*6 Mineralbgical Observations [JVL* t 



Way ; and when Ave had passed the top of the mountain, imme- 

 diately to the west of Loch Lubnaig, we found a bed of rather 

 dark greyish blue foliated limestone. There is a quarry in it, 

 which has been lately wrought. 



About half way between Loch Lubnaig and Loch Em Head 

 I found a considerable large rolled piece of the rock composed of 

 felspar and dialage. On this road 1 observed many rolled pieces 

 of primitive greenstone. The formation is all along the mica 

 slate. 



Two miles down from Loch Em Head, on the north bank of 

 the lake, is at present worked a large quarry of greyish blue 

 foliated limestone. It is a bed in the mica slate, and is about 

 40 feet thick, and for a considerable way worked completely to 

 the bottom. It belongs to Lord Breadalbane, and is carried 

 down the lake in boats of 15 tons burden. It is carted from the 

 lower end of the lake into the country about Comrie, Crieff, and 

 other places in Strathern where the coals are to be had, and there 

 burned for use. 



The whole of the route from Loch Em Head to Killin is the 

 mica slate. We found, however, a bed of greenstone, or a vein, 

 for we could not certainly determine which, seemingly of great 

 thickness, by estimation 40 or 50 yards. It is about five miles 

 from Loch Ern Head, and is seen in a small rivulet, where there 

 is a bridge: and this rivulet (over which the bridge is thrown), 

 about 200 yards to the west, falls into another rivulet, which 

 comes from a small lake in sight of the road. This is about the 

 highest ground over which the high road passes between Loch 

 Em Head and Killin. The greenstone is best seen near to 

 where the two before- mentioned rivulets join. 



On arriving at Killin we went to view the falls of the Lochy. 

 They are over the mica slate ; and we saw no other rock here- 

 abouts. At Taymouth Lord Breadalbane has built a new house, 

 or castle, in the Gothic style, of a fine greyish green slaty stone, 

 so soft as to be easily wrought by the chisel ; and when polished, 

 it has nearly the same appearance as the chlorite slate, of which 

 the castle of Inverary is built. This stone, which I believe is 

 something intermediate between chlorite slate and talc slate, is 

 got from a quarry not far from the Tay, about three miles to the 

 east of Taymouth. 1 had no opportunity of learning with what 

 rock or rocks it is associated. 



Leaving Taymouth we proceeded to Aberfcldie, and went to 

 see the falls of Moness. These possess more of the grand and 

 terrific than any waterfall that I have seen in the kingdom, 

 except the fall of Foyers. The rock is mica slate. We 

 observed, however, a bed of greenstone, and also hornblende 

 rock. Here we have wall precipices 200 feet high. From this 

 place southward lor 15 miles over the black dreary muir by 



I 



