www.caithness.org/caithnessfieldclub/bulletins/2006/…
Caithness Field Club Bulletin (2006) - A Geological Tour of the North by Jack Saxon
http://www.caithness.org/caithnessfieldclub/bulletins/1979/…
Caithness Field Club Bulletin (April 1979) - The Radioactive Fossil Fishes of the North of Scotland by J. Saxon
http://www.caithness.org/caithnessfieldclub/bulletins/1988/…
Caithness Field Club Bulletin (April 1988) - The Orcadian Middle Old Red Sandstone by Jack Saxon
http://www.caithness.org/caithnessfieldclub/bulletins/2001/…
Caithness Field Club Bulletin (2001) - A New Fossil Discovery At Achanarras Quarry by Jack Saxon
https://geosites.scottishgeologytrust.org/geosite_edit/768
Caithness Field Club Bulletin (2003) - Achanarras - A Window on the Glorious Devonian by Jack Saxon
http://www.caithness.org/caithnessfieldclub/bulletins/2004/…
Caithness Field Club Bulletin (2004) - A New Fossil Fish by Jack Saxon
https://www.nature.scot/enjoying-outdoors/visit-our-nature-…
Achanarras Quarry Nature Reserve
https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/13
Achanarras Quarry SSSI
http://geoscenic.bgs.ac.uk/asset-bank/action/viewAsset?id=1…
The fish Homosteus milleri Traquair, 1888 from the Middle Old Red Sandstone of Achanarras Quarry.
Safety notes
The site is at the top of a hill and exposed, although a shelter is provided on site offering protection from wind and rain. Parts of the quarry are flooded and the western edges of the spoil material are steep and loose.
Related geosites
Gary Eisenhauer
Aug. 10, 2023
View of the parking area, information board and track leading Northwest up to the site which is just over the horizon the left of the forested area.
Gary Eisenhauer
Aug. 10, 2023
The onsite shelter with information boards and bench seating.
Gary Eisenhauer
Aug. 10, 2023
View looking North across the site showing the flooded quarry with shelter on the horizon. The spoil heaps are to the west of the water body.
Gary Eisenhauer
Aug. 10, 2023
View looking South across the site. The remains of the quarry face visible to the east while the spoil heaps are to the west of the water body.
Gary Eisenhauer
Aug. 10, 2023
View looking North of the steep sided nature of the spoil heaps. Warning signs are present and care should be taken near the edges.
Gary Eisenhauer
Aug. 10, 2023
Typical view of the ridge and furrow nature of the spoil heaps looking West.
Gary Eisenhauer
Aug. 10, 2023
Typical view of the ridge and furrow nature of the spoil heaps looking East.
Gary Eisenhauer
April 7, 2023
View of what remains of the quarry face in the Northeastern part of the site.
Gary Eisenhauer
Jan. 15, 2022
View over spoil heaps looking South across the site.
Gary Eisenhauer
Feb. 6, 2022
Palaeospondylus gunni Traquair. Common at this its type locality, but rare elsewhere in the region. Scale bar shows 1mm intervals.