Glossary of Scottish mineral species 1981

Abstract

SYNOPSIS A glossary of Scottish mineral species, listing some 443 mineral names, and containing 399 valid species has been Compiled to fulfil a long recognized need. Wherever possible x-ray diffraction and chemical data have been used in the selection of the species. Entries for the glossary have been derived from an extensive literature survey, examination of many specimens from various museums and from data provided by individuals. The value of museum collections in works of this nature is highlighted, for without them coverage would be inadequate. Modern nomenclature in reference works is used as a yardstick for species status, but in some instances personal decisions had to be taken regarding the status of certain minerals. The mineral lists of Heddle have been revised and are now accredited with 162 valid species; this forms the nucleus of the glossary. Entries follow a standard sequence of name, ideal formula, crystal system, assemblage and locality details, except for Heddle entries. The first, or earliest found, reference is given for minerals discovered after 1901. Some minerals well entrenched in the literature are unsubstantiated. The glossary is accompanied by a text and three appendices, viz, minerals grouped anionically; mineral groups; and minerals which were discovered first in Scotland. Some 15 per cent of the species listed in this glossary have not been recorded previously for the United Kingdom.

Rare minerals, including several new to Britain, in supergene alteration of U–Cu–As–Bi–Co mineralisation near Dalbeattie, south Scotland

“…showed the presence of only major uranium among elements of Z>8, the lack of Ca, Ba and Pb in particular confirming the absence of minerals easily confused with schoepite even by X-ray powder diffraction. This has been confirmed by electron microprobe analysis at the Royal Scottish Museum (Macpherson and Livingstone, 1982).…”

“…Lavendulan was also found, as material of better quality, at Locality 3, and is another very rare species. This lavendulan was collected and identified by infrared spectroscopy by us in 1968 (not 1978 as recorded in Macpherson and Livingstone, 1982), and confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction by Dr R. J. Davis in 1971. This was the first authenticated find of lavendulan from the British Isles.…”

Detrital goldmanite from the Palaeocene of the North Sea

“…The heavy mineral data acquired from this sample further constrains the source rocks to an area around the Shetland Isles, as the presence of chloritoid in the heavy mineral suite is characteristic of the metamorphic rocks on Shetland. A number of occurrences of green garnets have been documented from Shetland, but to date analyses have shown these to be chrome-rich grossulars without significant vanadium contents (Macpherson and Livingstone, 1982). In the light of this new evidence it would seem to be time to re-examine all such occurrences on Shetland.…”

Rare-earth-bearing minerals fergusonite and gadolinite from the Arran granite

“…Heddle (1901) referred to a mineral from the Criffel pluton in SW Scotland which resembled allanite and was 'doubtfully' identified as gadolinite. The identification of this mineral was subsequently discounted by Macpherson and Livingstone (1982). A single sample of gadolinite collected from 'trap' from Galway in Ireland (the only locality details provided) was referred to by Brooke and Miller (1852) and Greg and Lettsom (1858), but since no detailed description or analysis of this mineral is given its identification must be considered suspect.…”