2015

NS3678 : Old sandstone quarry

taken 9 years ago, near to Cardross, Argyll And Bute, Scotland

This is 1 of 4 images, with title Old sandstone quarry in this square
Old sandstone quarry
Old sandstone quarry
A hollow beside the road is now filled with gorse, but it was once a quarry pit, and it would have looked similar to the larger NS3678 : Old sandstone quarry located not far to the WSW along the same road.

In the satellite map linked from the end-note, the site shown in the present picture is indicated by a reddish marker pin, labelled "Red sandstone quarry 4". See LinkExternal link for a zoomed-in view that is centred on that marker. As that map shows, this is just one of several pits and outcrops that are located on a line heading WSW-ENE through this point. That line crosses the road at a point near the pit shown in the present photograph. To the ENE of this point, it is evident as a line of outcrops on the north-western side of the road; they lead towards the large former Fairy Knowe Quarry: NS3678 : Carman Quarry.

On the higher ground to the south-east of the road, cornstone outcrops predominate, but sandstone underlies them (the area shows what the British Geological Survey calls the Kinnesswood Formation). The line of the road corresponds, though only approximately, to the boundary between that formation (to the south) and the Stockiemuir Sandstone Formation (to the north). The pit shown in the present picture is more or less on the boundary; the geological maps also show a dolerite dyke running along this part of the boundary.

Use the satellite map (link given in the end-note) to navigate to related sites of interest nearby.
Carman Muir: outcrops and old quarry pits :: NS3778

See Link (in a Geograph article) for further information, and LinkExternal link for an annotated satellite view on which various features of geological interest (as well as traces of associated industries and other antiquities) are marked, as described below.

The topography of the parts of Carman Muir to the south of Cardross Road is determined to a large extent by cornstone deposits, which outcrop in places. Cornstone is an impure granular limestone, a fossil soil. Old quarry pits (probably worked before the nineteenth century) and possible test pits can be seen along the lines of these deposits; they are indicated by light blue marker pins on the annotated satellite view, and the cornstone outcrops are marked by orange pins.

This area, lying to the south of Cardross Road, exemplifies what the British Geological Survey refers to as the Kinnesswood Formation (see LinkExternal link at the BGS website for more information); this formation contains cornstone deposits.

Beside and to the north of Cardross Road are outcrops of sandstone rather than cornstone. The sandstone is best seen along a line of outcrops and pits beside the road (these are indicated by reddish marker pins on the annotated satellite view). Another prominent example lies at the ENE end of that line: a large disused red sandstone quarry, the old Fairy Knowe Quarry (later known as Carman Quarry) – Link – at NS36967900. This area beside and to the north of the road exemplifies the Stockiemuir Sandstone Formation (see LinkExternal link at the BGS website for further details).

Both north and south of the road, the strata in this area generally dip at an angle of from 10° to 20° from the horizontal, descending towards the SSE; the Stockiemuir Sandstone Formation that is exposed beside and to the north of the road underlies the cornstone-containing Kinnesswood Formation to the south of the road.

The annotated satellite view also includes markers for various antiquities in the area:

● Ancient cairns: Link
● Circular enclosure: Link (originally reported as a hut circle)
● Carman (house): Link
● Carman (enclosure): Link
● Carman (field system): Link


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Lairich Rig and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Quarrying, Mining Derelict, Disused Primary Subject: Pit
This photo is linked from: Articles: · Carman Hill Automatic Clusters: · Old Quarry [14] · Line of Outcrops [13] · Quarry Pits [13] · Red Sandstone Outcrops [10] · Geological Dyke [4] Other Photos: · Line of sandstone outcrops Title Clusters: · Old sandstone quarry [4] ·
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Grid Square
NS3678, 137 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Lairich Rig   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Monday, 23 March, 2015   (more nearby)
Submitted
Tuesday, 21 April, 2015
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NS 3654 7863 [10m precision]
WGS84: 55:58.3650N 4:37.2541W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NS 3652 7864
View Direction
East-southeast (about 112 degrees)
Clickable map
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Image classification(about): Geograph
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