Kentallen
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Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Caledonian Igneous | Part Destroyed | — | 2022-12-12 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Feature: Igneous Intrusion
Landscape processes: Volcanic / Igneous
Description
Kentallen The Kentallen Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is located twelve miles southwest of Fort William on the south shore of Loch Linnhe on both sides of the A828 trunk road at Kentallen. This site provides an insight into the igneous activity that took place in association with the Caledonian orogeny (or mountain building event). In particular, it exposes a small igneous intrusion of a rock known as olivine monzonite, which is part of a cluster of pipe intrusions in the type area of the Appinite Suite. The olivine monzonite, which is unusually MgO and K2O rich, is a distinctive (lithology) rock type that was formerly termed ‘kentallenite’ after this, the type locality. The rock type variations at the contact between the ‘kentallenite’ and surrounding Dalradian metamorphosed sedimentary rocks and the contact itself, are well exposed within the site.