Boirearaig to Carn Dearg
Also within
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Hettangian, Sinemurian, Pliensbachian | Favourable | — | 2009-10-07 |
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Shale
Description
BOIREARAIG TO CARN DEARG Boirearaig to Carn Dearg Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is located on the northern shore of Loch Eishort, in the south of the Isle of Skye and is significant because it provides a rare almost continuous sequence through the Hettangian to Lower Pliensbachian. The rock sequence within the site has escaped major structural complication and there are particularly good exposures of the Pabay Shale Formation. The Raricostatum Zone within this formation is substantially thicker here than at any other site in Britain. Throughout the sequence, the rocks are fossiliferous with abundant ammonites and mollusc shells. The site has also yielded the leg bone of a small, meat-eating dinosaur and the jaw and teeth remains of a marine reptile.