181 1.] Outlines of the Mineralogy of the Ochil Hills. 123 



the claystone. It is distinctly strutlried, having the general dip, 

 direction, and inclination, of the whole mointain-groip. 



8. Basaltic Clinkstone. — From the first rise to the final termina- 

 tion of the Ochil Hills, clinkstone is the prevailing rock. It occurs 

 at Parton Craigs, resting on, and in one instance altiiuating with, 

 the amygdaloid ; from Craig-in-Crune (half way between Wood- 

 liaven and Newburgh ', it forms the summits of the hills, occa'sion- 

 allv exhibiting columns of more than 100 feet in height, which 

 rise precipitously from the low lands on the south back of the Tay, 

 and produce a noble and imposing effect.* At the more western 

 portions of this district the dial. stone is connected with greenstone, 

 felspar porphyry, and compact felspar. At VVesteiton, immediately 

 above the junction with the coal-field of Clackmanans-uire, it 

 occurs distinctly stratified, the beds being separated from each other 

 by thin seams of leek-grecn steatite, which contains iron pyrites in 

 considerable abundance. It occasionally assumes the characters of 

 basalt ; at other times it is more decidedly clinkstone ; but it most 

 generally possesses characters intermediate between those of basalt 

 and clinkstone ; from which circimistance I have been induced to 

 adopt the name of basaltic clinkstone, which applies equally to 

 every vaiiety. 



Its colours are black i>h grey, blackish brown, and sometimes it 

 is much ironshot, particularly at the summits of thti lower hills. 

 Its fracture is slaty and rough, and in general it emits the clinking 

 sound to which the species owes its name. Beautiful specimens of 

 au amygdaloidal variety occur between Abernethyf and Kinross, 



The dip and direction of the stratified portions of this clinkstone 

 correspond with tlie general dip and direction. 



0. Cretn^tone. — Throughout the district which extends from 

 Parton Craigs to Newburgh the clinkstone frequently passes into 

 greenstone ; and in the immediate vicinity of the hitter place it 

 appears distinctly columnar, though its relations to every other rock 

 are wholly undefined. 



It is not improbable, from similar greenstone being found in 

 Ligher portions of the hills between Newburgh and VVoodhaven, 

 that it alternates with the clinkstone. Between DunningJ and 

 tJic Yetts of Muck hart it ocurs frequently above the clinkstone and 

 below felspar porphyrv ; but is seen in greatest abundance, variety, 

 beauty, and distinctness, between the Yetts of Muckhart and the 

 western extremity of the Ochils, particularly in an exposure made 



• ThU ik reinarUiiIdy (ho case in (lie hills lulween Ci"aig-in-Criineaiid XornLin's 

 Law. The coliiirin^ there have a diameter of from live to seven feet. They are 

 {m:u tajToiial, a> ii ii^ially happens. 



t The liilU ill [Wii <li»(ricl are very picturesque, and have, 1 liclieve, appro- 

 ftrlatr iiaincit, thougli I could not learn (hem, ai) every shepherd furni:>bcd one of 



lli» OM II. 



+ J'lic (il)-rrv;itirin made on the hills helwern Abenielhy and Kinrn^i> applies to 

 (iio>e of ihe almve portion of tlie Ochil Hills. 'I'lic confn-ion aiijiiip from a 

 l^rrpeiii^l rcjictltiun of name:, has induced me, in many instances, to oniil thcia 

 »1logi lilt r. 



