Spireslack Open Cast site – image courtesy BGS

Spireslack is a stunning exposed section of an important coal-bearing sequence, unparalleled in Scotland. More than one km long, the 80 metre deep canyon is cut into a gently-dipping succession of Carboniferous-age strata that includes economically valuable coal, ironstone and oil shale. This excursion will enable close-up examination of the different strata including their sedimentology, structural geology and palaeontology, together with issues relevant to applied geoscience and mining.

Read the Code of Conduct and Safety Guidelines and book your place …

Excursion title:

Spireslack Opencast Surface Mine – Geology in 3D

Date & time:

1st July 2017, 10:00 hrs at site

Finish time:

Leave site c. 16:00 hrs

Leaders:

Graham Leslie and Mike Browne, British Geological Survey

Excursion aims and description:

To examine the Carboniferous geology of these important Scottish coal-bearing sequences, sedimentology, structural geology, palaeontology; seeing the Lawmuir, Lower Limestone, Limestone Coal, Upper Limestone and Passage Form formations.

Transport:

Minibus from Edinburgh; 25 participants maximum

Meeting point:

Waterloo Place 8am

Coach route:

Edinburgh – Biggar – Douglas/Muirkirk and return

Extra pick-up points:

Comiston Road and Fairmilehead (waterworks); Biggar or Douglas if required.

First locality (Grid reference or postcode), parking and description:

Spireslack OSM, [NS 746 305], entrance gate to site is a right turn heading west on A70 just after Glenbuck Loch.

Excursion route:

Strictly controlled by leaders on site.

Terrain, walking distance, height gain:

Site is now an inactive opencast surface mine, with trackways and uneven worked ground underfoot locally. Height is some 100-150 m, over 1 km walking distance, and return.

Specific or Medium- / High-Risk Hazards:

The scale of exposed sections is unparalleled in Scotland. Access/progress on site will be strictly managed by leaders to enable maximum visibility of key geological features.

Control measures required to mitigate against any Hazards referred to above:

Controlled access to key outcrop where safe to do so. There will be no access to, or beneath, engineered faces. Binoculars will be an advantage.

Hard hats or Hi-viz clothing needed?:

Hard hats and Hi-viz required. Stout footwear is a requirement (steel toe-caps are not necessary). No trainers.

May dogs be brought on the excursion?

No

Toilet information:

At coffee-stop in Douglas village – no facilities on site.

Geological map sheet:

1:50k sheet 23(Hamilton)

OS map sheet:

1:50k sheet 71

References:

Leslie and Browne, 2016. Spireslack Canyon, Geoscientist, 26, 10-15.